Christmas can be a truly magical time of

year and one to really make the most

of good food and good company.

Your Christmas dinner plans may be casual or

elaborate, but either way a stunning-looking dining

table arrangement is easy to do and really sets the scene for a wonderful meal and

memorable times spent with friends and loved

ones.

Thanks to some minimal planning and some simple

items, you can create a beautiful Christmas dining table where everyone will feel relaxed and want to

linger.

During the festive period, your home is likely to have more decorations up than

at any other time anyway, so it's not all

down to the dining table decor to

impress everyone.

Using a harmonised combination of

decorative elements and linens, you can create a Christmas dining table that makes a stunning

focal point without clashing with your other

decorations.

What’s more, this can be a really fun and

enjoyable Christmas task to undertake.

If your gathering will be more on the formal side, think about using layering in your table

décor.

For example, you can place a table runner on top of your linen tablecloth, and use

matching linen napkins secured using stylish napkin rings.

Also think about using placemats that harmonise

with the accent linen pieces.

The finishing touches can simply be a few decorative

festive items like pine cones and candles with a Christmassy

poinsettia as a centrepiece.

To simplify your choice of colours, stick to

festive colours that will coordinate with other decorative items used

across adjoining rooms.

The traditional Christmas colours of red, green and white are certainly reliable choices, but do also

consider modern colour variations such as wine,

forest green or lime green, and even cream.

Gold and silver are excellent accent colors to use with white and possibly

even black, depending on your festive design

scheme.

Sumptuously heavy fabrics

generate a rich, cosy feeling and

are ideal for winter interior

styling.

Excellent finishing touches to your

Christmas dining table include scented candles and pot pourri in festive fragrances such as pine, cinnamon or cranberry.

Fairy lights are also a great option worth

considering, especially if you

prefer to avoid using candles, and come in

a wide variety of styles and colours to

suit your scheme.

A stylish festive table is not a prerequisite for

enjoying the Christmas season of course, but it

can help create wonderfully warm and

welcoming atmosphere.

Above all, have fun with styling your dining table and

everyone you entertain will take pleasure in your convivial style as

well as the meal you serve.