A gorgeously decorated Christmas dinner table can help to make a really memorable festive day – and the good news is it really isn’t that tricky to put together!
You’ve nailed the food prep, you’ve wrapped the presents, and your guests will soon be arriving. So how can you bring a bit of magic to your dinner table? We asked the lovely Rachel Young, Senior Food Stylist at Jamie Oliver and a tablescaping superstar, for her ideas for creating a really beautiful Christmas dinner table on a budget. And she sure delivered, using Jamie’s beautiful brand new tableware range, Big Love (available from January 2025!).
From fun serveware ideas to simple tricks for ramping up the Christmas atmosphere, here are Rachel’s top tips.
Embrace foraged greenery
Gorgeous festive table decor doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, it can be really easy and affordable when you know the tricks of the trade. “Use greenery from the garden, or forage from footpaths and hedgerows – maybe even ask your neighbours! If you have a real Christmas tree, trim a few springs from the back or the bottom and use those,” says Rachel. These little bits of greenery are perfect for laying along the table, wrapping around pillar candles, or adding to place settings along with coloured napkins and a beautiful ribbon.
Take it to new heights
When it comes to creating an impressive Christmas dinner table, it’s all about varying the height of your serveware. It’s fun to experiment with what you’ve got – for example, Rachel says, “Cake stands are a great way to add height and excitement. Pile seasonal goodies like clementines, pomegranates, figs or grapes on top to create stunning centrepieces that can gradually be eaten over the course of the day.” Big win!
This gorgeous Showstopper cake stand is from Jamie’s Big Love range. Keep an eye out, it’s coming soon…
Twinkle, twinkle
Fairy lights aren’t just for the tree – they’re perfect for bringing a bit of sparkle to your Christmas dinner table spread, too. “Pick small, delicate, battery-powered ones with a warm light bulb for extra Christmas cheer,” says Rachel. These can be wrapped around your foliage, candles and serveware to create a lovely festive atmosphere.
Jazz up your napkins
Take napkins up a notch with Rachel’s simple, budget-friendly hack: “One of my favourite ideas is using dried citrus slices and cinnamon sticks to lay out on napkins. Even better, they can be stored away to use again next year – or pop them in your festive cocktails instead!”
The name of the game
“There are plenty of clementines around at Christmas time – why not use one to write your name settings?” Try to pick clementines with nice leaves, then use a white, silver or gold pen to write your guests’ names and arrange them along the dinner table. Beautiful, unique, and totally edible, too!
Plan the perfect festive day from start to finish with Jamie’s Christmas Day masterplan!
