By: Kristine Nelson | Published: October 16, 2024
14 Festive Christmas Table Decorating Ideas
Transform your dining space into a winter wonderland with a Christmas table that dazzles and delights. No matter your style or budget, we’ve got tips for centerpieces, tablescapes, place settings and unique themes you can use to make your holiday meals magical!
1. Set an Elegant Folkloric Table in Green & Gold
Inspired by a winter’s walk through star-lit, enchanted woods, this stunning folkloric Christmas table look makes the most of golden bottlebrush trees, candle holders and mushroom figurines atop a botanical beaded table runner. Elegant gold dinnerware against crisp white keeps the overall scene from looking overly busy and draws the eye to the center tablescape.
Shop the Look
Gold Wire Nest Napkin Rings
Vita Reactive Glaze Dinner Plate
Vita Reactive Glaze Low Bowl
Round Gold Metal Hammered Charger Plate
Champagne Gold Bottlebrush Christmas Tree Decor 3 Pack
Twig Dinner Forks Set of 4
Twig Dinner Knife Set of 4
Twig Soup Spoons Set of 4
Bormioli Terina Red Wine Glass
Brass Mushroom Tealight Candle Holder
Brushed Gold Metal Contemporary Pillar Candle Holder
Green Folkloric Forest Beaded Table Runner
Cotton Buffet Napkins 6 Count
Vita Ivory And Brown Reactive Glaze Serving Platter
2. Go for a Classic Country Christmas Table
Put a British cottage spin on the traditional Christmas table by boldly layering table linen textures and patterns. Stripes and bows mix playfully with cute, nostalgic dinnerware and elegant floral linens in green, white and red. Add plenty of classic seasonal decor like evergreen boughs and berries, golden candle holders and cheerful nutcrackers.
Shop the Look
Cream All The Trimmings Salad Plate Set of 4
Debutante Pressed Glass Goblet
Metallic Vintage Scalloped Charger Plate Set of 2
Stella Textured Cereal Bowl
Stella Textured Dinner Plate
Mercury Glass Holiday Taper Candle Holder
Antique Gold 6 Taper Candle Holder Centerpiece
All the Trimmings Striped Napkin Set of 2
All the Trimmings Striped Napkin Set of 2
Red and Gold Beaded Bow Napkin Ring
Green and Gold Christmas Tree Tablecloth
Tan and Green Floral Holly Embroidered Table Runner
Champagne Satin Hammered Dinner Knife
Champagne Satin Hammered Dinner Fork
Champagne Satin Hammered Soup Spoon
Icy Mini Pinecone and Sage Leaves Garland with Red Berries
3. Learn the Rules of Proper Place Setting
For setting a table, there are a few rules of etiquette. Your salad and dinner forks sit to the left of the plate. The knife goes to the right and with the blade facing the plate, followed by your dinner and soup spoon — or you can place the soup spoon above and perpendicular to your plate. Glassware goes to the upper right of the plate. The dinner plate itself can sit atop a charger or a placemat (or both) with a salad or app plate on top of that. Fold napkins into a fun shape and place on top of the plates, roll and secure with napkin rings, or they can be folded under or to the left of the forks.
4. Set a Kitsch Christmas Table
Lovers of vintage nostalgia will adore the look of a bright, bold Christmas celebration. Decorate your table with a remix of the classics: pink retro bottlebrush and glass trees, pastel dishes and glassware. Add humor and shine with disco ball decor, plenty of tinsel and kitschy pop culture references.
Shop the Look
Metallic Mercury Glass Taper Candle Holder
White and Red Fair Isle Jacquard Tablecloth
Pink and Gold Santa Embroidered Table Runner
Cotton Buffet Napkins 6 Count
Pink Merry Kitschmas Santa Figural Serving Platter
Colored Stem Fluted Coupe Glass
Colored Stem Fluted Coupe Glass
Colored Stem Fluted Coupe Glass
Merry Kitschmas Striped Santa Porcelain Salad Plate
Medium Mint Merry Santa Christmas Crackers 8 Count
Pink Santa Figural Appetizer Plate
Glitter Charger Plate Set of 2
Glass Scalloped Tree Decor Set of 3
Pastel Glass Tree Decor
Pastel Glass Tree Decor
Coupe White Porcelain Dinner Plate
Round Green Faux Pine Placemat
5. Try a Disco Holiday Theme
For a glitzy Christmas or New Year's Eve look that’s both retro and glamorous, turn your table into a boogie wonderland with a disco theme. Use shiny disco balls and plenty of candles in your centerpiece, along with lots of metallic silver and gold in your table settings. Adding a couple disco ball ornaments at each place as party favors is a thoughtful surprise and adds even more shine to your 70s-chic dining table.
