Christmas is the perfect time of year to enjoy great food and drinks. Whether it is just for yourself, with one other, a group of friends or a large family gathering, setting the festive table creates the mood, and can be as simple or as detailed as you like.
We have put together some ideas to create your perfect festive table.
Planning a Festive Table
When planning a festive table, think about how many table settings you need and the theme you want to go with. It can be based around elaborate dinnerware or simply a festive colour theme such as red and green or white and gold.
It is all about setting the mood – colour accents are a great way to go, as you can use you existing plain crockery and cutlery and add to them. Statement dishes and platters as well as napery can make all the difference.
The time you are entertaining is also something to consider. If you are having a lunch, you may want to consider additional colour to lift the look of the table, but if you are going to be enjoying a dinner then muted colours and candles will create an evening mood.
Think About Recycling
You don’t need to buy everything new at Christmas. Consider what you already have and how it can be used to create the festive table you want by adding fresh elements.
If you are looking to add new pieces to your collection, head to Essential Ingredient for plenty of inspiration. It could be a set of new napkins and a matching table runner, a beautiful new serving platter, or glassware that you will love for many years to come.
Place Settings
If you are hosting a group of people for Christmas, then using place settings always adds a personal touch. Donnally’s can help with place cards and you can have them simply at every setting with beautiful lettering, or you can make them an additional part of the table decor.
Some ideas include using yarn to tie them around the napkins with a sprig of pine or Christmas berries, tying the cards with golden twine to wine glasses, or spraying pinecones gold and wedging the cards inside.
Better still, try something different such as using small potted succulents from Prahran Garden Centre with a name card tucked inside. There’s plenty of simple and creative ways to go.
Festive Florals
While we are talking about the festive table, the surrounding room can enhance the Christmas feel, so we recommend talking to the florists at Clara’s Flowers and Flawless Flowers to create the perfect festive floral arrangements.
Ensure you discuss your Christmas theme and describe the space you wish to fill with florals as well as the vases you have available. Our expert florists can recommend the best blooms for you based on your colour themes, preferences and numbers of vases you are looking to fill.
Poinsettias are a traditional Christmas floral plant, and you will find them at all of the florists at Prahran Market, plus you’ll get to enjoy them in the weeks after.
Festive flowers can also be used to put on the dining table post-lunch or dinner celebrations, to fill any empty spaces with pops of colour.
Festive Centrepieces
Of course, the centrepiece is the focus of the table. While you may be using your main dish as the focal point of the table while dining, you want to make the table look stunning beforehand.
A simple idea is trailing sprigs of pine down a table runner with clusters of red berries. You can also spray the pine in either gold or silver, depending on your theme. If you have a circular table, putting a cluster of candles surrounded by pinecones, fir sprigs, berries and gold ribbon is always a winning ensemble.
When it comes to centrepiece colours, tones of browns will create a rustic feel, while traditional green and red will always make the festive table pop. If you’re wanting to achieve an elegant look, light green, white and golds are the way to go. Our Prahran Market florists will be happy to advise what’s best and put together a beautiful centrepiece for you. Alternatively, you can buy the individual elements and get creative at home with the family.
If you don’t want to go down the traditional route and would prefer a centrepiece that’s a real talking point throughout the day, you can speak to the team at Prahran Garden Centre and they can create a succulent bowl just for you. They can organise the shape and colour bowl that will suit you, and you can help to choose the succulent selection. You can then choose to put a Christmas ribbon around the bowl or another Christmas accent of your choosing. The other plus is that this succulent will last for years to come.
Christmas is one of our favourite times of year where we get to enjoy delicious seasonal food and great times with loved ones, so make this year even more special than the last by doing up your festive table.
