16 Holiday Table Setting Ideas for Christmas
I love the idea of creating a beautiful, warm atmosphere for Christmas dinner and what better way to do that than by setting the table with some lovely Holiday themed décor.
The heart of the holidays is gathering around the table with the people you love, share stories, and just soak up all that festive fever.
So, when you take that extra effort of creating a stunning tablescape it makes your guests feel truly special and they will cherish it forever.
And let’s be honest, you don’t want your loved ones to stare at a blank table, especially during Christmas, I mean that would be a little weird.
I mean we put so much effort in decorating the Christmas tree, the mantle, or a cute holiday tiered tray but the table deserves just as much attention.
So, in this post I’ve shared 16 holiday table setting ideas that you can recreate or use to create your own unique Christmas tablescape.
Basic Tips for a Stunning Holiday Tablescape
Before we proceed to the rest of the post, here are some easy tips to create a stunning tablescape for every season.
- Focus on the Details: Small personal touches, like a tiny ornament on a napkin or a name card, show your guests you thought of them.
- Pick a Theme: Choose a color palette or style to guide all your decor choices.
- Layer Your Table: Start with a runner or tablecloth, add a centerpiece, and build a detailed place setting on top.
- Mix Heights & Add Light: Use a mix of tall candles and low garlands to create visual interest. Light candles to make the table glow.
Gingerbread Christmas Tablescape
image via Pinterest
What makes this table setting so unique is the centerpiece of gingerbread houses which looks like a charming holiday village.
Different textures like the snow-dusted greenery, frosted pinecones, and candlelight, makes this design incredibly thoughtful and personal.
Recreate this Gingerbread Tablescape
- Use pre-made gingerbread house kits, or if you’re feeling ambitious, bake them yourself!
- Place a simple white tablecloth or a garland of green branches down the center of the table.
- Arrange different sized houses gingerbread houses, pinecones and other greenery on the table.
- Place a few battery-operated fairy lights or tea light candles to make your village sparkle.
Pastel Winter Wonderland
image via Pinterest
This tablescape moves away from bold reds and greens to create a calm and sophisticated look that feels like a chic winter wonderland.
The ornaments in mint green, dusty rose, and delicate gold create a stunning visual effect.
How to Recreate the Look
- Use a crisp white tablecloth and white plates to make the pastel colors pop.
- Run a mix of different ornaments in glittery and matte textures down the middle of the table.
- Tuck in delicate sprigs of greenery like fern fronds, eucalyptus, or frosted pine for some freshness and contrast.
- Choose gold or brass cutlery to complement the soft pastel tones.
| Related Post: 25 Pink Christmas Decor Ideas |
Whimsical Christmas Village Tablescape
image via Pinterest
This Christmas table setting brings a charming, little world right to the middle of your table.
The centerpiece is a bright miniature red village that feels straight out of a storybook. It uses classic red, white, and green color palette, which makes the little red houses pop against the snowy white backdrop.
Recreate Your Christmas Village
- Use a simple white runner then, run a red ribbon or fabric down each side to create a clear “road” for your village.
- Set up your village with a collection of miniature red houses. You can find pre-made ones at most craft stores, or you can even make them out of cardboard and paint.
- Fill in the spaces between the houses with small green and white bottle-brush trees to complete the village scene.
- Use red and white plates and napkins that complement your village without distracting from the main event.
Rustic Holiday Table Decor
image via Pinterest
This tablescape blends a traditional Christmas color palette with earthy, natural textures. The contrast between the red tablecloth, raw wood slices and rustic burlap runner looks beautiful.
How to Recreate This Tablescape
- Lay a deep red or a forest green tablecloth and run a simple burlap runner down the center of the table.
- Place a long garland of fresh or faux evergreen branches, like cedar or cypress on top of the burlap.
- Tuck in a few key decorative elements along the greenery like glittery gold poinsettias, a few rustic-looking pinecones, and small votive candles in glass holders.
- Use thick wood slices as chargers under your dinner plates.
- Place simple white plates to let the natural textures shine.
- Tie your napkins with a piece of twine or a thin ribbon and tuck a small sprig of greenery or a cinnamon stick.
All Green Holiday Table Setting
image via Pinterest
This holiday table setting is a beautiful example of how focusing on a single color can make a huge statement.
The forest green shade feels fresh, different from the typical Christmas color explosion.
While the centerpiece is a charming, miniature forest with little bottle-brush trees and tiny gingerbread houses.
It’s such little details that makes your Christmas decorations feels really thoughtful and creative.
Tips to create this Holiday Table Decor
- Stick to one main color, like forest green, and use different shades of it throughout your decor.
- Lay a simple garland, then, nestle in some little decorative items, like miniature trees, small houses, or even just some decorative baubles.
- Use dark, tall tapered candles to add a beautiful vertical element.
- Get napkins in the same shade and place them on each plate.
Red and White Christmas Table Setting
image via Pinterest
If you are going for a quintessential holiday look, then this table arrangement could be a good reference point.
It’s classic Christmas décor with traditional textures and colors.
A plush, evergreen garland running the length of the table, filled with shiny red and gold ornaments.
The contrast between the dark tablecloth and bright pops of classic red, green, and gold sets the mood for a grand holiday dinner.
How to Recreate the Look
- A dark tablecloth will make all the festive colors really pop.
- Place a thick garland of faux or fresh evergreen branches and weave some small, battery-operated fairy lights through it.
- Scatter ornaments of different sizes in classic Christmas colors like red and gold throughout the garland.
