It can happen to anyone. If you spent the Christmas budget on ham and that giant hand-stitched giraffe for your nephew to blow all the other presents from under the tree, your Christmas table is unlikely to be enlivened by the mere presence of food. Here’s how to have a spread to rival even the best in town by being smart with your money and using some creativity and thriftiness. Now you can spend any leftover change on the more important things in life, like buying yourself another bottle of Champagne.
Christmas garland
Rather than use large floral arrangements keep it simple and use a garland made exclusively from greenery with a low profile as your table centrepiece. Low profile foliage also means uninterrupted views of the real centrepiece of the show – you (and your guests, of course). Be inventive and work to the shape of your table, always use unscented foliage and where possible use natives, they’re better suited to the climate and have the advantage of lasting longer and looking great even when dried. Make a wreath for round tables and centre it on the table, adding a cluster of candles in the middle along with other decorations. For large rectangle tables create a snake-like weave from bushy greenery from one end of the table to the other for a sense of grandeur. Work with your florist on the right type of foliage for you (be clear on your budget) and save even further if you arrange it yourself with some simple florists wire and string, or should your garden allow, go foraging in your own backyard. Alternatively if you want to go traditional, Christmas shops sell artificial garlands that you can use for years to come. Find a DIY guide to creating your own Christmas garland like this one, here.
Dinnerware
Don’t go buying a whole new dinnerware set just for Christmas. Rather work with what you already have. You’ve spent the hours carefully creating a feast so let the food speak for itself and be the main attraction on the table. Use variously sized chargers and platters but don’t overcrowd the table. Give your everyday white dinnerware and chargers a temporary update with printed patterned tape also known as washi tape. Glass plates like these here can also be used to layer on top of your newly updated plates adding to the table setting without taking up any more space. This means you can clear them after mains are finished and use your decorated white plates for desserts without having to reset the table. Find all the washi tape you could ever need, here.
Candles
It wouldn’t be Christmas without candles, and the good news is there’s really no rule on how many to use. Always consider the size and more importantly the shape when deciding on what type of candle to display. Clusters of various shapes like these work well to add a sense of decoration and once lit help to create a welcoming and intimate setting. Try to use unscented candles, you don’t want the smell of your famous roast turkey or pudding to be masked, or your wine for that matter. If low on space, opt for low-to-medium height candles with a decent width like these, or if using a candelabra keep it consistent with a single colour.
Place cards
Sure you could create your own place cards and a simple Google search will reveal hundreds of templates worthy of your table, but add a sense of charm and nostalgia with these Scrabble-like cookies. Bake a batch (or better yet get the kids to help) and use them to spell out the names of your guests. Not only will your guests appreciate the extra effort (pro tip: don’t let them know how easy it is to bake them!), but they can also take them home with them. Find the recipe for our gluten-free gingerbread scrabble biscuits here.
Napkin and ribbon
Unless you already have a set of napkin rings, opt for an easy alternative using ribbon and string. There are plenty of variations depending on your theme, so you can keep it as simple or as extravagant as you like. Patterned ribbons add a sense of celebration to the event but don’t overdo it if your plates are already festive. Rather, work with a single colour of a thick ribbon layered with natural twine. Apply the same method to the backs of chairs, too, if you can. Not only is this cleaner than chair covers or ties, it also means you can personalise or mix and match to suite your taste and theme.
Paper snowflakes
If you’re keeping it casual and fun this year, paper decorations are a must-have. Not only do they cost next to nothing, they’re also easy enough to be made by the kids. There’s also the bonus that if you have paper, you’re good to go. We love these templates here but look around and mix and match. Alternatively, use them to make festive bunting and hang at various lengths over the table.
Pine cones
The options with this Christmas cheat are endless. Collect six of seven (or one for every guest) pinecones and spray with gold spray paint for a truly festive table decoration. For a more premium look, dip pinecones in that spare tin of white paint you have lying around the house. Then, if you’re feeling extra creative, accent random edges with neon or coloured paint – you can even try glitter. Cluster them between candle arrangements, nestled in between the foliage or randomly on the table as stand alone decorations.
Cookie decorations
The best decorations are ones you can eat! Whip up a batch or two of easy-to-bake cookies with different festive shapes and dot them around the table. Larger round cookies can also act as place cards tied around napkins and personalised with guests’ monograms with some simple icing. Cookie decorations
Edible Christmas tree
Who said you can’t have a white Christmas Down Under? Add one or two of these to your table and really impress your guests. Made using store-brought meringues it really couldn’t be easier. Most two-dollar shops or art stores will also stock the Styrofoam topiary mould. Find the recipe here.
Golden twigs
This is another genius (and light on the pocket) way to add chic elegance to your table. Use twigs, branches and sticks of various sizes and spray paint them in metallic gold. These are great to decorate individual place settings but also for adding some bling to your foliage or candle arrangement.
Table runner
Depending on the shape of your table keep your runner simple, remember that at the end of the day after all the other decorations have been placed it’s also going to be covered by all your mains and sides. Using one like this also means that when Uncle Jeff gets overly excited by the Christmas turkey and spills his red wine it won’t cause a world war.
Paper bon bons
Adding some colour and texture to your table couldn’t be easier than placing some of these tissue pom poms around the table. There are so many options in various shapes and sizes, not to mention colours. Best of all when the day is over you can re-use them for another celebration like New Year’s Eve. Mix it up a little and cluster them in groups with silver baubles of various sizes. Find bon bons online here.
Decorative paper placemats
Tablecloths are great, and if your dining table has seen it’s fair share of use then go ahead and cover it up, but otherwise keep it simple and opt for placemats made from decorative paper (A3 is best). Not only does it showcase your table in all it’s glory but it also gives you the chance to decorate however subtly or boldly you’d like with different textures, patterns and shapes. Best of all is at the end of the meal simply throw them out and wipe the table over. No more days spent soaking and washing stains out of your tablecloth linens.
