Set the festive table

Christmas sees families spending more time together around the dining table than at any other time of the year, so it needs to feel as festive as your Christmas tree.

When deciding on your decorations remember your table has to be both pretty and usable. It is pointless creating a breath-taking display if it has to be dismantled the moment people sit down to dine.

If you have the space in your dining area, set up a small table to act as a serving station. For ease you can then nominate a given server to dish up for each of your guests – a great job to involve your older children. This minimises traffic around the dining table, so you can maximise your seating space. Alternatively, lay out serving dishes in the kitchen and get guests to help themselves before sitting down to dine.

Adopting either of these methods will ensure the only additions to your table will be drink, gravy and sauces; allowing you to use the centre of your table for a festive display without fear of compromise. Once the practical elements are sorted, you can turn your attention to your theme. While Christmas tends to be a riot of colour, I would advise using a maximum of two accent colours on your table to avoid sensory overload. A plain tablecloth makes the perfect backdrop for any Christmas design, but why not think out of the box? Head away from white or cream and embrace chocolate or black to make the traditional festive red and green look wonderfully contemporary. Alternatively, the impact of Disney’s Frozen is ensuring that ice white and cool blue is being heralded as the combination of the season. Use beaded silver accessories for extra shimmer to give a sophisticated adult take on this look. Start with your centrepiece and use this as the basis for choosing anything that will grace your table. It does not have to be intricate: a simple grouping of candles surrounded by fruit can create a mouth-watering, practical and tasty option.

However it is important to ensure your centrepiece is low level. This avoids any problems with sight lines at the table. Extend the colours from your centrepiece onto the rest of your table by incorporating votives, wine glasses and napkins in complementary colours. Add a personal decoration for every place setting that picks up the theme. A simple way to do this is to tie napkins with a ribbon in your accent colour and attach a Christmas decoration. Alternatively, satisfy your inner baker by making gingerbread shapes and ice them with guests’ names – these will make lovely alternative place-holders and a delicious post dinner nibble. Keep the edible treat theme going by scattering small sweets or foil wrapped chocolates around the table for a Willy Wonka style surprise that your guests can enjoy tucking into.

Finish by incorporating your chairs into the design by dressing them with a length of one or two-inch thick ribbon of your accent colour tied in a big bow at the back and hanging a small decoration from each one.

Your table will then surely be as delicious as your dinner.

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