Decorating A Table For A Christmas Party

Get Ready to Celebrate the Season

Whether your Christmas celebrations revolve more around a hearty brunch, a grab-and-go lunch or a formal sit-down dinner, we have you covered with pro pointers that'll make hosting the holidays a bit easier this year.

See More Photos: Crafty + Classic Christmas Table Setting

Weather Permitting: Take the Party Outside

If you live in a warm clime, take advantage of a clear winter day and head to a local park or your own backyard to host the holidays in the great outdoors. Get more tips for an alfresco winter fête, below.

See More Photos: Host a Wintertime Picnic in the Park

Sparkle With Silver

Perfect when paired with a black-and-white theme, vintage silver flatware really shines. If your silver is looking not-so-shiny, put science to work to vanquish tarnish, then set a rustic-meets-refined table with our inspiration, below.

See More Photos: Cozy Up to This Buffalo Plaid Christmas Table Setting

Or, Go for the Gold

Move over, stainless steel — it's gold's turn to shine. Gold has increasingly become designers' metal of choice for fancy flatware but, like anything that's trendy, new sets are pricey. Check estate sales, thrift stores and yard sales for vintage sets, many still in their original box, with the same golden gleam as new flatware but without the hefty price tag.

Repurpose Pretty Paper

For a pretty tablecloth that's just as easy on your budget as it is on the eyes, sub leftover gift wrap for fabric. Bonus: Spills aren't a worry; when the festivities are over, just toss the stained paper — or, if it's still in good shape, save it to use again later.

Craft a Sweet Place Card Holder

This mini candy cane easel is perfect for place cards, and, bonus: guests can take them home as an edible favor. To make them: Leave the cellophane wrappers on three candy canes, hold them upside down, and position the cane ends into a tripod shape that will sit level on the table. Secure with a few dots of hot glue; finish with a festive red ribbon bow, and place one next to each place setting.

See More Photos: Merry + Bright Christmas Brunch Tablescape

Or, a Centerpiece You Can Eat

Get an assist from the kiddos to assemble this fanciful farmhouse that'll add a delicious scent and big dose of homespun charm to your Christmas table. Get crafting with our step-by-step instructions, below.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Charming Gingerbread Farmhouse

Rock Classic Christmas Colors

Timeless black-and-white buffalo check linens lend this holiday table a woodsy vibe, while red accents, mini Christmas trees and a sprinkling of ornaments make it an instant classic.

See More Photos: Cozy Up to This Buffalo Plaid Christmas Table Setting

Or, Rely on Your Favorite Happy Hue

There's no set rule that dictates what color to choose when setting a holiday table — so pick a pretty shade that speaks to you. And, take a cue from our friends at HGTV Magazine and carry that color through from the table linens to the plates, glassware and centerpiece. Sticking with one main color makes it easy to mix disparate patterns while still creating a cohesive look.

See More Photos: 60 Merry & Bright Christmas Centerpiece Ideas

HGTV Magazine Logo in Pink

Silverware: What Goes Where?

Setting a guest-impressing place setting is a snap. Start with a charger (check your local dollar or craft store for inexpensive options), followed by the dinner plate. Top it with a smaller salad plate and the napkin. To the left, place the fork, to the right, the knife (blade turned in) and spoon. Voila, a pro-grade place setting, simplified.

See More Photos: Merry + Bright Christmas Brunch Tablescape

Cozy Up Benches

Ensure that guests linger over coffee and dessert by making seating comfortable. Cozy up hard surfaces, like long wood benches, with plump cushions or faux fur throws.

See More Photos: Rustic + Refined: Set a Stunning Fall or Winter Table Setting

And, Soften Seating

Soften hardback chairs with colorful throws or pillows. Choose patterns that fit your table's theme, like a traditional tartan or festive Fair Isle knit.

See More Photos: Crafty + Classic Christmas Table Setting

Stack a Centerpiece

Think beyond cakes and bundts and use these decorative serving pieces to add height to a Christmas centerpiece. Place an advent wreath on top or a small nativity scene, then surround with greenery, pinecones, seasonal fruit or nuts and candles.

