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Christmas dinner table settings ideas

31 October 2018

It’s time to talk Christmas, and for home we’re thinking about how to decorate the dining table for festive entertaining. 

There’s nothing nicer than gathering family and friends for a Christmas meal, and whether you have a tiny kitchen table or a grand dining room there are ways of making your festive set-up look special.

Our Christmas table setting ideas are for everyone to get involved with - it's about creating style and atmosphere for whatever you serve up, whether that be a fully home-prepped five-course meal or a simple oven-ready recipe. Here we consider everything from cutlery, serveware, crockery, glassware, placemats and napkin holders, right down to the table and chairs you might be planning to use.

Next has you covered for setting the Christmas dinner table.

- Cutlery -

From staple to sparkle, our selection of different types of cutlery caters for every taste. You might prefer a classic everyday style of cutlery, one that will see you through special occasions and weekday dinners. For this we would recommend that you look at the likes of our 16- or 32- piece Studio Cutlery Set. It strives for a simple aesthetic in 100 per cent stainless steel.

SHOP 16-PIECE STUDIO CUTLERY SET

SHOP 32-PIECE STUDIO CUTLERY SET

But what if you want to go that extra mile for a special occasion? Maybe, in this case, it’s more about metallic. Gold and copper are key contenders for the festive season and never fail to add an elegant tone to the table. Try our Copper or Gold Effect cutlery sets if you’re looking for that trend-lead luxe look.

SHOP-16 PIECE COPPER EFFECT CUTLERY SET

SHOP-16 PIECE GOLD EFFECT CUTLERY SET

SHOP ALL CUTLERY

- Serveware -

It’s surprising how many dishes and platters get used on the day, so it’s a wise idea to make sure you have plenty to hand. If you’re opting for the traditional Christmas dinner take into account all those ‘trimmings’ – delicious, and well worth serving them up in, or on, something equally nice.

If you want a traditional look try our Carrington Serve Platter, which is somewhat classic and regal with its black and gold printed border. There’s also a glass Star Shaped Bowl and Platter set, which is more contemporary in appearance, and Metallic, Petrol and Hexagon designed platters, too.

Don’t leave yourself short.

SHOP CARRINGTON SERVE PLATTER

SHOP STAR SHAPED BOWL AND PLATTER SET

- Crockery and dinner sets -

Continue the gold theme with the 12 Piece Carrington Dinner Set. The black and gold colour scheme certainly makes a statement. Want to opt for something a little simpler in style? For a pared-back country look consider our Fairford design, or for something slightly different there’s always our on-trend navy Kempton Dinner Set, part of our Timeless trend collection.

SHOP ALL DINNER SETS

- Glassware -

If you read the Timeless trend feature then you might have already ordered a set of our deep midnight blue Wine Glasses and Champagne Flutes. Glassware is a vital part of creating a Christmas table setting, so in our eyes it might be well worth selecting a new set for added shine and sparkle on the table. Glassware can become dulled over time, especially if you use a dishwasher, so refreshing your collection isn’t as lavish an idea as it might initially sound.

If navy blue isn’t to your liking we also have Metallic Wine Glasses, Champagne Saucers, Slogan Wine Glasses and even a Set of 6 Champagne Flutes with matching ice bucket. The set of four Gold Effect Wine Glasses (pictured above) are a firm favourite and should be on your shortlist if you are opting for the ever-popular Midas vibe.

SHOP SET OF 4 GOLD EFFECT WINE GLASSES

SHOP SET OF 6 CHAMPAGNE FLUTES

- Placemats -

Play it as it lays and set the tone right with a set of striking placemats.

We have a special soft spot for this Set of 4 Reversible Glitter Placemats and Coasters, they’re wipe clean and you can opt for gold or silver colourways.

There are also our Pebble Placemats, which work well if you’re opting to decorate the table in blue or green tones.

SHOP REVERSIBLE GLITTER PLACEMATS AND COASTERS

SHOP ALL PLACEMATS

- Napkin holders -

Not always high on the list of priorities at Christmas time, but impressive when the host remembers to add these in. Napkin holders have something of a reputation for being a little traditional, yes?, but not this design. The modern form of the Gold Geometric Napkin Holder adds a dash of individuality to your table display, and isn’t Christmas-specific, so you can continue to use these holders all-year-round.

SHOP GOLD GEOMETRIC NAPKIN HOLDER

- Dining tables and seating -

Possibly the most essential factor to remember when planning out your Christmas Day – make sure you have enough seating for everyone, and that people are going to be comfortable. You can have a read of our specific buyer’s guides which cover dining tables and dining chairs for practical advice when purchasing, or, if you like the look of the table and chairs shown above shop for Amsterdam Extending Dining Table, and Hamilton Dining Chairs in Opulent Velvet Bottle Green finish. 

SHOP AMSTERDAM EXTENDING DINING TABLE

SHOP HAMILTON DINING CHAIRS

SHOP ALL DINING TABLES

- Finishing touches -

You don’t have to justify a little extra decoration, not at Christmas. So embrace it with some frill. Unlike the rest of the items in this feature, candle holders and vases are not exactly top of the list when it comes to practical ranking, but what would life be without those little added extras which make all the difference when it comes to creating a homely, magical atmosphere.

Our top pick, and something to possibly order in advance to avoid any disappointment, are the Hexagon Taper Candle Sticks.

Love the gold theme in this feature? Make sure you catch our edit of must-have metallic items.

READ OUR BUYER’S GUIDE FOR DINING TABLES

SHOP CHRISTMAS HOMEWARE FOR KIDS

READ ABOUT OUR NAVY BLUE TIMELESS TREND

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