How Do You Decorate a Christmas Dining Table?

A Christmas dining table looks its best when it is planned around the meal rather than decorated until it is full. This guide starts with the three decisions that shape everything: a restrained colour scheme of two shades plus a metallic, a low centrepiece running down the middle third of the table, and layered candlelight kept below eye level. We explain how to build a foliage runner from garden and hedgerow material, why nothing in the centre should rise above about 30cm, and how dimmed warm lighting and table lamps create atmosphere where a fixed ceiling fitting cannot. There is practical advice on layering linen, placemats and cloth napkins, allowing 60cm of table edge per person, planning for an extending table and mixed seating, and leaving space for serving dishes and trivets so the decoration survives the whole meal....