A celebration isn’t solely about the meal. Just being seated at a table with your loved ones: nothing can surpass that experience. A celebration revolves around unity, whether just two individuals or a group of 16 are gathered. The instinctual pleasure of delicious food connects with something deeper than mere appetite; if food serves as a love language, a celebration is akin to an enormous embrace.
Is it heretical to assert that hosting is more significant than cooking? Not to undermine the chef’s artistry. To the contrary, mastering the craft of creating exceptional gravy, focusing diligently to ensure the cake comes out of the oven before it burns, and accumulating years of know-how to synchronize the timing of a roast is no small feat. However, setting a napkin and lighting a candle requires no expertise; yet with a carefully arranged and abundantly decorated table, the evening feels exceptional even before the meal begins, relieving some of the stress.
Cast aside the notion of matching dinnerware and formal utensils; it isn’t a matter of whether you inherited a soup tureen or how a knife should be oriented. The outdated protocols of table setting have evolved into the contemporary style of tablescaping, where variety triumphs over uniformity, and the focus is on ensuring everyone enjoys themselves rather than feeling embarrassed for not recognizing which plate is theirs. Cheers to that. Snobbery has always been an atrocious taste.
“I’m not rigid about how the cutlery is arranged,” mentions Laura Jackson. “I find it nicer when the table has a more relaxed vibe rather than being overly formal or meticulous. I always provide a glass for water and another for wine or a cocktail, and that’s truly all you need. It ought to feel welcoming, not intimidating. The key is to approach it with a playful mindset instead of perceiving it as a chore that must adhere to certain standards.”
Jackson is a broadcaster, a writer (notably of the popular lifestyle newsletter the Margarita Chronicles), and a co-founder of the homeware brand Glassette. If you’ve missed the trend of tablescaping among chic millennial mothers at school events, you may not be familiar with her. However, if you belong to the Instagram-savvy crowd, she stands as a figure similar to your very own Princess of Wales. Curating your lifestyle has transitioned from mere interest to cultural expression, with Jackson as one of its primary representatives.
I once came across the idea that a great restaurant leaves you feeling more connected to your companions, and the same principle applies to home feasts. The finest gatherings unite you, which is particularly significant during the festive season. It begins with showing your guests that you are genuinely happy to have them, allowing them to unwind.
This isn’t about creating an extravagant spectacle, akin to Buckingham Palace prepping for an official visit. Exhausting yourself with what has been called the “no signs of life clean” – wiping every surface to eliminate fingerprints, and hiding clutter away – is counterproductive. You’ll become frazzled, with an underlying resentment, and your guests will sense that energy. Likewise, staying awake until the early hours crafting a Christmas tree-themed centerpiece out of lychees because it looked amazing on Pinterest is unwise. Just relax.
Don’t take things too seriously. Keep in mind that by the meal’s conclusion, your ribbon-tied napkins will likely end up on the floor or in someone’s hair, which is a positive sign. Your goal should be to welcome your guests with smiles as they enter, not to leave them speechless.
“Thoughtful, warm, and homely” was the atmosphere that Jackson and her team aimed to create for their tables. “For me, a warm and cozy environment is the ultimate objective in winter,” states Jackson. “I’m someone who clings to a hot-water bottle for most of the winter, so of course, I want the setting to feel inviting and comforting. I dim the lights, light numerous candles, and incorporate plenty of soft textures, whether for tablecloths or napkins.”
A well-set table possesses the ability to make moments linger. When you take a place meticulously arranged with a hint of formality and spread a napkin on your lap, you alter your mindset entirely compared to when you are hastily eating a baguette on a stool at Pret. This is why any table worthy of an elaborate setting should be your Christmas feast – whether it unfolds on December 25, the preceding night, or on any date that accommodates your work timetable or wide-ranging family commitments. Christmas dinner cannot, and should not, be hurried. You want ample time for seconds, for popping open more bottles, for the candles to burn down.
