In an episode of the new Netflix original series Holiday Home Makeover, interior designer and the show's frontrunner Benjamin "Mr. Christmas" Bradley mentioned that "family dinner is synonymous with the holidays," and there's a whole lot of truth in this. You may agree that several of your fondest holiday memories took place at the dinner table. It's a special place where you and your family can get together, share laughs, and have deep, hearty conversations over scrumptious home-made meals.
Of course, how your table looks is just as important as what you're serving. Although it may sound quite intimidating, setting your Christmas dinner table doesn't have to be difficult, costly, and time-consuming.
From classic red-and-green colors to a winter wonderland theme amped with a nice Scandinavian touch, we've rounded up five simple and unique holiday tablescape ideas from Country Living Magazine. These will certainly exude the fun and magic of the festive season and spark some special moments in your dinner soirée.
Classic Holiday Color Palette
Create a holly-jolly Christmas table with spiny leaves and bold berries!
Image via Country Living Magazine
HOW TO PULL IT OFF:
- Make the jingle runner by cutting holly leaves from dark and light green cardstock.
- Use a bone folder or wooden skewer to indent veins in leaves, then trace indents with a green colored pencil.
- Run down the center of the table and lay red jingle bells throughout.
- For the straws, attach small die-cut holly leaves and berries to a red-and-white paper straw with a dab of hot glue.
Movie Watching Party
From a ticket garland to theater-candy brownies, this cozy flick-themed gathering makes movie viewing more memorable.
Image via Country Living Magazine
HOW TO PULL IT OFF:
- Use vintage cookie tins to make festive individual popcorn “bowls.”
- Set out a selection of comfy pillows and warm blankets for snuggling up while viewing.
Winter Wonderland Christmas Table
Evoke a Scandinavian spirit on your dining table with textured neutrals and snowy motifs.
Image via Country Living Magazine
HOW TO PULL IT OFF:
- Draw a five-point loop in one end of a piece of silver craft wire to make the wooden bead stars.
- Thread beads on wire, bending wire per drawing as you go.
- Feed the loose end of wire through a loop, crimp, and cut.
- As for the acorn tree centerpiece, paint nuts with white craft paint, leaving caps natural.
- Attach a loop of twine with hot glue. Hang from a spray-painted branch set inside a spool of twine.
Retro Bulb-Themed Bash
Show off an eye-catching tablescape inspired from those vintage ceramic trees from bygone Christmases.
Image via Country Living Magazine
HOW TO PULL IT OFF:
- To make the light bulb centerpiece, cut off the bottom of a small round Styrofoam ball and attach vintage Christmas lights to the top and sides with hot glue.
- For the napkin rings, attach a loop of red-and-white baker's twine to the base of a bulb with hot glue; wrap the base completely with twine and around rolled napkins.
Peppermint Party
Delight your inner sweet tooth in this candy cane-inspired table setting.
Image via Country Living Magazine
HOW TO PULL IT OFF:
- To make the place cards, bend 7-inch-long pieces of 18-gauge gold wire into a candy cane shape.
- Attach lengths of rosemary with fishing wire.
- Cut cardstock to size and use a red brush-tip pen to stain edges, then write names with a gold pen.
- Punch a hole in one corner, thread a thin red ribbon through hole, and tie around the "candy cane."
- To make the ribbon runner, secure differing widths of red, white, and pink grosgrain ribbon on the diagonal to a burlap runner with strips of thin fusible webbing.
Ultimately, when it comes to Christmas dinner tables, it's not just the quintessential Christmas china, placemats, candleholders, and silverware that should stand out. You can also add our Scents for the Holidays Collection to complete your look!
Whether you are up for a simple setup or for a more elaborate display, it is key to make it an extension of who you are and what Christmas really means to you.