Moody and Minimal Christmas Table Styling
There is nothing I enjoy more about this time of year than styling our Christmas table. It's the part of the day when I can slow down my efforts in the kitchen and take my time setting the table, lighting the candles and adding finishing touches before we sit down together. When I worked as a wedding and events planner, this part of the process was without doubt my favourite part - finding the right colour palette, choosing the tableware and linens and creating an atmosphere to bring friends and family together to celebrate in style. Although our Christmas table is quite a bit smaller by comparison, it's not any less important.
This year, I've been so inspired by all the rich and moody colour ways coming out of the Nordic design scene that I wanted to break away from white and do something different. This look is tonal with deep blue linen, black tableware, touches of earthy terracotta. No Christmas table is complete without seasonal greenery and I've used a mix of seeded eucalyptus from my local florist, off-cuts of fir tree and greenery foraged from my garden. You'd be surprised how much inspiration the hedgerows will give you too if you keep your eyes open, just make sure you're allowed to take what you find.I couldn't resist using the new table linen collection from French brand La Cerise sur le gateau as my starting point. A smattering of gold speckles across the centre of the cloth is a nod to designer Anne Hubert's playful signature style, picking up the warm glow of candlelight. You can get away without ironing it too as it's a linen and cotton mix. I much prefer the relaxed texture of the crinkles, don't you?
The brass candlesticks are from the new MADE.COM collection which I saw at their supper club earlier in November. I love their simple shape and I've used my favourite Broste Copenhagen tapered candles in a blue-grey.I normally leave wine and champagne glasses on the sideboard for our guests to choose before they sit down, so I'm keeping the table simple with these Ferm Living Ripple glasses for water.Scent is yet another level of attention to detail that I bring to our table. Aside from the fresh smell of eucalyptus, I'm using the heady scent of Smoked Leather by Urban Apothecary. You may have spotted their travel candle in my recent gift guide and this one invokes the memory of lounging in a leather armchair in front of the fire. I'm down with that.
Black flatware has been on my list of must-haves forever and this Turini set from Habitat adds a bit of chunk to an otherwise delicate setting. The Nordic Kitchen dinner plates make a striking alternative to white and I can't wait to see how the black brings out the pops of colour in the food - I'll be making a smoked salmon carpaccio to start!
My Tips For Styling Your Christmas Table
- Use paper napkins for a quick update. IKEA have an inexhaustible selection and Vitra's Eames Dot is a personal favourite.- Layer up your plates on top of each other. Not only does it save space but it also looks great with a carefully placed napkin tucked inside.- Mood lighting is everything. Use a mix of tall candles, tea lights or battery operated fairy lights woven into your greenery.- Make a runner of greenery down the centre of your table if you don't fancy a larger display. Simply layer sprigs together and hide the ends with interspersed candles or paper decorations.- Mix textures to give your styling depth. For example, linens mixed with polished metal and cut glass to refract the light. Use velvet or string to tie your napkins.- Supermarkets are full of herbs and small potted fir trees if you're stuck for foliage. Try a mix of rosemary and bay for scent and pomegranates, figs and clementines for colour.- Remember to leave space on your table for serving dishes, bottles etc. Less is more from a practical perspective too!Check out my Scandinavian Christmas table from 2015 and find more inspiration on my Pinterest Christmas board.Lina Ardoise Golden Dots Tablecloth* - La Cerise sur le gateauNordic Kitchen black dinner plates* - Eva SoloTurini matt black cutlery* - HabitatFerm Living Ripple glasses* - AmaraVerona brass candlesticks - MADE.COMTerracotta pitcher - Another CountryGrey candles - Broste CopenhagenSmoked Leather scented candle*- Urban Apothecary LondonBerit Mogensen Lopez abstract art print* - The Poster ClubDisclosure: This is a sponsored post - all credits and products involved are listed and marked* and have been gifted to me in exchange for this post.Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley