If you plan to host a fancy Christmas party this year, a stunning Christmas tablescape is a must! It can elevate your gathering and give it that extra touch of elegance. But don’t worry—creating a beautiful Christmas tablescape doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I’ll show you how to put one together, step by step, so you can create your own or borrow inspiration from mine!
Table of Contents
Step One: Tablecloth
The first step is to choose a tablecloth for your Christmas Tablescape. For large gatherings, I like to use a classic white tablecloth. It’s timeless, inexpensive, and ties everything together, especially when you’re borrowing or combining different tables.
My favorite is the plastic white tablecloths from Walmart—they’re practical and easy to toss after the party. If you prefer a reusable option, invest in a couple of versatile white cloth tablecloths that will work for any occasion.
Step Two: Add Greenery
Greenery is the next essential element. A lush garland makes the perfect base for a Christmas tablescape. My favorite is a realistic Norfolk pine garland—it’s versatile and looks beautiful everywhere. I’ve used them around my front door, my stair banister, and my fireplace mantel.
I collect more every year and I put them all around my house… seriously all over my house.
You can easily layer it with other greenery for added texture and depth. I love adding faux eucalyptus garlands to soften the look and create a more organic feel.
If you have access to fresh clippings, you can mix those in for variety. Pine branches, boxwood clippings, or even discarded Christmas tree pieces work wonders and add a lovely scent. Whether you use faux or real greenery, the options for your Christmas tablescape are endless!
Step Three: Candles
Once you’ve laid your greenery, it’s time to add candles. Candles bring warmth and ambiance, instantly giving your table a luxurious feel. They add shape, color, and texture to your centerpiece, making your tablescape look more dynamic.
Mix large pillar candles with tall, elegant taper candles to create height and visual interest. I used amber-toned glass pillar candles, which are battery-operated but look so realistic! I paired them with ivory and beeswax taper candles in various holders.
I’ve reused these flameless candles and various holders so many times—everything from my Thanksgiving table to my mantel decor and beyond. Investing in versatile candles and holders is totally worth it!
Step Four: Decorative Details
This is where you can really make your Christmas tablescape unique. I like to add extra details for color and texture—fruit is one of my favorite choices. You can use dehydrated orange slices, pomegranates, cranberries, or even apples and pears. Real or faux fruit works equally well.
You can also go for a wintery vibe with pine cones, or add pops of color by tying bows around candlestick holders. The image below is my 2023 Thanksgiving Tablescape, and all the links and details are on my website here.
If fruit isn’t your thing, you can decorate with other festive items like ornaments, ceramic houses, nutcrackers, or mini Christmas trees nestled among the greenery. This year, I went with a variety of small Christmas trees in different shapes and sizes that matched my color palette.
To finish it off, I added some elegant gold bells for a touch of shimmer and tied some green satin ribbon into bows around a few of the candlestick holders.
Step Five: The Place Settings
Finally, you need to set the table for your guests. For my Christmas tablescape, I used log slices instead of traditional placemats or chargers. They added a natural, rustic element that worked beautifully with the rest of the décor. I layered the dinner and dessert plates on top and finished each place setting with a cloth napkin.
To tie everything together, I used green goblets that complemented the greenery in my centerpiece, and gold flatware for an elegant finishing touch.
Don’t worry if you don’t have real dishes—disposable plates and cutlery can look just as nice! The dollar store sells beautiful white disposable dishes, and even wine glasses, that will still give your table that fancy vibe without breaking the bank.
And don’t forget about the place card holders! I used some adorable tree-shaped holders that fit perfectly with my theme. Assigning seats with place cards is a small detail that adds a thoughtful, personal touch to your Christmas tablescape.
Do you typically assign seats for your guests? Or is it a free-for-all?
I love putting together a pretty Christmas tablescape that feels festive and fancy for my guests to enjoy. Here are links to what I used.
- White plastic tablecloth
- Realistic Pine garland
- Eucalyptus garland
- Gold flatware
- Green goblets
- Cloth napkins
- Gold napkin rings
- Log place card holders
- Large wood slices
- Battery-operated pillar candles
- Black candlestick holders
- Brass candlestick holders
- Antique gold candlestick holders
- Ivory smokeless taper candles
- Smokeless beeswax candles
Once your Christmas tablescape is ready, you can plan your dinner. You might be ambitious and cook everything yourself, opt for a catered meal, or keep it simple with a potluck. I like to do a fancy potluck—where I make the main dish and assign sides and desserts to my guests.
When I host, I typically assign each guest a category like “bring a vegetable side,” but you could also give them specific recipes if you prefer. Or, if you want a more laid-back approach, you could let guests bring whatever they’d like.
If you’re serving a large crowd, a main dish like brisket is a great option. It’s delicious, elegant, and much more affordable than steaks. The key is cooking it low and slow to get that perfect tender texture. I’ve got a fantastic smoked brisket recipe, so be sure to check it out if you’re looking for ideas.
Here’s a quick video tutorial of me making the smoked brisket:
Need fancy drinks for your fancy party? These are both yummy non-alcoholic options that feel special. You can find the recipe for Copycat Martinelli’s here and Lolly’s Gold Drink recipe is posted here.
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