- Get large gold chargers to stack your dinner plates and add a folded red napkin on the plates.
- Use clear crystal glassware and gold-toned silverware to complete the elegant look.
Simple Holiday Table Decorations
image via Pinterest
I love how this tablescapes makes an impact with its simple, rustic approach. It is good for those who are looking for simple and effortless holiday decor ideas.
The focus here is on natural materials and textures, like instead of using a tablecloth, the table wood serves as a beautiful base.
If you notice, the centerpiece is wonderful evergreen boughs, rustic pinecones, and simple white pillar candles, while tiny sprig and berries is placed on each plate as a final touch.
How to Recreate the Look
- If you have a rustic wooden table, let it show! If not, a simple white runner will work just as well.
- Lay a fresh or faux evergreen garland and place a few large pinecones and white pillar candles of different heights within the garland.
- Use woven placemats for a rustic, earthy feel to each place setting.
- Place a small sprig of evergreen with a few red berries on top of each plate.
Holiday Candy Cane Tablescape
image via Pinterest
Based on the candy cane theme this tablescape is a fun, fresh take on Christmas with its playful color palette.
Every element, from the scalloped-edge placemats to the glassware and decor, feels like a classic candy shop brought to life.
The centerpiece is especially clever, with sculpted trees and a candy cane candle holder, making it truly one-of-a-kind.
Tips to Recreate this
- Choose your unique color combo. In this case, it’s pink and red, but you could go with other unconventional colors like mint green and white.
- Look for placemats and a table runner with a scalloped or wavy edge.
- Use a collection of themed items like spiral-shaped candles, small decorative trees, and fresh flowers.
- Make sure your napkins, glassware, and even the Christmas crackers all fit the candy cane theme.
Rich & Regal in Burgundy
image via Pinterest
I love the color burgundy, it’s such a beautiful, luxurious color and so dramatic.
Coming to this table décor, there is an amazing contrast between polka-dot runner and napkins and the frosted greenery in the center.
Even the glassware and candles are a rich burgundy tone, making the entire table feel cohesive.
How to Recreate the Look
- Pick a single, deep color like burgundy and stick with it for all your main accents.
- Use a patterned runner or tablecloth in your main color, if possible, use napkins in this pattern as well.
- Place a large pillar candle in the middle of your table. Surround it with frosted greenery, berries, and pinecones.
- Add a few tall, tapered candles in the same rich color for a dramatic look.
- Use gold chargers under your plates and gold cutlery to complement the deep burgundy.
- If possible, get deep red or burgundy-colored glassware to tie the entire theme together.
Red Rose Christmas Tablescape
image via Pinterest
This tablescape is pure holiday glamour. Its unique appeal comes from its bold and elegant use of fresh, brilliant red roses as the main centerpiece.
The roses and chargers stand out beautifully against a crisp white tablecloth, while the tall, tapered white candles adds a sense of drama.
Recreate the Look
- Start with a plain white tablecloth for all the red to stand out.
- Arrange clusters of red roses down the center of your table.
- Place tall candle holders with long, tapered white candles between the flower arrangements.
- Use red glass or patterned chargers under your plates and opt for textured glassware for sophistication.
Buffalo Plaid Christmas Table Setting
image via Pinterest
Is it even winter without plaids? This table setting creates a warm, lumberjack-inspired holiday feel.
The centerpiece is a forest of bottle-brush trees in different shapes, sizes, and textures and the soft plaid fabric contrasts so well with the other natural elements and cutlery.
Recreate This
- Start with a buffalo plaid runner.
- Build a miniature forest with bottle-brush and other decorative trees.
- Place a few candle holders that look like wood logs or use small votive candles.
- Use wooden chargers under your plates and a white plate to let the rustic elements stand out.
Golden Holiday Table Settings
image via Pinterest
With a monochromatic gold and white palette, this tablescape is pure holiday elegance.
But the true showstoppers are the gold reindeer figurines that are simply stunning along with a few statement pieces.
Try this look
- Use a simple white tablecloth to let your gold pieces shine.
- Find a few beautiful reindeer or other gold figurines to be the centerpiece.
- Add height with a pair of tall candlesticks. Lay a garland of greenery and berries between the pieces.
- Use gold chargers and gold-toned cutlery to tie the look together.
Simple Holiday Tablescape
image via Pinterest
Don’t you think this tablescape just screams Christmas? The gorgeous arrangement of tall white candles surrounded by evergreens and pops of red berries looks simple but striking.
It’s the kind of table that feels both cheerful and classy at the same time.
Tips To Recreate
- Start with a solid red tablecloth and then layer a patterned white runner on top.
- Create the centerpiece with a low, rectangular glass piece or you could also go for a wooden crate. Fill it with a handful of fresh or faux pine or cedar branches.
- Nestle several white pillar candles into the greenery and place small sprigs of red berries throughout the branches.
- Surround the centerpiece with a few decorative votive candle holders.
Wrapping Up Holiday table setting ideas for Christmas
Now that we’ve explored all these stunning tablescape ideas, you’re ready to create a holiday table that’s perfect for you.
Play with classic traditional reds and greens or go for monochrome style in green or burgundy or move away from the norm with pastels, whatever you choose have fun creating it.
Finally, your Christmas tablescape is a beautiful way to welcome your loved ones to the table, so decorate with all your heart to create a warm inviting space for your family, guests and yourself.
Suktara
Hi! I’m Suktara, the creator of this website with a background in communication and passion for personal development, relationships, and mental health. I created this space to share honest insights and practical advice on dating, love, relationships, and self-improvement.
