Thoughtful Tablescapes : Set a Cozy Scene for Christmas Dinner!

 Whether you’re hosting a cozy family dinner or a festive Christmas feast, setting the table can be such a fun thing! In this post, I share simple and easy tablescape ideas to add a special touch to your holiday meals.

Listen to this post on the Harbour Breeze Home Podcast with Rita Joy:

If you know me, you’ll know that my favorite part of any kind of special meal is setting the table. Maybe my love of pretty table settings comes from the fact that my “chore” from Mom was setting the table when we had a big family dinner.

Or maybe it was from the 4 years of Sunday lunches at Grandma Jennie’s when I was in college. Every time I walked into her small apartment after church, she would have her 50s’ chrome table set with a pretty tablecloth and some kind of color co-ordinated place setting and centerpiece. It made me feel so special and loved.

And, that’s the feeling I want others to feel when they come up to the dinner table and find it set in a “special” way.

Must-Have Items to Collect for an Effortless Christmas Tablescape

I mentioned earlier that I am a Christmas minimalist when it comes to Christmas decor – limiting my decorations to what can fit in 2 plastic totes.

However, I might be considered a “collector” when it comes to table setting options!! I do limit things to the space I have, but here are the things I constantly look for on sale, in thrift stores, or at yard sales. I like to look for items that will easily mix and match with each other.

• Paper napkins – both seasonal and neutral patterned. Look for them when the seasons are winding down and they’ll often be on good sales.
• Cloth napkins – Look for cloth napkins that are made with a fabric that will wash well. I have a little collection of both vintage cloth napkins and new ones in different patterns.
• Plate chargers – My wicker chargers are my absolute favorite chargers that I reach for most often. My other favorites that are a close second are leather look chargers and wood look chargers. They add so much style to a table setting.
• Placemats – Sometimes I use placemats and chargers, and sometimes I use placemats alone. Again, look for placemats that will wash well. One of my favorite set of placemats I’ve used for nearly 34 years and they still look amazing after many washes. Personally, I like to choose machine washable placemats over hard wipeable ones.
• White dinnerware – Although I do have some super sentimental china of my Mom’s (You can see it here), I most often use my set of plain white dishes. They go with everything!
• Neutral tablecloths – If your table is in good shape, you might be able to get away with not using a tablecloth. However, my dear old tabletop is a mess! I always have a tablecloth on it. My favorites are my white linen one, and a beige one with a ruffle that goes with everything, too!
• Table runners – Oh, how I love a good table runner. It is one of the star players in setting the scene!

The Art of Layering for a Stunning Christmas Table

After studying many pictures and reading tips for pretty Christmas tablescapes, I realized that much of the beauty comes in layering. Using the picture above as an example, here are the basic layers I’ve started to use for a pretty tablescape:

• Tablecloth
• Table Runner
• Placemat
• Plate Charger
• Dinner plate
• Napkin #1
• Dessert plate
• Napkin #2
• Decorative placecard holder
• Centerpiece in the middle

Of course that is just a suggestion, but I find it’s the fun mix that works for me. It allows for lots of opportunity to mix and match different patterns and textures.

Include a fun personalized touch for each guest at the table settings

I love the idea of creating something special to have at each placesetting. Placecards with each person’s name is one idea to do that. Here are some more ideas:

• Make DIY placecard holders that look like gifts using scrap pieces of wood and fabric.
• Print off this set of Christmas dinner place cards that have a Scandinavian look to them.
• Fold napkins in a fun way – like in a pocket to hold the set of silverware. You can check out that idea in this post for a simple christmas table.

Shop this Post

Disclosure: The following links are affiliate links provided for your shopping convenience.