Christmas dinner table

[oldbirdtree]

First year hosting christmas. We'll be 11. I have a lovely red with little silver stars tablecloth.

What do you put on your table to make it special? What centerpiece do you use?

I am prepared to spend a little to make the table really festive

I love candles so we usually have tall gold candlesticks in the middle of the table as our table is quite email so it's elegant but does not take up room better used for food!

Another idea would be flowers/holly/battery operated lights in a low vase so people can still see each other. Silver and red would be easy to mimic.

Pinterest is fabulous in my opinion for ideas and then you can shop for similar items

Thanks user. I love the gold candles idea.

I'm having a centrepiece with a antiqued silver base full of roses. Then I've smaller mismatched antiqued silver tea light holders for along the table and some bud vases for gyp. I'm not a fan of tall centrepieces or candles as I find it hard to talk/serve around them without burns/things getting knocked over. Last year I had goldfish bowl vases with floating tea lights and greenery

Anyone any ideas for a nice table setting for a table that comfortably sits 6 but is gong to have to seat 7!? Also, do you not need the middle of the table to put serving dishes on? My table looked rubbish last year!

Nicky i'm going to dish up in the kitchen rather than put food in the centre if the table

I normally have a gold twiggy centre piece with delicate lights on in a plain glass vase. Not too tall. I normally go elegant but this year I am going cheesy fun so no idea what I am doing.

If you have silver stars, I'd go with silver candles rather than gold.

I also like to do a small flower arrangement - I put a small round florist tray with a block of oasis in it, into the top of a terracotta flowerpot (I get the pot sized so that the tray just sits flush with the top). I weigh down the pot with stones under the tray, so it won't tip. I put a red candle in the middle (for Christmas) and surround it with greenery (mostly from the garden), berries (garden or florist), a little bit of baby's breath (white stuff) and 3 red roses (both of those from florist). Many florists make up similar, but I reuse the pot and tray every year, have decent greenery, and enjoy taking 10 minutes to concoct it myself.

If you need space for dishes for main course, why not have something in the middle for when people walk in to the room that stays for starter but easily lifts off for main course - a twiggy thing or whatever?

And of course, a cracker on each plate helps to make the table look lovely and festive too.

Setting the table is my favourite Christmas task! I do it the night before. Last year I filled a huge glass vase with white and silver baubles and fairy lights. I also tucked a sprig of holly into the napkin rings. Love the thought of tall dinner candles but our table is small and I worry about them getting knocked over!

What do you mean by we'll be 11?

My DD is 13 and very into Pinterest/crafty stuff. DH has asked her to have a look for some ideas as to how to set the table for Christmas luncj. I was entertained the other day to hear her asking DH what her budget was - I think he was thinking of some Pinterest-inspired cunningly folded napkins!

How do you all have room for extra stuff on the table? I can barely fit the glasses, condiments, wine bottles and food on mine! I want pretty stuff too!

I mean there will be 11 of us eating.

I like the vase filled with stuff idea!

We'll be 7. I have a white damask cloth with a red and gold runner, red and gold circular table mats, and some gold serving mats. I have a Christmas floral and candle arrangement at one end of the table. There is usually so much out on the table plus crackers and glasses that works best for us and avoids candle flames catching cuffs and napkins as serving dishes are passed.

I leave it to dh. There will only be 4 of us and we have a large, 8 seater glass topped table. DH loves to plan the decorations for the table - candles, table confetti and baubles will feature.

I bring in my small garden table and cover with a table cloth and then put the tureens/dishes on that - I just add it to the end of my dining table which has a white tablecloth on, pearlised white candles, then crackers next to each plate. I also have a few tables gems (look like large diamonds) dotted around and the candle light catches them - so pretty.
I love a pretty Christmas table.

There will be 10 of us including DGS in his high chair. I will have a damask sheet, with white candles, red napkins and red and silver crackers.

I love decorating the Christmas table too. I weave holly, ivy and ribbons around the loopy base of a candle holder.

11 op? How big is your table!?

I have a lovely dark wood table with ivory legs and chairs.I bought a dark cream runner with pretty vintage robins and I bought plate chargers with a similar design

This year I am going for gold crackers, gold effect cutlery and an ivory and gold dinner set.

I don't put anything else on the table except wine glasses with festive napkins as I have a fairy light garland on the windowsill beside the table.

I have an oval mirror which has lost its frame. Sonetmes I use it as a centrepiece with ivy twining round to mask the edge and tea lights in the middle with evergreen stuff and little red baubles or whatever comes to hand. The work of a moment but it is very pretty.,

Sainsbury - robin print

It's big - 3m long so we should all fit.

I'm loving all the ideas on this thread. I'm not crafty at all but I think even I could do some of the simpler suggestions. Thanks