Easy table setting ideas for Christmas

If you’re part of a big family (and let’s face it, most of us are), there’s a good chance you may be asked to entertain some relatives over the holiday season. Before you start panicking over recipes (here are some ideas for that), getting table setting ideas and cleaning the house, let’s tackle the easiest thing first. Decorating your table so that it shows the warmth and fondness you have for your family doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. In fact, if you take a look around your home, it’s easy to come up with some quick table setting ideas and have a festively decorated table that doesn’t break the bank (or your sanity).

Dinnerware
Don’t think you have to run out and buy a new set of dishes with a Christmas theme to make it a festive holiday meal; in fact, the plainer, the better. When coming up with table setting ideas, you can use basic white plates (or any solid color) and dress up everything around them to bring out the spirit of the season. Besides, you’ll want to show off your delicious food, and the best way to do that is the “blank canvas” of a white plate.

Placemats
A great tip when coming up with table setting ideas for Christmas is to make giant snowflakes and place them under the dinnerware. This is something your kids can help with; by taking paper tablecloths or any comparable paper, they can fold and cut out snowflakes like the ones they learned to make at school. Use glitter to dress them up or keep them simple if you want a more elegant look.

Silverware
You know those Christmas stockings you see everywhere – the red felt kind that comes in all sizes? Rethink those when coming up when setting your table – you can use them to hold the silverware and add a cheerful touch to your table. If you have the time and feel creative, you can add the names of your guests and let them serve as a name card to let people know who is sitting where.

Napkins and the final touch
Using paper napkins for a holiday dinner may sound like a no-no, but all’s fair when coming up with table setting ideas for Christmas. Besides, it’s how you use them that counts; by placing one napkin at an angle under the plate, and laying two across the top, you can instantly create the look of a Christmas card to continue the theme of a festive holiday season.

For the final touch, extend your table setting ideas to include the Christmas knickknacks you have around the house. You can use a sphere ornament, a candy cane, or any decorative holiday item and place it on top of your plate to give it the final Christmas touch. These items don’t all have to match, so go through your boxes of holiday decorations and grab the ornaments that have the most meaning. Not only will they create the look of Christmas, but they also make great conversation pieces.

With a long list of people to shop for, parties to attend, and gifts to wrap, it’s so easy to lose the meaning of Christmas, or worse, get burned out and lose the holiday spirit. Taking the time to plan a meal with those who mean the most to you can remind you of the significance of the season. And feeding your loved ones surrounding the table, which was inspired by the season can remind them of just how much they mean to you.