None of us know how Christmas lunch will look this year, but even if you’re celebrating via Zoom, you can still pull out all of the stops and get ready with a fabulous looking table, says Catherine Watson, of interior design firm Bert & Wills.
As with Christmas decorations this year, rich jewel colours offer the perfect backdrop for your dining table.
These shades epitomise Christmas with rich purples, reds, golds and spice colours including cinnamon and star anise, married with simple white dinnerware.
Hues of aqua and mulberry are opposite on the colour wheel and are therefore complimentary colours which can offer a visual feast as well as a culinary one!
Foliage and fresh flowers always bring something to the party – green is after all a very ‘Christmassy’ colour.
Add a runner of greenery to your table décor for instant impact.
Take a look in your garden as branches and ferns are good for this purpose too – and they’re free.
With so many floral colours available, you can easily find something that co-ordinates, accents or compliments your surroundings.
Hydrangeas have large heads and will give a bold centrepiece and while they might not be often associated with Christmas, they work beautifully.
Using the same colour flowers as your decor will result in a seamless look.
Choosing the right vase to display your blooms will enhance their look.
Metallics are on trend this season and help to pick up the light, whilst glass vases still remain a popular choice.
Try placing a gerbera head or sprig of holly or mistletoe into a jar of water and place around the table.
Lighting is always important in creating a mood.
Float candles in a glass bowl in water (remember to be candle aware), or simply group lots of candles together to create impact.
Christmas scented candles will add ambience and sprigs of herbs like rosemary, mint, basil and thyme give off a lovely, earthy aroma.
Place settings make your guests feel welcome and they needn’t be expensive.
Snip some bits off your tree (if it’s a real one!), and add a tealight and a small bauble and you’ve got a bespoke place setting.
Impress your guests, and save money and the environment by making your own crackers.
Start saving those cardboard rolls, wrap in fabric scraps and tie the ends with ribbon.
Google can help with the jokes and you can even buy the ‘bang’ online.
If you’re more of a relaxed Scandi style person, opt for cool wintery colours and glassware.
Greenery is important here – eucalyptus and berries – mixed with linen and textures and tableware in grey and white.
Glass jars filled with treats and star shaped decorations will ensure your table represents the best in northern design.
I’m a big fan of nice glasses and at the moment I’m enjoying grandmillenial by mixing a retro look of champagne saucers with our contemporary set of white Maxwell and Williams dinnerware from Sands.
Christmas cocktails, mulled wine and Champagne taste so much better in a nice glass.
If you want to inject some colour though, cranberry coloured glasses and indigo tableware are a lovely match, or mix blues with copper to embrace the metallics. Blues are very much in this year, but greys and blacks work well too.
However you choose to adorn your table, we all deserve a very good Christmas this year. Cheers!