Tablescaping might sound like a silly term, and I say that with affection. Setting the table used to be a mundane task your mother assigned you; tablescaping is all about enjoyment. At recent fashion events I’ve attended, there’s been a trend for tables that appear almost surreal: candelabras adorned with a peeled boiled egg on each stem, rather than a candle. I once had my name engraved on a baked potato instead of a place card. I’m not suggesting you add “carve a chess set from butter” to your already overflowing to-do list (though, I must admit, it looked incredible), but if you have some little helpers around, you could have them press softened butter into silicone molds to chill for a few hours, resulting in a butter star or angel for every guest’s plate. Delightful.
However, the beauty of Christmas is that you don’t need to spend hours crafting a mood board (unless you enjoy it), since you likely have it memorized already. The visual essence of Christmas is embedded in us, alongside the lyrics of Away in a Manger. Our Christmas table here features flashes of Santa red – from taper candles and water glasses to crimson calla lilies and decorative clusters of crunchy radishes. Embracing a traditional style is enjoyable because everyone adores Christmas; tartan and holly, crackers and ornaments unite the generations. Yet, to avoid your table resembling a regional department store display, incorporating some unexpected touches – like striped peeled aubergines in place of candy canes – personalizes the ambiance.
You don’t need family silverware: use remnants of ribbon from gift wrapping to craft impromptu bows for napkin rings, or shape napkins into various designs. Again, nimble little hands come in handy: TikTok offers an endless array of tutorial videos, and last year, I successfully assigned the task of creating Christmas tree-shaped napkin folds to my niece. A simple vegetable peeler can carve spiral strips from oranges and lemons to scatter across the table, which is aesthetically pleasing and fragrant (plus, the fruit is still usable the next day).
At this season, flowers can be pricey and limited, so gather twigs or foliage from your garden or nearby hedgerow – they tend to last longer and are sturdy enough to hold a few small ornaments borrowed from the tree that will twinkle under candlelight. A tablecloth dramatically alters the mood; akin to theatrical curtains, it introduces an instant sense of drama. Since most of us don’t frequently use them, bringing one out for a special occasion is particularly enjoyable – and it will serve to unify a large table formed by placing one from the garden next to the kitchen table to accommodate everyone.
A festive table offers a stunning visual for your guests upon entering, yet the most vital aspect is how it appears while they are seated. “Keep decorations at a low height, so they don’t obstruct anyone’s view across the table,” suggests Jackson. Tall, slender candles provide elegance without causing obstruction and are safer than short tea lights, especially with children or wine present. If you enjoy a fine champagne or wine during celebrations, keep the bottle – it doubles as an elegant candlestick, holding flames high while evoking positive memories. Alternatively, if you’re concerned about fire hazards, small rechargeable table lamps – increasingly found on the high street for around £30 – instantly elevate the ambiance to that of an upscale restaurant and are incredibly handy during this time of year. Later, they can be shifted to the coffee table to illuminate a puzzle without needing the overhead light or serve as a makeshift bedside lamp for a guest on the sofa.
Need to squeeze in additional guests? No worries. In fact, it’s preferable: spreading chairs widely apart can feel formal like a board meeting, whereas seating people closely fosters a more communal environment, according to Jackson. Place settings are helpful if space becomes tight, making everyone feel welcome at a crowded table. Jackson enjoys placing a napkin on the plate, slightly draping it over the table’s edge, with a cluster of red grapes, separated into sprigs, as a charming touch of indulgence.
Setting a table resembles assembling an outfit. Choose a color palette, incorporate various textures – and, as Coco Chanel famously recommended, the final chic detail is to remove one element so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Do this in the center of the table, making room for dishes to be passed around for self-service. (If you possess leftover tiles from a DIY task, they function excellently as impromptu hotplates.) You are the host, not a waiter: allow guests to serve themselves. Additionally, don’t overload yourself: a cohesive color scheme (Coco would approve) lets you toss all the linens together for one hot wash to remove wine and butter stains overnight. Life is too short for multiple laundry batches of napkins, my friends.
Your table should contribute to the enjoyment, not hinder it. “How long does it take? Precisely as long as you decide to spend on it,” says Jackson. “It doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair. Some of my favorite tables have come together in 10 minutes. It’s not about achieving perfection.” When the turkey becomes just a carcass and the wax is clumped on the table, what remains are the stories, the memories, and the sense of belonging. That’s the true feast. The rest is simply gravy.
