How to Dress Your Festive Table in Style

Add wow-factor to your festive table with this step-by-step guide.

A huge part of Christmas Day celebrations centre around the table – and never more so than this year, when we get to spend quality time with our loved ones again. Create a picture-perfect table setting that evokes the magic of an Australian Christmas with these simple styling tips, inspired by an arrangement styled in one of our award-winning Carlisle display homes.

Choose a theme

Giving your table a theme, whether it’s a colour palette or style, will help you narrow down the options when it comes to selecting dinnerware, flatware, linen and flowers – an altogether good thing in the busy lead-up to Christmas.

Choose colours and styling that fit in with your home’s decor and the mood you wish to create at Christmas lunch or dinner. White and silver or gold are classic Christmas pairings that are easy to style around and allow you to add in other colours such as red and rich green, if you wish.

For a more casual look that works a treat inside or out, opt for a gentle neutral palette consisting of soft grey tableware and ecru linen placemats dressed up with festive gold cutlery, and finished off with native foliage.

Add a centrepiece

A beautifully crafted centrepiece gives your table a focal point and helps set the mood for festive entertaining. If you have a round table, display a dense arrangement in the centre of the table. For a rectangular table, start with a larger arrangement in the middle and then a series of smaller displays along the length of the table so all your guests have something beautiful to look upon.

Current trends in tablescaping favour all things natural – and they’re a great way to draw the outside into your home. Try crafting your centrepiece from natural materials and foliage such as driftwood, preserved cotton flowers, hydrangeas, mini pampas and trailing amaranthus, all at different heights to create a lush, layered effect. Or create a delightful living runner consisting of green foliage and wattyl or eucalyptus leaves.

Introduce some sparkle

Nothing says festive quite like the twinkle of candlelight. Add grandeur with decorative candelabras or go for a more contemporary look with trios of pillar candles of varying heights or a few simple tea lights running the length of the table.

To create beautiful reflections from the candlelight, intersperse your arrangement with some simple glass baubles. 

Layer linens and tableware

Christmas is the perfect excuse to bring out your best dinnerware, flatware and table linen. Create a feeling of opulence by layering up elements in different shapes and textures. Adorn the table with crackers and little treats such as wrapped sugar biscuits and add a personal touch with a calligraphy name card on each place setting.

Add decorative glassware

Set out drink-specific glasses for each guest, including a champagne flute, a red- or white-wine glass and a water tumbler. When it comes to glassware style, take your cues from the tone and feel of your Christmas Day; for a more formal event, opt for fine stemware. For a laid-back Christmas lunch alfresco, consider casual, stemless styles.

Have a view of the Christmas tree

Add to the festive ambience by positioning the table where guests can look upon the Christmas tree, and ensure the lights are set to twinkle. For a cohesive look, wrap presents under the tree in paper that blends in with your table theme and decor.