A beautifully laid table sets the scene for a memorable Christmas dinner. Whether you’re hosting a cosy family lunch or a dressy Christmas Day feast, this guide shows you how to set a Christmas table step by step, plus stylish Christmas table setting ideas you can copy in minutes.
Quick guide: the classic Christmas dinner table setting
- Table linen – Start with a tablecloth or runner (white, ecru, or festive red/green).
- Plates – Charger/underplate (optional), dinner plate, then starter plate on top.
- Cutlery – Forks left, knives/spoons right, working from the outside in. Knife blades face the plate.
- Glasses – Water above the knives; wine/champagne to the right of the water glass.
- Napkin – On the plate, under the cutlery, or tucked into a napkin ring.
- Place card – Add a name card or a mini bauble/green sprig for a personal touch.
- Centrepiece & candles – Keep low so guests can chat across the table.
Tip: Place settings first, centrepiece second, then add decorative accents so everything feels balanced.
Shop the Scandinavian look
Finishing touches
How to set a table for Christmas (formal)
- Use a crisp white or ivory tablecloth as your base; add a satin or velvet table runner.
- Stack charger, dinner plate and starter/salad plate. Bread plate sits to the top-left, with a butter knife laid horizontally.
- Glassware: water, then red/white wine to its right; champagne flute behind or to the outer right.
- Cutlery: starter cutlery on the outside; dessert spoon/fork placed horizontally above the plate or brought with dessert.
- Finish with tall candlesticks (unscented) and a low, lush Christmas centrepiece.
Shop the Luxury Look: Wedgwood
Elevate a luxury Christmas table setting with timeless Wedgwood pieces— layered gold details, crystal stemware and porcelain accents.
Image credit for hero in this section: Wedgwood.
How to set a table for Christmas (casual & family-friendly)
For a relaxed look:
- Swap the tablecloth for linen placemats and a central runner.
- Use one smart dinner plate and a small side plate.
- Flatware can be wrapped in a napkin and tied with ribbon or twine.
- Add chunky pillar candles in storm lanterns and scatter mini baubles and pinecones for Christmas table setting decoration ideas that take seconds.
Folk Embroidered Red Runner
Cream linen, a folk-style red runner and berry-red candles create a warm, traditional Christmas dinner table setting.
- Cream tablecloth + folk embroidered runner
- Red taper candles and ribbed glass tealights
- Red napkins tied with velvet ribbon
- Wood or rattan chairs with patterned cushions
Christmas table setting ideas to try at home
- Classic Red & Gold
White linen + gilded charger plates, red napkins tied with ribbon, brass candlesticks, sprigs of holly as place cards. - Winter White
All-white plates and linens with frosted foliage, mercury glass tea lights and crystal glassware for soft festive shimmer.
3. Natural Woodland
Create a calm, Scandi-inspired woodland table with a pale oak table, soft white linens and layered green accents. Run a simple line of greenery and herbs down the centre, add warm candlelight and finish each place with a forest-green cracker or ribbon twist. It’s relaxed, grown-up and easy to build around pieces you already own.
- Pale wood table or charger-style woven placemats.
- White or softly patterned plates with green detailing.
- Linen napkins tied with velvet or cotton ribbon in forest green.
- Simple taper candles or beeswax candles in slim holders.
- Mini potted herbs or clipped foliage instead of a heavy centrepiece.
- Forest-green crackers at each place for a subtle festive touch.
Shop the Natural Woodland look
4. Emerald & Velvet
Deep green velvet ribbon napkin ties, gold cutlery and a petite wreath around each plate—perfect for elegant Christmas day table setting ideas.
5. Nordic Minimal
Pale wood, grey linen runner, simple white crockery, tapered white candles and a single stem of fir at each setting.
6. Blush & Berry Candy Stripe
Pink striped runner and napkins, simple neutral or blush plates, a berry fairy-light garland woven through fresh eucalyptus down the centre, and a few soft pink or clear glasses. The greenery keeps it fresh; the berries add just enough festive colour.
Shop the Blush & Berry Stripe Christmas Table
- Striped linen runner & napkins – Rhubarb & Rose Pembroke Stripe, Piglet in Bed
- Blush stoneware plates & bowls – Sunrise collection, Barton Croft (soft neutral base for all the berry tones)
- Berry fairy-light garland – Red berry string lights, TheWonkyFox on Etsy (run loosely down the centre)
- Deep red taper candles – Slim berry/red candles with vintage-style holders (try stoneware or wood for warmth)
- Pink cut-crystal glassware – Waterford Winter Wonders Rose flutes / tumblers, or similar blush glass to mix with what you own
- Vintage cranberry glass – Decanter or small goblets from Etsy for a one-of-a-kind accent
- Scalloped dessert dish – Red-and-cream handmade bowl (Etsy) for puddings or nuts to tie the palette together
Style tip: Mix these pieces with your existing white plates and simple glassware—the blush-and-berry accents do all the work. 💕
7. Children’s Table
Kraft-paper runner (draw placemats and games!), melamine plates, flameless LED candles and a mini cracker at each place.
Centrepiece ideas that won’t block conversation
- Low greenery runner dotted with pinecones and wired fairy lights.
- Bowl centrepiece filled with baubles and fresh foliage.
- Trio of pillar candles on a narrow tray with clipped holly and rose hips.
- Fresh arrangement (think eucalyptus, ivy, waxflower) in a shallow bowl with frogs or chicken wire for support.
- Wreath centrepiece with a hurricane lantern in the middle.
Keep arrangements under eye level and test sightlines while seated.
Plates, cutlery, glasses: quick specifics
- Plates: Charger (optional), dinner plate, then starter. Clear the starter plate before the main.
- Cutlery order: Work from the outside in. Dessert spoon/fork above the plate.
- Glasses: Water above the knife; wine/champagne to the right. If space is tight, set just water + one wine glass.
- Napkins: Folded on the plate, slipped into a ring or tucked under cutlery; add a monogram tag or tiny ornament for polish.
Budget and small-space tips
- Layer runners over a bare table and use placemats instead of a full cloth.
- Cluster two or three mini centrepieces instead of one large arrangement.
- Mix hire pieces with what you own—hire glassware or extra plates for uniformity.
- Go vertical shelving or a sideboard drinks station to free table space.
FAQs
How do I set a Christmas table quickly?
Lay a runner, stack dinner + starter plate, add cutlery (forks left, knives/spoons right), place a water glass and one wine glass, then finish with a low greenery cluster and a candle. Add a simple name card or tied napkin for a polished look.
What is the correct place setting for Christmas dinner?
For a formal Christmas dinner table setting: charger, dinner plate, starter plate; bread plate top-left; forks left, knives/spoons right; water glass above knives with wine glasses to the right; dessert cutlery above the plate or brought with dessert.
What are easy Christmas table setting decoration ideas?
Mini wreaths as place cards, ribbon-tied napkins, baubles scattered along a greenery runner, dried citrus, pinecones, and unscented candles at varying heights.
How can I make a small table look festive?
Use a narrow runner, swap a big centrepiece for clusters of bud vases, keep glassware to two per person, and move drinks to a side table.