The Christmas tree might steal a lot of the glory, but it is undoubtedly the Christmas table which holds the Best Supporting Actor role during the festive season. It does a lot of heavy lifting – it’s where the day begins with cups of tea and scrambled eggs, becomes the stage for the main event of Christmas lunch, and ends with a half-empty bottle of red and the last of the cheese. The table is the setting for so many of the festive season’s best moments, and dressing it beautifully feels like an essential part of the celebration.
Here, Jack shares his favourite pieces for setting the Christmas table.
Start with the Linen
The first step to taking your dining table up a notch is to use proper linen. Soft, tactile and inviting, it instantly makes things feel more special. A tablecloth by Charvet Éditions, makes the perfect base layer. These fine French woven linens feature beautiful design details and have a lovely lived-in weight and will last for years.
For a classic look, choose the prettily embroidered Venise tablecloth in crisp white or the more minimalist Como in natural flax. Both provide a neutral backdrop that works with almost any colour palette, meaning they can be used all year round. If you like to add a touch of red to your festive table, the Rythmo has a subtle linear weave, while Reseda adds texture with delicate embroidery.
Don’t worry about pressing your linen to within an inch of its life – a few relaxed creases feel effortless and add to the sense of comfort.
Add Layers
Once you’ve laid your foundation, think in layers. Napkins are the simplest way to add a note of refinement – whether you simply fold them, tie them with a ribbon or even just knot them loosely in the middle. The Venise, Reseda or Rythmo napkins (all by Charvet Éditions) pair beautifully with their matching tablecloths, but we also like to mix and match textures.
If you prefer to have linen specifically for Christmas, June & December’s white cotton pine and fir napkins are a lovely option. Made from 100% cotton and screen printed with eco-friendly inks with two designs, they are reversible allowing for more versatility with your table settings. Try alternating the designs at each place.
When it comes to ceramics, stick to a restrained palette. Simple white plates always work, and they allow your food and linen to take the spotlight. Feldspar’s classic blue-rimmed fine bone china dinner plates are a year-round classic and work for both informal and more dressy occasions.
Jars’ Refectoire plates nod to classic 18th century designs and are pleasingly weighty. The matching oval serving dishes are available in three sizes and are the perfect vessels for abundant festive side dishes, and even the turkey itself.
Tablemats and coasters offer another opportunity to add layers of texture and interest (and a chance to save your linen from spills). Gone Rural’s woven grass placemats with a forest green rim give a subtle nod to the season, while the white tweed lutindiz and sisal placemat are a useful neutral.
Cutlery and Glassware
You can never have too many glasses at Christmastime and Zafferano’s beautiful designs – whether for wine glasses, tumblers or cocktail glasses – offer something for every taste. If you’re catering to a large number don’t worry about mismatched glassware – the play of heights, colours and textures across the table is what makes it interesting.
Decanting your red wine in advance of the meal will allow it to ‘breathe’, opening up its aromas and separating any sediment, improving the experience of drinking it exponentially. As a rule of thumb, light-bodied reds such as Pinot Noir and Zinfandel should be decanted for 30 minutes before drinking. Aim for an hour for medium-bodied reds such as Merlot, while full-bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz benefit from up the three hours. Old wines typically need less time – as little as 15-30 minutes – as they can lose more delicate notes if decanted for too long. Peugot’s Capitane mouth-blown glass decanter is an elegant choice which also looks beautiful on the table.
When it comes to cutlery, the right pieces make all the difference to a Christmas table. Charingworth strikes exactly the right note — beautifully weighted with clean, timeless lines in contemporary and vintage-inspired designs that feel special without shouting for attention. Whether you prefer the understated elegance of stainless steel or the warmth of a brushed finish, good cutlery lends a sense of occasion to even the simplest place setting.
Let there be Candlelight
No self-respecting festive table is complete without candles, and lots of them. The flicker of candlelight bouncing off glass and silver adds warmth faster than any amount of tinsel. From Laetitia Rouget’s tulip candle holder to the modern classic Feldspar candelabra, a three-arm candleholder always adds a level of grandeur to the table. A row of tall tapers in simple candleholders feels classic and architectural; add tealights or small votives at different levels for a softer glow.
The choice of candle matters too. Natural beeswax is not only better for your health and the environment, it smells wonderful too. Five Bees Yard’s tapers are made from natural beeswax and a cotton wick – nothing else. If you like coloured candles, choose from their range of tapered beeswax dinner candles made with natural mineral-based dyes. The olive green, forest green and burgundy red are classic choices for Christmas.
Bring the Outside In
Foliage and flowers add another celebratory layer to the festive table. Gather a few stems of eucalyptus, some cuttings of pine, fir or even rosemary and arrange them loosely down the centre of the table — they’ll smell wonderful and last for days. Throw them on the fire once they’re past their best to scent your whole house.
If you want colour, a few sprigs of hypericum or ilex berries, a tower of clementines or a handful of dried orange slices add depth without veering into kitsch. A dish filled with walnuts adds a rustic touch while also providing a festive snack. Westmark’s nutcracker, with its wooden handles and die-cast zinc is as pleasing to hold as it is easy to use.
A word of caution: avoid dense or overly tall centrepieces – you want your guests to be able to see each other across the table.
The Personal Touches
This is where you can have some fun. A handwritten place card instantly makes guests feel thought of, even if your handwriting is questionable. Personalised crackers, handfuls of glittering chocolate coins or gold and silver sugared almonds scattered along the table add nostalgia for the older guests and delight for the younger ones.
As a special treat, we also love Laetitia Rouget’s wonderful slogan dessert plates. Choose one to suit your guest’s personality and it will double up as a Christmas present they’ll love.
