The Christmas Table

Wokingham Local’s feature article Interior designer – Jessica Cox, of Jessica Cox Design Ltd The Christmas Table

Arguably the most important mealtime of the year – the Christmas Day feast. Whether it’s for two or twenty, setting the table should be extra special, and with the tips below and a bit of planning you can create a unique scene to impress the guests!

Start with a white or light neutral tablecloth. It is timeless and can be used all year round, but also makes a great base to experiment with lots of different colour schemes. Then pick your theme. Having a defined theme makes your table look extra special and creates a ‘polished’ look. Whether it’s traditional with reds, greens and tartans, luxe with metallic finishes and jewel colours, a winter wonderland with crisp whites, blues and silver or rustic and nature inspired with foraged greenery, linen and wood – picking a theme and building on it will give your table a professional edge.

Then add a centrepiece. Ensure your table is the centre of attention with a striking centrepiece. For a quick and easy touch, a Christmas wreath can sit on the centre of the table filled with candles. Add delicious smelling dried fruits and cinnamon with eucalyptus for added decoration that smells beautiful and festive.

If space is tight, pick tall candelabras or vases with narrow bases so you can still see across the table and have plenty of space for the food. Vases can be filled with flowers, ornaments, or pinecones – have fun experimenting! Another effective way to create a centrepiece is to use a small mirror (or mirrored tile) and top with a selection of glass candlesticks in different shapes and sizes, then surround with foliage or baubles that coordinate with your colour scheme. The mirror will create a lovely glow from the candlelight above.

Focus on the tableware. Layer your table look with charger plates or placemats. For a quick and simple placemat take an A3 size sheet of white paper, fold it up and cut out a design (a great activity for the kids to help with too) unfold, and iron smooth for a decorative snowfl ake eff ect placemat!

Once the placemats and chargers are in place add your crockery and glassware. Plain white china is ideal as it can be instantly transformed with a few festive touches. It’s worth having two sets of china so that you can layer your plates for an indulgent look; a charger layered with a dinner, side plate and bowl sets the scene perfectly and is then fi nished with a napkin to suit your scheme. When it comes to laying the cutlery – put the main course knife and fork either side of the charger plate, then put the starter knife and fork on the outside. Place the dessert fork at the top (handle left ) with the spoon above (handle right). Th en add the glasses above the knives. Use your best crystal cut pieces for a luxe addition or try tying a piece of ribbon or adding foliage to the stems of the wine glasses to add to the overall look.

Time for the fi nishing touches. Adding some personality and fun to the table with homemade crackers, creative placenames, or individual small gift s is a lovely way to add to the theme and to welcome each guest. Why not add a personalised bauble to each setting which acts as a placename but also as a thoughtful gift for your guests to take away with them too…

Most importantly have fun with the decorating! Send in your photos of your Christmas tables to info@jessicacoxdesign.com and the most creative display will get a special mention on the Wokingham Local website! www.jessicacoxdesign.com