12 Styling Tips: Christmas Table Setting Ideas

If you’re like a lot of us, you’ll be entertaining guests for a meal or two this holiday season. That’s why I thought it might be helpful to round up a variety of beautiful and festive Christmas table decorations.

I’ve put together five unique tablescapes to bring my Christmas table setting ideas to life. With styling tips for everything from table runners to napkins, I hope these creative ideas will help you set a table that’s merry and bright.

Let’s get to it!

Christmas Table Decorations:

1. Start with a color scheme.
In this first place setting, I used red and white. If you limit your color palette, it’s much easier to make things look cohesive. It also helps when shopping. You can focus on “your colors” rather than get distracted by all of the holiday awesomeness.

2. Use dishtowels as napkins.
I learned this years ago from Ina Garten. Dishtowels often make the best napkins. Not only are dish towels available in a range of colors and patterns, but they tend to be a bit larger and usually launder well. I prefer towels made from a fabric similar to traditional napkins rather than the common terry cloth variety.

3. Include a sweet treat.
I found these chocolate peppermint stir sticks and thought they would be perfect for jazzing up a table. They are an inexpensive treat that doubles as decor for the place settings. Feel free to whip up something homemade if you’re feeling extra crafty.

3. Add a piece of pine.
I use fresh pine wherever I can during the holiday season. I tie it on presents, tuck it into floral arrangements, and add a sprig or two to my table setting. It’s a free and easy way to instantly bring in beautiful texture, holiday flare, and seasonal scent.

4. Give an ornament gift.
Sometimes it’s fun to add a small gift to your table setting. Here, I paired napkins with inexpensive ornaments. The ornaments add a holiday touch, and guests can take their ornaments with them as a way to remember the celebration.

More Christmas Table Decorations:

6. Embrace playful patterns.
In my next table setting, I’m embracing a seasonal pattern. Here, I used plaid and buffalo check for inspiration as I shopped for and styled my table. Even in various sizes and styles, it all works together to create a fun, playful look.

7. Use gift wrap as a table runner.
You might be surprised to know that my “table runner” is actually wrapping paper. Save the hassle of washing your best linens by making a table runner or placemats from wrapping paper. Customize the size to fit your table. I recommend something with a recognizable pattern to create the illusion of fabric. Things like polka dots, stripes, and plaids are excellent choices.

8. Shop your own backyard.
Get branches, magnolia leaves, pinecones, and such from your own yard. Use them to embellish your napkins, tuck them into a vase, or include them in your centerpiece.

9. Mix vintage with new.
Here, I combined the new and the old. Doing this creates an interesting, meaningful, and personalized tablescape. Here, I started with brass cups. They pick up the gold on the edge of my plate. I then used this vintage “Merry Christmas” cardholder to corral some greens down the center of my table.

10. Get creative with napkin rings.
With so many beautiful and unique napkin rings available these nowadays, I couldn’t resist trying a few. Here, I used gem-shaped marble napkin rings to display my napkins in a more casual way. If you don’t want to buy napkin rings, create your own with a cookie cutter, a mini faux wreath, or a piece of ribbon.

11. Experiment with unconventional color.
As much as I love the traditional red and green of Christmas, I also like to use new and unexpected colors. Here, I paired shades of aqua with gold. (Like I did in my living for my Holiday Home Tour!) It still looks festive, but it certainly stands out from the crowd. Try using your favorite color or coordinate with your existing home decor to create something outside the box.

12. Bring on the ornaments.
I am extremely fond of glass ball ornaments (and I have quite the collection to prove it!). Ornaments often come in handy when I’m decorating. By simply scattering an assortment of them down the center of my table, I was able to create instant holiday appeal and seasonal sparkle.

And that’s it, my friends. In case you’re wondering about my sources, I found most of these goodies at HomeGoods. I love their collection of holiday dinnerware, glasses, and napkins. If you’re looking to recreate any of these looks and can’t seem to find exactly what I used, please don’t worry. It’s likely you will come across something similar or you can get creative and try something new.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope these Christmas table setting ideas will inspire your holiday tablescape.