See More Photos: Cozy Up Your Christmas Decor With Vintage and Antique Finds

Or, Give Dessert Center Stage

This variation on the classic French Bûche de Noël combines a mouthwatering pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting and birch-like chocolate bark. Decorated with edible mini mushrooms and resting on a bed of mossy-looking ground pistachios, it's a breathtaking (and supremely yummy!) edible centerpiece for your Christmas table.

Get the Recipe: Birch Bark Yule Log Recipe

Go Foraging

Grab some clippers and head outside to gather evergreen branches for an easy and free arrangement. Borrow a few glass ornaments from the tree and — voila, a centerpiece in a snap.

Get the How-To: 5 Free Ways to Decorate With Christmas Tree Clippings

And, Use Every Branch

Repurpose leftover pine clippings to dress up dollar store candle holders or hurricanes. Just temporarily tack the greenery to the outside of the glass with hot glue and secure with colorful ribbon.

See More Photos: Merry + Bright Christmas Brunch Tablescape

Cue the (Table)Cloth

A richly hued tablecloth, like this deep aubergine, is a foolproof way to disguise a past-its-prime dining table while creating a gorgeous backdrop that makes white dishes pop and gold flatware gleam.

Learn More: 14 Ways to Get Your Tablescape All Set For the Holidays

Or, Skip It

Honestly, if your table's surface is in good shape (and you aren't worried about potential water rings or stains), there's no need for a tablecloth — let the beauty of your table's rich wood surface shine.

See More Photos: Crafty + Classic Christmas Table Setting

Pull Out All the Bells + Whistles

A formally set table, with all the glassware and utensils for each course, is a thing of beauty — but knowing where to place each element can be confusing. No worries: our guide, below, will walk you through it step by step.

See More Photos: How to Set the Table

Or, Simplify Hosting With a Buffet Instead

What's a get-together without lots of tasty nibbles? For our spread, we turned grocery-store staples into easy-to-munch snacks. Providing handheld snacks that are just a bite or two eliminates the need for utensils and makes it easy for guests to try one of everything without feeling stuffed.

See More Photos: Host Happy: Throw a Festive Friendsmas Party

But, Don't Forget the Centerpiece

Even when serving buffet style, your table still needs a centerpiece ... but, flowers aren't required. For ours, we filled a copper tray with fresh-cut evergreens, seeded eucalyptus, aromatic eucalyptus, pomegranates, an antique Moravian star and a trio of glass topiaries.

See More Photos: Host Happy: Throw a Festive Friendsmas Party

Put Vintage Finds to Work

Vintage Thermos-style containers are easy to source at thrift stores or yard sales and make festive containers for backyard clippings and colorful hypericum berries.

See More Photos: 60 Merry & Bright Christmas Centerpiece Ideas

And, Incorporate Antiques

Both practical and pretty, antique metal matchstick holders were designed with a small hole near the top so they could easily be tacked to a fireplace surround or adjacent wall to keep long wooden matches handy. You can still use them for this same purpose today or follow our lead and loop ribbon through the nail hole to turn the metal cone into a faux greenery-filled chair swag.

See More Photos: Cozy Up Your Christmas Decor With Vintage and Antique Finds

Viva la Vintage in Red

The hottest (and most budget-friendly) trend in table settings is using mismatched pieces. Luckily, vintage dishware and glasses in red shades, particularly jewel tones, are relatively easy to find. In part, thanks to red being one half of Christmas's traditional palette and also due to the consistent popularity of wine-red hues over the decades.

See More Photos: Love Wins: Wow Guests With a Rainbow-Themed Vintage Table Setting

Or, Go for the Green

Like red plates, thanks to the proliferation of Christmas's traditional colors, vintage green dishware isn't difficult to find. Ditto for the glassware: the two patterns shown here are 'Moon and Stars' (bottom right) and 'Park Lane' by Colony Glass (upper left) and they're both available in a variety of other pretty hues, too.

See More Photos: Love Wins: Wow Guests With a Rainbow-Themed Vintage Table Setting

Napkins, Take Notice

More take-home favor than something you want to wipe your mouth with, our free template and how-to tips, below, will help you cross-stitch your way to table decor that's certainly a stitch above the rest.

Get the How-To: How to Cross Stitch a Poinsettia Design on Napkins

And, Have Fun With Silverware

To really wow your family or guests, continue your table's theme into the silverware. This woodsy trio sees the standard set of Christmas-specific china and raises it with deer-donned cutlery.

