How to Style a Christmas Table

Creating a Centerpiece for your Festive Table

Introduce natural materials

Adding foliage to your Christmas table is a definite favourite among style-conscious designers, including Suzanne Sharp: ‘I always rope in Vic Brotherson of Scarlet & Violet for the flowers and foliage. The table is scattered with stems of cosmos but you should never have too many dense or tall arrangements of flowers on the table, as your guests need to be able to look through them.
The cosmos are particularly good because they are in tiny, fine glass bottles that are easy to shift out of the way when you pile heaps of food on the table.’ Eucalyptus and pine are also popular choices for table decoration as they not only look stunning, but smell great too. Try arrangements in vases or create a homemade wreath or garland. Niloufar Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari of  NBB Design uses potted ponsettias which is great quick and easy solution
 

Image: Jessica Elizabeth Interior Design
Similarly, try adding fruit to your scheme, such as sugared grapes or oranges decorated with cloves. This will give a for a gorgeously spiced  Christmas scent. Also take the advice of Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen: ‘Never limit decorations to just the table.
Our house is filled with amaryllis and we cover the chandelier with greenery from the garden and top it up with pretty bits and pieces from New Covent Garden Flower Market. If you can face waking up early enough to get there in good time, then Geoff at Quality Plants is the man to go to for this kind of thing.’ Adding matching elements throughout the room will really draw the scheme together.

Make from scratch

Christmas is a great time to indulge in some crafting, and the internet is full of great ideas for festive makes. Even the top interior designer are’t beyond some do-it-yourself. Take inspiration from Emma Sims-Hilditch “We make decorated gingerbread people, which is so great to do with children.
Cut a little hole in the biscuits and hang them on the tree.” The opportunities for a Christmas table are endless, from mason jar candle holders and felt christmas trees, to extravagant displays of vintage finds. You don’t need great crafting skills either, even filling a vase with baubles or wrapping a few empty boxes with paper and ribbons, can add a lovely personal touch.

Be creative with different arrangements

A center piece needn’t mean one item placed in the middle of your table. There are many different approaches you can take. “I really believe in collections of things,” says Sims-Hilditch. “Rather than putting one wooden Christmas tree on a mantelpiece, make a collection of five different things – put a wintry scene in an old gilded picture frame, put a white angel in front of that, and add a cluster of fir cones and a glass candlestick. It’s a little piece of theatre.”
Or use Tim Gosling’s method: ‘Visually, I like to have a strong line down the centre of the table that provides an architectural element; a dense arrangement of decorations through the middle always looks great. The key is quantity – if you’re going to do something, do it with panache, style and commitment.’

Image: Fashion Mumbler

More is More

‘Christmas is all about exuberance, magic and chaos,’ says Tim Gosling. ‘If you try to do things that are too controlled or tasteful, then you’re missing the point.’ Use items you love in your decorative scheme and don’t be afraid to let go. Interior designer Virginia White even lets her children in on the fun, ‘My girls are great table setters and there is a competition to see who can do the maddest, smartest setting.’ If you have a beautiful heirloom that brings back happy childhood memories, make space for it in your display. Even if it doesn’t work perfectly it will bring joy to your festivities.
 

Don’t forget a rug!

No room of the home is complete without a beautiful luxurious rug. At Bazaar Velvet we have a wide range of stunning designs suitable for the dining room, adding sophistication and comfort without compromising on practicality. Browse our collections or contact us for expert advice and adorn your dining room with a beautiful rug this Christmas.