Shop the Look
Coupe Square White Porcelain Dinner Plate
Coupe Square White Porcelain Salad Plate
Kate Optic Crystalex Champagne Flute
Coupe Square White Porcelain Bowl
Hammered Stainless Steel Salad Fork
Hammered Stainless Steel Dinner Knife Set of 2
Metallic Metal Napkin Rings Set of 2
Silver Mirrored Disco Ball Ornaments
Clear Glass Taper Candle Holder
Clear Glass Taper Candle Holder
Silver Disco Ball Hanging Decor
Mercury Glass Tealight Candle Holders Set of 5
Classic Hand Dipped Taper Candles 2 Pack
Silver Disco Balls Garland
6. Create a Candle Wreath Centerpiece
For holly jolly-good Christmas table decor, nothing is easier than making your own candle wreath. You can find a candle holder already in a wreath shape or place a regular wreath in the middle of your table and surround it with different forms of lighting for ambiance, like taper candles, votives or twinkle string lights. Scatter some shiny ornaments around or place a few Christmas houses nearby for maximum festivity.
Shop the Look
Mercury Glass Holiday Taper Candle Holder
Antique Gold 6 Taper Candle Holder Centerpiece
Mercury Glass Tealight Candle Holders Set of 5
Green Faux Norfolk Pine Pre Lit LED Battery Operated Garland
Apothecary Vanilla Snowflakes Tealight Candles 12 Pack
Metallic Mercury Glass Taper Candle Holder
Metallic Holiday Taper Candles 2 Pack
Antique Gold Autumn Wreath Narrow Taper Candle Holder
Antique Gold Pinecone Narrow Taper Candle Holder
Brass Mushroom Cluster Taper Candle Holder
Gold Vein Marble Taper Candle 2 Pack
Champagne Gold Poinsettia Taper Candle Holder
Metallic Taper Candle Holder and Star Candle Pin Set
Gold Metal Santa Chime Set
Christmas Tree Taper Candle
Gold Metal Branch 4 Taper Candle Holder
7. Make a Christmas Village Centerpiece
Create a cozy Christmas village on your table with adorable laser cut wood houses that light up. You can choose houses that are all one style, like mid century modern or Nordic, or mix them up to make an eclectic little town. Add bottlebrush trees, candles or other lighting and ground the scene by keeping everything on a runner or on a set of chargers.
Shop Candles & Candle Holders
Ivory and Green Christmas Tree Embroidered Table Runner
Natural Capiz and Gold Metal Globe Wavy Pendant Lamp
Laser Cut Wood Folk Cottages LED Light Up Decor Set Of 3
Green Flocked Bottlebrush Christmas Tree Decor Set Of 2
Green Flocked Bottlebrush Christmas Tree Decor Set Of 2
Green Flocked Bottlebrush Christmas Tree Decor Set Of 2
Antique Gold Autumn Wreath Narrow Taper Candle Holder
Pastel Bottlebrush Tree Decor Set of 3
White Retro Flocked Bottlebrush Tree Decor
Flocked Bottlebrush Tabletop Tree Decor 3 Pack
Champagne Gold Bottlebrush Christmas Tree Decor 3 Pack
8. Use a Garland as a Centerpiece
For a striking natural vibe, run a garland of pine, mistletoe or eucalyptus down the middle of the dining table as a centerpiece. You can weave more than one garland together, add ornaments or place tall taper candles and mini trees throughout. Rustic elegance perfection!
Shop Garlands
Watercolor Pine Critters Salad Plate Set of 4
Snowy Pinecone and Faux Pine Garland with White Berries
Metallic Bead Garland
Green Faux Norfolk Pine Pre Lit LED Battery Operated Garland
Mini Brass Bell And Bead Garland
Red Faux Berries Garland
Glittered Faux Mistletoe with White Berries Garland
Green Soft Touch Mixed Faux Pine Garland
Pinecone and Faux Greenery Garland with Red Berries
Green Faux Mossy Magnolia and Eucalyptus Garland
Gold Velvet Leaves and Faux Pine Glitter Garland
9. Set a Nutcracker-Themed Christmas Table
Love nutcrackers? We’ve got you. Along with showcasing your favorite nutcrackers in the center of the table, go all in with colorful nutcracker dishware and matching drinking glasses! Make the scene even more festive with holiday crackers at each place setting, candles with seasonal scents and a classic Christmas table runner.
Shop Nutcrackers
Watercolor Holiday Nutcracker Ceramic Mug
Watercolor Holiday Nutcracker Plates 4 Pack
Rectangular Watercolor Holiday Nutcracker Serving Platter
Watercolor Holiday Nutcracker Double Old Fashioned Glass
Beaded Nutcracker Table Runner
Multicolor Nutcracker Beaded Lumbar Pillow
King's Guard Nutcracker with Big Ben Staff Decor
Woodland Petite Nutcracker Decor
Nutcracker Suite Classic Nutcracker Decor
Woodland Nutcracker LED Light Up Decor
10. Do an All-Green Christmas Table
If you love the greenery without the red, we’ve got a Christmas table for you! Faux pine placemats, green napkins and a beaded forest table runner — along with tree-themed dishware and green bottlebrush trees — come together for a rustic nature aesthetic that you can enjoy all season!
Shop the Look
Grove Speckled Reactive Glaze Dinner Plate
Watercolor Winter Tree Salad Plate
Cotton Slub Napkins With Fringe Set Of 4
Washed 100% Linen Napkin
Washed 100% Linen Napkin
Blue and Green Evergreen Beaded Table Runner
Round Green Faux Pine Placemat
11. Try a Whimsical Rainbow Theme
Add a touch of playfulness and whimsy to your holiday table with a rainbow theme! You can use rainbow dishware, glasses and napkins. Or just add a touch of the spectrum by scattering ornaments in each color on the table. Keep the rest of the decor basic white or natural so your joyful look pops.
Shop the Look
Multicolor Rainbow Tree Salad Plate
Multicolor Rainbow Tree Serving Platter
Element Blush Salad Plate Set Of 4
Round Natural Rattan Spiral Woven Placemat
Oversized Rainbow Evergreen Trees Lumbar Pillow
Multicolor Rainbow Holiday Tree Glass Mug
Rainbow Trees Double Old Fashioned Glass Set of 2
Wool Cloud With Rainbow Beads Ornament
Round Rainbow Beaded Placemat
Rainbow Trees Stemless Wine Glass
12. Fold Your Napkins Into Christmas Trees
Add festive flair to your holiday table settings by folding the napkins into Christmas tree shapes. These napkin trees are easy to achieve and are especially striking on a minimally decorated table.
13. Put Ornaments at Each Place Setting
Christmas ornaments make terrific table decorations and are unique additions to place settings. Coordinate the ornaments to your holiday decor — or leave one on every plate as a party favor. Choose ornaments that fit each guest’s personality and that you know they’ll love.
14. Give Every Guest a Christmas Cracker
Start a new tradition in your family by giving each place setting a Christmas cracker to break open before dinner. A classic Christmas party favor, crackers snap open with a pop and usually contain a paper crown, a joke and a small prize. They make fun icebreakers: you can take turns reading the jokes aloud, compete for the best prize and wear the crowns throughout the meal. Read our Christmas crackers guide to learn more!
Kristine Nelson – Home & Entertaining Expert
When not planning and directing location photography for World Market, Home and Entertaining Stylist Kristine is our resident DIY queen! Whether it’s with sewing, home renovation or paper crafts, her superpower is turning imagination into reality. Kristine is obsessed with architecture and modern design, and loves estate sales, flea markets, hiking, biking, skiing and snowboarding.