Pile On the Poinsettias

Easily one of the season's favorite flowers, poinsettia plants in full bloom are inexpensive and easy to source around the holidays. To lend more texture to this easy-to-craft centerpiece, just fill in around the blooms with backyard clippings. You could even add a few ornaments for a bit of sparkle.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Gorgeous + Easy Poinsettia Centerpiece for the Holidays

Or, Try a Flower-Free Centerpiece

A beautiful centerpiece is the perfect finishing touch to any dining table — but flowers aren't required. For a quick and easy fix, line the center of the table with pillar candles and something colorful to coordinate with the party's palette or theme, like confetti, glass ornaments, fresh fruit or foil-wrapped chocolates.

Craft Culinary Napkin Rings

A sprig of fresh-cut rosemary, twisted into the shape of a flavorful and fragrant mini wreath, adds a culinary twist to this place setting and could even double as a natural napkin ring.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Rosemary Wreath Napkin Ring

Or, Simplify With Craft Store Buys

Hit the scrapbook aisle in your local craft store to find small embellishments, like this paper poinsettia, that you can hot-glue to your existing napkin rings (or just a loop of ribbon) to easily lend a special occasion feel.

Send 'Em Home With a Flowery Favor

In just a few steps, you can turn dollar-store, shatterproof ornaments into mini vases to brighten up your holiday table. Add a handwritten tag so the arrangements also serve as place cards, then send them home with guests as a blooming favor.

Get the How-To: Christmas Craft: Make Easy Upcycled Ornament Vases

Or, a Take-Home Treat

Before guests head off into the night, be sure they've grabbed a sweet treat, like our irresistible bourbon balls. After all, what could be more festive than a take-home favor to ensure the good times will continue at home.

Get the Recipe: Chirstmas Classic: Pecan Bourbon Balls Recipe

Give Kids a Space of Their Own

The kids' table isn't just a good idea for Thanksgiving; for many families, it's a time-honored Christmas tradition, too. Setting up a separate table for kids lets cousins and siblings make memories while adults can catch up over coffee and dessert.

See More Photos: Create a Festive Holiday Kids' Table

Show Them Their Place

Place cards may feel fancy but crafting them doesn't have to be. For this woodsy style, just head outdoors to clip a slim branch, then cut it to create two twigs of similar size. Hot-glue them together to create a base, then insert a printed or hand-lettered place card and an evergreen sprig as a freshly scented support.

See More Photos: Cozy Up to This Buffalo Plaid Christmas Table Setting

And, Put Gift Tags to Work

Card stock gift tags make great place cards. Just add your guest's names, loop through some raffia or baker's twine and tie around the napkin topping each plate. Just before guests arrive, slide in a fresh-cut rosemary sprig, bloom or bit of pine for an aromatic final touch.

See More Photos: Host a Beautiful + Budget-Friendly Friendsgiving

Cue the Copper

Copper tape, that is. Can you believe these gorgeous, expensive-looking votives are just inexpensive glass cylinders wrapped in bands of copper tape? To complete this stunning setting, the editors at HGTV Magazine surrounded the candles with a lush spread of seeded eucalyptus, topped by gilded acorns and assorted fruits and veggies.

Learn More: 14 Ways to Get Your Tablescape All Set For the Holidays

HGTV Magazine Logo in Pink

And, Rely on the Beauty of Birch

Rustic, natural elements continue to be a popular choice for setting your table setting apart from the pack. Shop online for birch bark sheets to use as a charger and cut birch rounds to top plates — or scavenge your own backyard to see what freebies Mother Nature is offering up.

See More Photos: Host a Wintertime Picnic in the Park

Dress Up Chair Backs

Add fresh or faux pine wreaths to easily fancy up straightback dining chairs. Just loop ribbon thru the chair's top rail to give your everyday chair a holiday refresh.

See More Photos: 110 Farmhouse Christmas Decorating Ideas

And, Deck the Chandelier

Don't stop at decking the halls, deck the area around your dining table, too. Here, designer Kim Stoegbauer fills the Scandi-style chandelier above her holiday table with faux greenery to keep the festive fun going.