Christmas Dining Table Planning :)

[iloveholidays]

I know I know, it's only October but I want to start keeping an eye out for some bits for our dining table for Christmas.

We had our first Christmas at home last year and it was my only disappointment (I know it sounds silly) that I hadn't made more effort.

Anyway, I'm looking for coasters, placemats etc and fun ideas. I want fun but not tacky if that's feasible. Have 3 young girls.

Thank you!

A nice way to dress the table for everyone is to have a named place card which makes them feel special. You could attach a label to a tiny Christmas tree or a decoration at each place. Instead of crackers you could have a tiny stocking or sack with a little gift inside (for when dinner is finished!) This is nice for anyone joining you for the meal as well.

My cousin used to have a knitted snowman on their table, with small gifts for everyone. She said it was a good incentive for the DC to eat up. She also said it was a good excuse for mummy to have a new eyeshadow or lippie! One year when DS was 3 we made little card 'baskets' which he decorated and they had a little gift and a Thorntons individual Christmas truffle wrapped in tissue inside.

I haven't seen much in the way of childrens Christmas tableware around yet.

Plain coloured baubles with names written on in gold or silver pen for the place cards, fancily folded napkins the girls could do these following YouTube ideas, candle standing in a plate of garden greenery.

Thank you some lovely ideas

Watching with interest... I'm looking for ideas as well. Going to browse Pinterest later.

Watching too! It's only me and DH and two young DC for Christmas Day -but we will have visits from PIL after Christmas.
I want it to create the feeling of a special meal for all of us - without resorting to glitter for the DCs !

If you have little DC, instead of candles you could wind a string of battery powered LED lights in amongst your Christmas foliage arrangement. Or you could wind them around a twiggy wreath or garland. We have a gold leaves/berries/twiggy garland across our dining table with lights on, it looks very effective. It's safe too as it can be left unattended. You can get the lights most places.

Check our Rocking Rudolf on Amazon- lots of cute child friendly stuff, including a quiz, bubbles, poppers etc

Charger plates are lovely and most shops do them. Stick to a theme. Gold and cream with red berries or tartan and green foliage

I got christmas chair covers from amazon for a tenner for a set of four- really novel and will brighten up the room.