Table dressing

[NeverHadANickname]

I don't have anything to decorate the table for Christmas, I need everything but I don't know exactly what I want. My normal colours are reds, gold, green, that type of thing. I like everything to feel warm and cosy. Every time I get an idea I think it looks cheap and tacky. I quite like this but I feel like I need red but then it stars feeling like its too much. I always over complicate things. Would a simple cream table cloth with gold accessories and candles be nice. A table runner? Place mats?

I don't suppose anywhere will be selling this stuff yet but if its a plain cloth for example I might find one.

Any ideas? Sharing what you do for yours would give me ideas and get me even more excited .

[JeanetteDanielsBenziger]

You need pinterest........search 'Christmas dining table'........be prepared to lose hours though.

I tend to keep it simple with a burgundy velvet table runner and a plate of cream candles surrounded by ivy.

[JeanetteDanielsBenziger]

So it is! :-)

[NeverHadANickname]

It's the Christmas topic...

Thanks Jeanette, I set up a pinterest account a couple of days ago but don't really get it yet. I have one Christmas picture.

[Mrsgrumble]

If you're not into Pinterest yet, just google image your ideas

Maybe 'Christmas table elegant'

Like this...

I bought cream and gold table mats, a new dinner set with gold design and and keeping it simple. Will close the blinds and have fairy lights on the windowsill which runs along the length of the dining table. As a centrepiece I will burn three chunky candles.

There will only be me, dh and two babies (one newborn and one just one year old so they won't appreciate my efforts much)

[Mrsgrumble]

This, sorry

[Mrsgrumble]

You could spray paint pears in gold and use black card and gold pen to placename ;)

[NeverHadANickname]

That's very nice. Do you think plastic pears would work? .

My table isn't even for Christmas day itself, I have an early Christmas for some in laws then the real Christmas at someone else's house. There'll be 5 of us at mine including a 5 and 6 year old, DH who is the Grinch and a teenage relative who will tell me it looks nice to be nice so it's all for my benefit.

I am apparently incapable of linking to a Google image so I've saved one I've found and hopefully it'll load ok but is this nice? Too much? I always go over the top.

[NeverHadANickname]

Do it Kormachameleon, you know you want to otherwise you wouldn't have posted on a Christmas thread

[JeanetteDanielsBenziger]

Go for it korma Do what I do, plan it all in July,august and September then forget all about it until last week in November :-)

[NeverHadANickname]

Ok I think I'm starting to understand pinterest now I'm on the computer rather than phone.

[Heels99]

I have done the gold spray pears plots of times. Cheap and effective. I find with those pics of Xmas tables my table never looks like that as in the pics there is no room for food is there? Do they clear all the nick jacks off the table befor bringing turkey out?

[NeverHadANickname]

Yes I did wonder about food, my table isn't very big either. It would be amazing to have it all set up for about a week though. My dining room doesn't get decorated because I have never known what to do with it.

I do have a black candelabra (small) which I used last year and wanted to twist holly round it this year. I'm just going to ignore the fact it's black and doesn't probably go with red and gold because I love it. I could have red or gold candles.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I love my Christmas Traditions and doing the Christmas Table is definately one of them. (DH asks me what my theme will be)

I have 2 dinnersets - a plain white and an ivy patterned,
Table covers - dark green+napkins, a cream brocade + napkins and a Paisley sage/gold with sage napkins.
Then I have sheer viole covers - white with silver spots/ gold/ burgandy.

I work out what I want for the 24th/25th/26th then 31/1st (all have to be different )

Add candles (but not loads , not high , maybe floating ones?)


Are the young DC at your table? Or older people (my Dad burned himself on a table candle)

Allow room for all your glasses, crackers,cutlery,gravy boat
Do you use a heated tray or keep things warm in the oven?
Where do you put serving plates? Drinks - bottles , jugs?

Last year I used my cream cover, white plates, gold runner, gold tablemats (plain) and coasters (those beaded ones) with gold candles. Sweet boxes ( cream/gold) on each plate, crackers

NYE I used the white/silver with a silver candleabra.

I love red/gold/green for Christmas, it's opulent and cosy.

Plan (a bit) and if you see something you love and need (Homesense I'm looking at you) buy it when you see it.

[NeverHadANickname]

That sounds good. Everyone is at the same table.

My problem is (and is the main reason I plan so early) that when everywhere gets into the full swing of having stuff like this in the shops I have a major event going on which consumes me from the start of November (and before to a lesser extent) until mid December. I feel like I never get chance to just have a look around and find things I like so everything stays rubbish.

Maybe QVC will have some in July.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

QVC will have things like pre-lit wreaths/trees/swags (the swags can be put along the centre of the table like a runner, then you don't need to worry about candles)
They do those flameless candles (there are loads out in the shops, some are nice, some naff) - I got some good ones in Costco

Yankee Candles too

They don't tend to do tablecovers or crockery (unlike QVC USA) but the best places I found are HomeSense and The Range (HomeSense is TKMaxx homeware)

My cream tablecover was in Debenhams a couple of years back (at the tail-end of the sales, 75% off, the original price , if this was true , was £120, I got it for £30) I need a huge cover (table seats 8+ ) and though I wanted the red one, it wasn't big enough.

[Mrsgrumble]

www.amazon.co.uk/Runner-Luxury-Flower-cloths-Partner/dp/B00JYX68W8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405264323&sr=8-3&keywords=Black%20gold%20table%20mats&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

This would match your black candelabra and you could buy gold charger plates which are always in poundland etc

I have a foldaway table that I use sometimes to save space on the dinner table ..was a few pound in Argos

[Heels99]

When I put my gold table mats on it does kind of spoil the look. In photos they already have the plates on the table or use charger plates. Any thoughts? They never have table mats in posh restaurants do they.
So this year we are 9 for Xmas day and Xmas eve and 5 for boxing day. I can extend our table. I need enough white table cloths for every day because do tend to get dirty with kids. White China. Nice glasses. My runners probably won't stretch with table extended and with food dishes won't have much room for other bits. What can I do instead of table mats? I make my own floral centrepiece

[Heels99]

I have got the China and glasses already. Need new napkins

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My gold mats are round ,laquered ones from M&S ( a bit like a charger plate) I'm put off charger plates because they can't be dishwasher washed (they wouldn't fit in either) so I'd need to store them somewhere.
The mats all go back in their box and don't take up much room.

White tablecovers would only manage one meal here so it makes do difference if there's mats or not.

There are nice 'linen look' paper ones (I used to use these when my DC were small) -maybe keep the white fabric one for the Christmas Day meal and use disposable ones the other days? - you need to make things as easy as you can for yourself

[Ladymoods]

Oh great. Now I'm going to have to get my collection of Christmas magazines and books out.

[Heels99]

Yes my gold mats are m&s laquer but they aren't round think that makes a difference

[iloveholidays]

Watching with interest. We had our first Christmas at home last year and the only thing I was disappointed about was the table

It wasn't Christmasy enough so plan to change that this year!!!! :)