How to make your Christmas table one to remember

Christmas Day is almost here. And if you’re hosting this year, it’s worth giving some thought to where the feast will take place and how you might dress it up for the special day.

Tablescaping is the art of arranging and decorating the table for an event or special occasion. And while it may seem like extra effort for an already busy day, it really only takes a few small adjustments to impress your guests.

“Christmas tables do not need to be perfect. They just need to feel welcoming and lived in. If your guests feel like they belong at the table, you have nailed it,” says Lucy Tweed, a Sydney-based food stylist.

Set the scene

Getting started with a beautiful table setting is all about the base. While you may have nixed the tablecloth for everyday dining, for Christmas Day it’s a must.

“It hides a multitude of sins – like unmatched tables pushed together, softens the noise of cutlery and glasses… and adds immediate texture to the tablescape, especially if you are keeping the ceramics plain,” says Alexandra Pappas, founder of homewares brand No.22.

“I always recommend starting with something that sets the tone without overwhelming the table,” adds Julianne Robilliard, founder of homewares label Fred Home. “I personally love a long, sweeping frilly tablecloth in a high drama block colour. It creates an instant sense of intention.”

For a festive-themed (and budget-friendly) option, look to Kmart’s $10 natural trees tablecloth, or for a pop of colour try Fred Home’s Frankie Tablecloth in bubble gum with bubble gum frill, which starts at $385 for a 165cm round tablecloth.

Rules don’t apply

When it comes to setting the cutlery and plates, forget the formal dining rules.

“The bigger the gathering, the less likely everything will match anyway. As long as each guest has what they need they will feel looked after,” Tweed says.

If a guide helps, follow Pappas’ stack method by starting with the dinner plate, then add the side plate and place a napkin in the centre. If you’re using a bowl, put that on top of the side plate and before the napkin.

Cutlery can go beside the plate or placed on the napkin.

Ditch the rules for glassware, too, and use what you have on hand, suggests Benjamin Fourmon, sixth generation of Champagne house Joseph Perrier.

“When serving Champagne, white wine glasses are often a better choice than narrow flutes, as they allow the wine’s aromas to unfold without losing the delicacy of the bubbles,” he says.

Food and drink

Christmas Day lunch usually ends up with more dishes than you have space on the table for, regardless of the decorative elements.

Tweed recommends putting “the big ticket” items of turkey, ham and roast potatoes on another surface such as a buffet, bench or another table. That way guests can line up there and get what they want before sitting down to serve themselves from side dishes placed on the table.

“At the very least, get the gravy and condiments on the table so people are still passing things around,” she says, adding No. 22’s coquette mixed mini bowls offer a festive touch.

Of course, celebrations call for bubbly and with Christmas Day typically hot, Fourmon highlights the importance of keeping Champagne at the right temperature.

“Chill the bottle to 8 to 10°C for multi-vintage or 10 to 12°C for vintage Cuvée, and keep it cool in an ice bucket during lunch,” he says.

The finishing touch

With the essentials sorted, it’s time to think about decorative elements.

Jane Lampe, founder of Floreat Floral, recommends a low ceramic bowl or vase for a beautiful display without blocking anyone’s view.

“Make a little pillow of chicken wire in the vase – you can get this from any hardware store and cut it with scissors. Place beautiful abundant flowers and foliage in this. The wire will hold the flowers in place really easily, and it allows you to arrange them so they are low enough to see over,” she says.

Lampe’s top picks for a Christmas floral arrangement are Australian natives and hydrangea.

“A good start is Christmas bush, flowering gum, Christmas bell flowers, kangaroo paws and flannel flowers,” she says.

“Hydrangea, magnolia grandiflora and gardenias are a great addition.”