The Christmas Table

There are only 19 days left until Christmas, now don't panic just yet, that's still plenty of time to think about setting your holiday table with all the festive fixings - and I'm not just talking about the turkey!


The holidays are a time for extravagance and luxury so don't skimp on the table setting.  Beef up your holiday table with layers of richly coloured fabrics and settings that sparkle and shine.  Don't stop at your usual go-to for the holidays, really deck the halls and your table to help induce the magic that comes when the family is seated all around the table laughing and eating and being merry.


To help ease the burden of having to run from shop to shop, here are some ideas for one-stop shopping for your festive settings, all the way from the side plates to the centerpiece:


Kitchen Stuff Plus
I've paired charger plates with coordinating or contrasting table runners to provide a bit of opulence for your place setting.  I like to use table runners as opposed to a full table cloth on occasion to allow the beauty of a wood table to be incorporated into the design.  Instead of running the runner the length of the table, try layering them over the sides.  Because the foundation of the table is rich, you should keep the dinnerware simple with white.  I chose stemware that was simple clear glass but if you have stems that are gold or silver, those could easily be introduced into the place setting.  


If you're so inclined, I've also included silver and gold name card holders, but there are many different options available for you to mix and match.  The apothecary jars filled with ornaments (minus the tree shown) would make a lovely centerpiece for your table with the wall mirrors placed underneath to create a bit of sparkle.  There are also lovely glass candle holder sets in red and gold that could be used as centerpieces, you just need to use your imagination.

West Elm
Using the same principals as above with the Kitchen Stuff Plus items, here are some ideas from West Elm.  Now I know I mentioned above that using table runners as opposed to full table cloths was a good idea and one I prefer, but I would like to state that I am not opposed to using a full table cloth and in fact it can be a easier option to utilize than perhaps 4-6 table runners. Especially if you plan on using dinnerware that has a pattern incorporated into it.  A solid colour table cloth in this instance would be one that I would select and try to opt for one that picks up on one of the colours in your place setting or centerpiece.


I've selected some whimsical options West Elm which I adored and which also lend to a less formal setting for your guests.  The dinner plates, dessert plates and serving platters are simple and easily blend into your holiday setting.  I selected napkins and placemats that are fun and relaxed.


The centerpiece options are limitless and what you'll see below that I've selected are some ideas that take you away from the traditional floral arrangements that we're used to seeing this time of year.  The scalloped trees intermixed with the mercury glass filled with ornaments and candles will reflect a soft glow and shimmer across your table.  The option of also using the clear glass hurricanes and ice bucket will provide ambiance and a clear view across to your guests.


The glassware I opted for has an etching of a tree and would make for a nice addition to standard plain glasses.  I also enjoyed the hammered look of the entertainment ware that West Elm offered and I could see stacks of candles mixed with ornaments used as a centerpiece.  But in all reality, the options are limitless so don't be afraid to mix and mingle your place setting and serving ware options.

Pier 1
Holidays at Pier 1 are always a special event, the stores are decked out with the most fabulous items, so this should be anyone's stop on their holiday list.  It is so easy to get kitschy over the holidays because everything is just so darn adorable, but I try to keep the table setting a bit more sophisticated.  Fun whimsical plates are fine, but I stay away from plates shaped like gingerbread people or Christmas trees for the formal table setting.


I selected a primarily red and gold palate from Pier 1, this is one of my favourite holiday colour combinations, but you could easily select other colour palates from the many options available at Pier 1 (or other stores).  I enjoyed the green and red bird patterned plates combined with the plain white porcelain to give the place setting a pop.  The gold or green table runners look very festive and each lend themselves to a different type of table setting in both appearance and overall feeling.  I also found the doily plates to add texture and interest to the place setting if you wanted to opt for strictly white dinnerware.  Even the star-burst patterned setting would look festive and provide a more cohesive look.


The stemware in champagne and gold tones I found to warm up the overall appearance but you could easily incorporate plain clear glass, I found cracked glass stemware below which adds texture and overall interest to the table.


The gold lacquer tray with rows of candles and ornaments could act as your centerpiece or you could opt for the red wreath (if your table is large enough) with the gold and red flameless luminaries protruding from the center instead.  The red and gold bowl filled with ornaments could also pose as a centerpiece if your table is smaller.  Pier 1 is filled with ideas so be sure to scour the shelves for other fun ideas.

Crate and Barrel
I really like the selection at Crate and Barrel so it was only natural to include them in our one-stop shopping for the holiday table.  The items that I selected are again based on the traditional red, green and gold colour scheme, but they do have non-traditional colour schemes available (as do many of the other shops mentioned above).  The red and gold chargers paired with the delicate gold leaf patterned dinnerware are stunning and you could either go with all gold or mix in the red.  


I really enjoy the Marimekko gold and white botanical table cloth which again would look stunning with the gold chargers and either the gold leaf or gold and silver patterned dinnerware.  The green solid coloured tablecloth would look lovely paired with the red dinnerware, Christmas tree themed name card holders and adorable flatware stocking holders for a very festive table.  I threw in a couple of table runners in silver and gold and you can see how easily the gold and silver or gold leaf patterned dinnerware work together.


For a festive centerpiece and in keeping with the woodsy-like theme (with the Marimekko table cloth and gold leaf patterned dinnerware) I thought the bone china and gold pine cones mixed together in the footed glass dish (or dishes) with the white and gold leaves scattered across the table would look lovely along with the delicate snowflake candleholders.  To give a rustic warmth to the whole table.

So as you can see from the various options above that the choices are endless.  You could either stick to one shop and get everything you need, or you can build your collection from various locations to create that beautiful holiday table that your friends and family will covet!


Happy Shopping!