No matter how many times you’ve hosted Christmas, the act of laying the table always ends up feeling like some kind of test – one of taste, restraint, and your ability to make two mismatched candlesticks look like a deliberate pairing.
Sure, the pressure is likely self-imposed, but agreeing to shoulder the responsibility of a festive supper risks disappointing guests on both a culinary and Christmassy level. No one wants to be called a Scrooge.
Still, I’m convinced the festive table is where Christmas truly takes place. Not under the tree while opening presents, not beside the fireplace (which is mostly decorative in London flats anyway), but around the plates, the pudding and the slightly-too-warm bottle of Chablis. This is the stage, and the props matter.
That doesn’t mean your table has to look like a Liberty window display (though the inspiration is certainly there). In fact, the best tables this year lean into personality over polish.
There’s a kind of elegance in the unexpected — from retro-inspired tablescapes featuring glittering glasses and disco ball Christmas trees, to subdued and traditional set-ups that make use of natural, reusable colour palettes. Even the Brussels sprouts seem to behave when they’re served in something beautiful.
This season, homewares designers appear to agree. Whether you gravitate towards grandmillennial florals, brutalist minimalism, or the twinkly but not twee, there’s tableware to match. The collections out now are unusually thoughtful, resisting both the urge to go full glitter bomb and the temptation to pare back into oblivion.
Whether you’re planning a lavish dinner with extended family or a mildly chaotic lunch for four, here’s a guide to the pieces that will bring just the right amount of theatre to your table. If we’re going to suffer through paper crowns and overcooked carrots, we may as well do it in style.
The trick? Invest in subtly festive accessories that can be adapted and reused over the seasons to suit your particular tablescaping needs.
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Eleanor Bowmer Fabulously Festive Large Serving Platter
Like something out of a delightful children’s storybook, this uber-colourful platter by Eleanor Bowmer is perfect for serving up Christmas classics – whether it be brussels sprouts, roast spuds or a flaming Christmas pud.
Buy now £40.00, Dunelm
M&S Set of 2 Retro Scallop Check Side Plates
Lean into Scandi-style Christmas with these pink and red checked side plates from M&S, which feature a subtly festive golden edge. Right now, if you spend £35 on homeware, you can also grab a beauty advent calendar for £60. Winner.
Buy now £10.00, M&S
Perch & Parrow Timeless Tidings Christmas Placemat, Set of 4
Contemporary tablescaping prizes mixing and matching, and this set of four placemats from Perch & Parrow will allow you to create subtle visual differences in your Xmas set-up with ease. However, should you prefer the bows to the checks or vice versa, all four placemats are reversible, with both designs on either side.
Buy now £26.00, Perch & Parrow
Primark Home 2pk Christmas Tree Napkin Rings
Primark Home is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for viral tableware. Though I tend to keep a keen eye out for pieces that’ll stand the test of time, style-wise. These bejewelled napkin rings won't take up too much space in your Christmas decorations cupboard, and will add some subtle charm to your set-up.
Buy now £4.00, Primark
Emma Bridgewater Gold Toast Gravy Jug & Stand
A gloriously golden gravy jug that needn’t be limited to festive tidings, though its shining lettering will most definitely add some sparkle to your festive spread.
Buy now £55.00, Emma Bridgewater
Bitossi Stella Round Platter
Subtly celebratory but not overly Christmassy, this is another investment platter that you can bring out for various seasonal celebrations – including birthdays. It measures a sizeable 32.5cm in diameter and is handmade with porcelain.
Buy now £98.00, Liberty
Culinary Concepts Mouse Picks and Holder
Cheese, anyone? Delight guests with this charcuterie board accessory – a silver cheese wedge with holes perfectly placed for matching mouse picks.
Buy now £44.95, Liberty
Burleigh x Bedeck of Belfast Green Hibiscus Napkins, Set of 4
Heritage style year-round is just a click away. These green hibiscus striped napkins will most definitely become a dinner party staple. Crafted from 100 per cent cotton.
Buy now £18.00, Burleigh
Dibor Bella Perle Beaded Glass Salad Bowl
For salads made to be seen, this beaded glass bowl from Dibor will add to your festive dinner table without stealing too much attention. Fill it with Christmassy veg or a tomato, basil and mozzarella salad.
Buy now £19.00, Dibor
John Lewis Beaded Bow Wine Glass Charms, Set of 6, Assorted
An understated, delightful way to add charm (pun intended) to your tablescape, these wine glass decorations look festive and have a practical application too – guests won’t forget which glass is theirs.
Buy now £8.00, John Lewis
M&S Christmas Flower Tablescape
Christmas florals made effortless, all thanks to M&S. These seasonal bud vases come with enough blooms for six guests – including 19 stems of rose, hemlock shimmer, santini purpetta, hypericum, and mini pine cones, too. Lovely little red vases are included.
Available to order from December 12.
Buy now £45.00, M&S
Gaspari Set of Six Stripe Wreath Christmas Crackers
A chic set of Christmas crackers goes a long way in the world of festive tablescaping, and these striped ones by Gaspari come with a lovely illustrated wreath. Each includes a trinket, foil crown and – of course – a joke.
Buy now £19.95, Graham and Green
Lamp Post Decorative Shaped Wax Candle
These decorative candles are fantastic because they don’t require you to invest in a set of equally festive and far more expensive candle holders. They’ll burn slowly and beautifully over Christmas dinner – just be sure to pop them on a wipe-clean coaster.
Buy now £26.00, Anthropologie
Morgan Wine Glasses, Set of 2
Realised in a lovely moss green hue, these value-for-money wine glasses promise to bring some colour to your spread.
£24.00, Anthropologie
Habitat x Sanderson & National Trust Stripe Tablecloth
Bold, vibrant and oh-so festive, the voluminous pink ruffle on this light green tablecloth is brilliant for maximalists.
Buy now £35.00, Habitat
Klimchi Hobnail Glass Jug
A timeless piece crafted using an intricate mouth-blown technique, the Klimchi Hobnail Glass Jug in green is the perfect water vessel for any Christmas table.
Buy now £125.00, Liberty
Matilda Goad & Co
Dopamine-boosting style has skyrocketed in recent years, with kaleidoscopic colour palettes becoming the norm within both the fashion and interior spaces. Matilda Goad & Co certainly got the memo with this brilliant stainless steel and acrylic cutlery set. Available in curated colourways as well as mix-and-matchable options, your cutlery drawer is set to be the most stylish space in your home.
Buy now £110.00, Matilda Goad & Co
Mrs Alice Evergreen Flowers Dinner Plates (Set of 4)
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The beauty of a set of Mrs Alice dinner plates is that they are stylish enough to use year-round, but can be zhuzhed up with a bit of festive tablescaping know-how to elevate and accentuate their festive hues. Evergreen style, indeed.
Buy now £152.00, Mrs Alice
