Last updated on February 14, 2021
I love this time of the year and decorating the Christmas table is my ultimate favorite thing to do. I start with a beautiful Christmas tablecloth and matching linen napkins that are placed into poinsettia napkin rings. I have always maintained two Christmas tablecloths; one to accommodate a table for six, and a larger one for eight to ten guests. They are both permanent press because this hostess hates ironing. This year there will only be six close family members, but I’m looking forward to a bigger table in 2021.
Next comes the fine china and the good silverware, however I don’t reserve these items just for holidays. Anytime friends and family come for an especially nice indoor dining room meal, I seize the opportunity to create a lovely table setting.
I have been collecting Waterford crystal for many years and enjoy bringing out the special classic red and tall white wine glasses, champagne flutes, candlesticks, serving bowls and other crystal accessories. These items are also used frequently versus keeping them imprisoned in the china hutch as showpieces to be “passed down.” I got over that idea many years ago after getting a frantic call from a relative while on vacation. The sad news was that one of the glass shelves in the china hutch had broken and many of my lovely Waterford pieces were destroyed. Lessons learned: if you have them, enjoy them; keep your heaviest pieces on a solid bottom shelf and don’t overload your glass shelves. Besides, who knows if the people you leave them to will appreciate your crystal as much as you do! Handle with care and indulge your love of beauty.
Now we are ready for the piece de resistance – the centerpiece arrangement. I like to start with a beautiful Waterford vase and because that takes center stage, I don’t feel the need to invest in expensive flowers. I buy two sets of red, white and green floral bouquets from the supermarket and create my own opulent arrangement. I have figurines for every holiday. For Christmas, it is a family of Christmas carolers. These are placed attractively around the flower arrangement. There are now a couple of points of consideration. I have two male and two female carolers that I place back to back on the table to ensure that both sides of the table have an attractive view and people are not looking at the back of anything. This is also true for your flowers. Make sure that they are arranged in such a way that both sides also have an attractive floral presentation. In other words, don’t have all the flowers on one side and the ferns and fillers on the other. By the way, there will always be some close relative (like my son) who will complain that your floral arrangement is obstructing their view of the person across the table. Just tell them that the other person probably looks better in their mind’s eye anyway and let it stand!
Your table is now lovely. Don’t forget to light the candles and serve some nice wine. This is also a good time to use your wine cradles or wine coasters and those crystal and monogramed bottle toppers that somebody gave you last year. Add any little finishing touches that will make the table uniquely your own.
Bon Appetit!
