How to Set & Decorate a Christmas Dinner Table

A Christmas dinner table is a place to share food and family memories.

Christmas dinner is a tradition in which friends and family gather and share special foods and memories. Though many families have stayed with the traditional turkey dinner, others choose to feature ethnic dishes, seafood and other special meals. Add special touches to a Christmas dinner table to build memories and create a festive spirit without adding lots of expense. Many ideas are versatile and can be modified to use for church Christmas dinners and other functions.

Things You'll Need

• Silverware
• Dishes
• Plain wooden napkin rings
• Hot glue gun
• Small silk poinsettias or leaves
• Pillar candles
• Christmas wreath
• Large bowl
• Decorative stones
• Gingerbread cookie cutters
• Scissors
• Brown construction paper
• Craft sticks
• White craft glue
• Small picture frames
• Photos of each guest
• Crystal bowl
• Christmas ball decorations

Instructions

Setting the Table

1. Plan your Christmas dinner menu. This will help you determine what dishes you will need and what silverware to include at each place setting. For example, if you are serving salad at the beginning of the meal, you will need salad bowls and salad forks.

2. Choose a theme. For something simple and elegant, incorporate plain-colored dishes and simple decorations. For a down-home family dinner, purchase thick paper plates with bright Christmas designs.

3. Include dishes for condiments such as gravy, jelly and butter. They look nicer in dishes that complement the table setting than in their original containers.

Decorating Ideas:

1. Decorate plain wooden napkin rings to compliment your table. Hot glue small Christmas poinsettias or autumn leaves to each napkin ring. Or, tie ribbons around each napkin and tie small jingle bells at the ends.

2. Pillar candles add ambiance and warmth to a dinner setting. Amazing Christmas Ideas website suggests placing pillar candles in the center of a Christmas wreath. A large bowl filled with red, green or gold decorative stones also makes a pretty candle holder.

3. Trace gingerbread boy and girl shapes from cookie cutters onto brown construction paper. Write the name of each guest on the shape. Prop up the shapes at each place setting by gluing a craft stick to the back. Alternately, purchase small picture frames and place photos of each guest in them.

4. Fill a crystal bowl with Christmas tree ball decorations and place in the middle of the table. Be sure to choose colors that complement the rest of the table.

References

• Amazing Christmas Ideas: Christmas Table Decorations