Whether you’re welcoming friends or family, the Christmas dinner is one of the highlights of the festive season. Aside from the gifts, it gives us a chance to fully engage with our nearest and dearest – while indulging in some delicious food that we wouldn’t normally eat.

To make a real impact and present the most important meal of the year in the best possible way, the table setting is just as important as the food. From the moment your guests enter the dining room, the right layout will communicate the right sentiment. Too formal, and the ambience leans towards the stiff and clinical. Too casual and you might find the magic dissipates quicker than you’d hoped. Here are some of our favourite Christmas setting ideas so you can get the balance just right.

A Centerpiece

that, as the host, you get to indulge your personal preferences. A centerpiece quietly announces that your dinner is a special one while giving your table a focal point. It doesn’t have to be anything ‘showy’: something as simple as the Shinola Makers Lar Centerpiece Bowl will help to set the tone and, on a practical level, hold a few fluffy roast potatoes. 

For those who favour a more farmhouse feel to their seasonal celebrations, rustic options like of the Hallen Reclaimed Wood Centerpiece Bowl should tick all the right boxes. However, if you want to add a magical glow to your dining table, check out the Reflection Black Metal Centerpiece – perfect for adding a touch of candlelight warmth to your dining experience.

Plates and Dishes 

Everyone wants their Christmas dinner to be a perfect experience, particularly the host. While the food might have been cooked to its best, it can lose its appeal if it’s not presented on the appropriate dinnerware. Choosing the right plates, dishes, and bowls can have a huge impact on the visual appeal of your Christmas meal. Whether you prefer the simplicity of something like the Mercer Dinner Plate or the wow factor of the Cove Glazed Indigo Blue Glazed Dinner Plate, choosing the right dinnerware gives you the chance to indulge your inner restaurateur and serve something that looks as good as it tastes

Tableware

Even if you don’t fancy fir trees and elves on your tablecloth, your tableware helps you to set the scene, and tone, for your guests. Something with a novel aspect will encourage your visitors to tell awful, cracker-pulled, jokes, while something more formal might let them know that the meal is something significant. With summer behind is, it could be time to explore different colours and textures that are more evocative of the festive season. For something uncomplicated, check out the Marin White Table Throw. If you want to get your family relaxed and conversational, something like the Chesney Rosewood Linen Striped Tablecloth could be just what Santa ordered.

If you’re stuck for ideas on how to perfectly set your Christmas table, browse our website. From cutlery and napkins to centerpieces and table linen, we’ve got everything you need to ensure your Christmas dinner is one that won’t be forgotten!