Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply enjoying a meal with your family, decorating your Christmas dinner table can help to make your home feel extra festive. Plus, if you do it early enough, you can enjoy the display throughout December.
From traditional Christmas decorations to modern and popular ideas, we have put together a selection of Christmas dinner table set ups to suit all sorts of themes and tastes.
The best Christmas dinner table ideas 2023:
If you are stuck for inspiration, there are plenty of images of Christmas dinner tables to have a look at.
Tartan table
We love the idea of using a runner going across the centre of the table and this tartan number is nice without being overly festive. We recommend adding matching napkins to complement the runner. Although candles have been used, they are purely decorative and the light is coming from the fairy lights.
Winter woodland
The woodland theme lends itself well to a candlelit dinner. Add a Christmas wreath or some foliage (real or faux), pinecones and a few stag-themed pieces or woodland creatures to make an outdoorsy themed table display.
Victorian Christmas dinner table
Adding winter plants and dried fruit to your table is reminiscent of classic Christmases. Don't forget to add some candles for ambience.
How to seat a Christmas dinner table
Come up with a theme
Before you buy or do anything to your table, you should come up with a theme. The theme can be as simple or specific as you like. You could choose a colour like green, red or gold, or your theme could be more abstract and be called 'starry night' or 'winter wonderland' for example.
Create a centrepiece
Every Christmas dinner table setup needs a stunning centrepiece. Your focal point should ideally represent your chosen theme and be eye-catching enough that everyone will talk about it as they take their place at the table.
To create a captivating centrepiece, you could lay a Christmas garland over the middle of the table and add some fairy lights and pinecones, or perhaps a wreath in the centre and some tall candle holders on either side. If you prefer something more modern and a little less rustic, how about some baubles in a glass jar?
Use a tablecloth
A tablecloth will not only make your table look presentable, it will make the tidying up process easier too, especially if you invest in a machine washable or wipeable option (which can be reused every year). We love the idea of making your own tablecloth, but if you don't have time you can always purchase one.
Another option would be to add a runner above your tablecloth, in the centre of your table. That way, you can incorporate your theme without it looking too over the top.
Best tablecloth
www.dunelm.com
Available in gold and silver, this Dunelm Sparkle Tablecloth is speckled with glitter and is simple enough to be used on any themed Christmas dinner table. We like that it isn't overly festive, so you could use it at any time of the year.
One reviewer said: "Just enough sparkle to make the guests smile and great quality and colour. I’ve not used a table cloth for a long time and this one makes me want to use it nearly every day."
Another reviewer said: "A beautiful quality tablecloth and excellent value for the size. I can’t wait to use this for Christmas."
Pros
- Available in a range of sizes
- Machine washable
Cons
- Light colour so could stain
Make some place settings
To give your dinner party a formal touch, why not add some place settings? These are a must-have if you've got lots of people coming over, or guests that don't get along with one another, as everyone will know exactly where they are sitting and you can make sure that any quarrelling guests are sat far apart.
Best for place settings
www.etsy.com
These pinecone place cards from ThePaperRibbonCo on Etsy are brilliant because they are not specifically Christmas themed, meaning that you can use them all throughout autumn and winter. You can choose between 4 to 150 place cards and you can choose the tag colour.
A reviewer said: "I contacted this company to see if they could make me a couple of customised signs and Zara was amazing! She knew exactly what I needed and sent me a private listing to make the purchase. The signs arrived quickly and I was so pleased with them. I asked for simple and they were exactly what I had pictured. Zara is so friendly and quick to respond which made the process seamless. I would definitely order from them again!"
Pros
- Wide range of customisation options
- Up to 100 letters of personalisation
Cons
- Can't change the colour of the text
Best place holders multipack
These Christmas place holders by Almond Art are simple and budget-friendly. We like how you 12 in a pack, which should be enough for a family Christmas meal. They are made out of 250gsm matt white card and they are scored, meaning you can fold them with ease.
One reviewer said: "The place cards were very good and matched the rest of the table decorations."
Another reviewer put: "An excellent item - I will be purchasing these again for next Christmas."
Pros
- Affordable price
- Easy to write on
Cons
- Small
Use a dinner set
Forget the random bits and bobs of cutlery and chipped bowls and bring out a set of matching tableware. Using the same set for everyone will help to create a feeling of uniformity and order throughout the meal.
If you’re wanting to create an extra layer of sophistication, layer those side plates on top of your dinner plates and top them with a napkin and sprig of pine or eucalyptus. Don’t forget the coordinating glassware, too!
Best dinner set
www.dunelm.com
A forest green dinner set would compliment the festive theme nicely. We love the ridged elements as they add an air of elegance. The stoneware includes four dinner plates, four side plates and four cereal bowls.
A reviewer said: "I love this set and so do any of my guests that come round, lovely colour and nice and strong."
Another reviewer put: "This is a nice set, I felt a little underwhelmed when I first saw them but they are very nice. An understated but classy design."
Pros
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Durable stoneware
Cons
- Cutlery not included
Add some Christmas crackers
For many, you can't have Christmas dinner without crackers! Making your own Christmas crackers is not only fun more eco-friendly too, as you can reuse things that you would otherwise throw away. Plus, you can customise the gifts to your guests liking.
Best fun Christmas crackers
Based on the hit television show, these crackers come with 25 tasks, as well as bonus tasks from the one and only Little Alex Horne. Once used, you could always save the equipment and use them to make some more crackers next year.
One reviewer said: "We used these for an early office Christmas party before we hit busy season - thought it would be a bit of light fun... Little did I know of some of the team's competitive edge! Clever but doable tasks, with some fun twists in the group activity. Great for office team fun, or if you don't mind a bit of competition with the in-laws over the turkey!"
Pros
- Variety of tasks, including pre-recorded ones
- Easy to follow
Cons
- Paper is quite thin
Include some entertainment
Games, presents and toys make wonderful additions to a Christmas table display, particularly if you’ve got children or bored adults who need to be entertained.
Christmas dinner table games
Whether you're young or old, there's nothing like a game (and a box of chocolates) to bring everyone together. You can either play them before dinner (which is ideal if dinner isn’t running to schedule and you’ve got hungry kids at the table) or after if you're planning on playing a family board game (as it's wise to clear space to make room for the equipment).
Best for a Christmas game
www.johnlewis.com
Put your rhyming skills to the test with this comedic Santa Banter game. There three different rounds: Solve It, Describe It and Tom Cruise (which is obviously acting). All you need is the cards (and your amazing talent, of course).
A happy reviewer said: "I bought this game as a stocking filler for my family and we had a blast playing it on Christmas day. It’s a simple but hilarious game that tests your rhyming skills and your knowledge of Christmas trivia. The game is very easy to learn and play. You just need a timer (we used our phone) and a score sheet (we used a piece of paper). The cards are colourful and funny, with illustrations of Santa, elves, reindeer and other festive characters."
Pros
- Affordable price
- Compact box
Cons
- Only a few rounds so may get repetitive
Christmas dinner table gifts
If crackers aren't your thing, or you would like to surprise your ensemble with some small, a present would make a wonderful addition. Place them on top of the clean plates or use some mini stockings and hide them inside. Why not try using personalised gifts for a memorable moment?
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby and Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.