Ideas for your Christmas table

Looking for some fresh inspiration for your Christmas table decoration this year? Something different to the conventional look and feel? Read on, friends, we may have an idea or two for you.

Adding some greenery

While traditional Christmas foliage like pine tree and conifer branches are always lovely, feel free to explore your garden for a variety of greens to add. Rosemary, lavender and even wispy sprigs of jasmine add a fresh, summery touch, not to mention sweet scents to your table. Make anything that’s growing in abundance work for you this season.

If you want to buy potted plants why not celebrate something that’s unique about our country and add proteas or little succulents to the mix? They make for pretty original festive decor and you can keep them long after the festivities are over.

And if the creative mood really strikes, you can always make a herb wreath to hang in your kitchen afterwards and cook from until the new year rolls on in.

Shine a little light

The magic of Christmas has a lot to do with all the twinkling lights that suddenly deck many a surface. But fairy lights don’t necessarily have to hang from ceilings or curtains. Why not arrange them down the middle of your table to add a little glow around all your lovely dishes?

And remember the sparklers. Embrace that whimsy and celebrate what you’ve worked so hard to bring together. Stick them in a cake, or make a magical centrepiece to officially fire up the festivities.

Create your own look and feel

So, you’re tired of your gran’s red and green throw? Or maybe you’ve invited an extended group of friends and family and the usual table cloth doesn’t cut it anymore? Luckily, our easy going SA Christmas can inspire a casual touch.

Try using offcuts of fabric you have lying around. Torn linen and cheese cloth or ribbons and tape make for crafty alternatives to your table spread and there’s nothing wrong with brown paper either.

Mix and match

Don’t fret if your dinner or cutlery set doesn’t cater for all 16 guests arriving. Instead of subbing in one or two odd plates here and there, rather mix them all up and layer your main plates with side plates to get a casual bric-à-brac feel. Neutral colours will make your food the star of the show. Or go with colour tones. Nice.

You can always stock up on some wooden or plastic cutlery to cater for the easy-going masses. Take a look at this Nicolson Russell Antique Plastique Cutlery Set, Set of 24, available in black, gold and clear. Now there’s a nifty twist.

Play with your food

Food styling isn’t only for photography and recipe books, folks. Take a leaf out of What Katie Ate’s dark food photography styling and messy food styling tips and bring your table to full foodie glory. Let the cherries run amok amidst the plates. Maybe dust some icing sugar here and there.

Extra touches

Have you got a chalk board in your kitchen? What about doodling some festive words to inspire your event? You could use these Ginger Ray chalk board labels to create place markers for your friends and family . Or what about baking them a cookie with their name on it thanks to the handy Yuppiechef Letterpress cookie set?

Let’s not forget the serviettes, after all things are said and eaten, they can become your decor too, so you can either pick a festive napkin fold to master and add to your table, or you could use these pre-folded napkins by Now Design for a fanfare of note.

It’s the little things that make family festivities oh so special. We hope your merry celebrations all look as lovely as they will surely taste.