Our business is selling property, so usually, we recommend that our members take a “less is more” approach when it comes to the presentation of their homes. But all bets are off at Christmas time. At this time of the year, there is no better way to demonstrate your creative flair than with the design of your Christmas table, and in my house, nothing is too much. 

Christmas is no time for minimalism

I defy even the humbugs in the family not to get excited by the kaleidoscope of festive colour and sparkle that adorns our table, but I am also aware that in the crazy weeks leading up to Christmas not everyone is as sad as I am nor has the time to scour Pinterest for ways to achieve the wow factor. That's why Listing Loop decided to help you out with some setting ideas this year; with a few fun themes that suit most Aussie homes and are about as far away from minimalism as you can get. 

Kick off your lunch with a bang!

Trust us, the following twelve Christmas table settings will not only impress your guests, but they will also kick off your Christmas lunch with a bang.

1. Schmick – For this look, a black, white, and gold colour palette works perfectly. I envisage this style in period properties or Schmick, city apartments. A crisp white tablecloth is a great starting point to create contrast with your black table accessories, napkins, and bonbons. Gold charger plates like these from Spotlight and gold cutlery add some sparkle and add another level of sophistication and glamour and the table should be finished off with a generous spread of candles and foliage.
2. “Bridget Jones” – This look was epitomised at the infamous family Christmas drinks party in the movie and is all about mixing the wrong colours and patterns. The main colour palette is the traditional red, white, and green, but the aim of this style is overkill, so a tartan or hideously patterned tablecloth, floral napkins, a couple of candelabras you inherited from your Grandma or picked up from your local op shop will add a kitsch touch. A generous sprinkling of mistletoe, cheap supermarket crackers and a tacky party hat on each plate will make your table one your guests are unlikely to forget. For inspiration, check out eBay’s “Kitsch Christmas” selection.
3. “Byron Bay” – The key to nailing this look is to make it look like it was thrown together by nature. “Neutral” and “natural” are the key elements of a Boho Christmas table and your design starts with a white or ecru linen tablecloth, a forest of greenery, and candles or fairy lights. Some jute table mats like these stunners from Pillowtalk, and a fir garland down the centre of the table or a couple of vases of pampas grass for your centrepiece will finish off the look with simple glassware and copper or rose gold accents in your decorations.
4. Hamptons – The core elements of this theme are a crisp white tablecloth, white plates, silver candle holders and blue napkins. To make your table more Hamptons than traditional coastal, fill a couple of ceramic ginger jars like these ones from Temple & Webster with greenery or hydrangeas for your centrepiece and then go as far as you want with coastal accessories. For a more sophisticated approach to this scheme, take the blue out and stick to a neutral colour palette.
5. Eco-Friendly – Our last post highlighted eco-friendly gifts and your table should follow the same rules. Locally sourced, recycled or upcycled decorations work best for this them and old wine bottles or mason jars for your soy candles and a hessian runner for your centrepiece are a great start. Napkins should be organic hemp or cotton, and an abundance of local greenery or vases filled with bare branches of hanging fir cones, dried orange slices, and homemade decorations will breathe life into the design. 
6. “Frozen” – Your younger guests will love this theme. The colour palette is obviously white, silver, and blue with a touch of shocking pink or purple. Cut or coloured glassware will bring this winter wonderland theme to life and we love these tumblers from Living By Design. For your centrepiece, a vase of silver foliage with blue and pink baubles will look striking and special touches might include snowflake confetti or napkin rings like these ones from Matt Blatt.
7. Woodland – This one is a more traditional theme. Think Hansel and Gretel and bring the forest to your table with a hessian runner as your base topped with fir branches and pinecones, and interlaced with red ribbon. For that extra touch, you might include cut log table mats or coasters, some reindeer or woodland animal ornaments or clip-on bird decorations. Ceramic house lanterns like these ones from Amazon provide beautiful ambient lighting.
8. Global – Embrace other cultures with a globally-inspired table like this one created by Up To Date Interiors. Colour is an important component of this theme, whether you choose an Asian, African, South American or European theme. I think these wooded Christmas trees from Etsy, this floral decoration from Temple & Webster and these stunning gold wine glasses from House are a great starting point and those gold charger plates from our Schmick theme (above) would also add some glitz.
9. Modern – For this scheme, there are no colour constraints, but cooler shades work better with this clean, sharper look. These modern taper candles from Candle Kiosk and Christmas tree candles from Provincial Home Living would be a great starting point. Weave some greenery between them – I like gum leaves on a Christmas table - and pick napkins to match the colour of your tablecloth. Clear glassware and stainless steel are all the sparkle you need.
10. Vintage – This is one of the top interior design trends predicted for 2023, and red is the perfect base colour for this theme, whether it is in your choice of table napkins – tied with fresh rosemary and a cinnamon stick is a nice touch - or in the Christmas fruit, ribbon or candles that form your centrepiece. You won't go far wrong with a set of bottlebrush Christmas trees like these ones from Target and some glass, brass or wooden vintage candleholders such as these from Pamono. If your budget is tight, Matt Blatt also offers a good selection.
11. Rainbow – If you don't know where to start with this theme, check out this post from Chyka for inspiration. Suffice it to say, this style is not for minimalists because the core element of its success is colour. This theme is for those people who embrace life and live each day like it is their last. To make this theme really sing, twinkly lights are a must - festoon or cone candles work well - as are multi-coloured pompoms, coloured glassware and napkins, and perhaps a colourful arrangement of bottle brush trees like this set from Etsy.
12. “Foster-Blake” – Inspired by that Vogue photoshoot, the main colours of this theme are pink and gold with brown and terracotta accents. Fortunately, pink is the colour in interior design this year as the threat of Covid finally fizzles out and we seek warmth and comfort in our homes. Pink is also versatile, and its popularity has no doubt been helped by the recent resurrection of Barbie. With their usual panache, Hamish and Zoe showed us how the colour can be used for maximum effect in the uber-stylish interior redesign of their new home. But this table is no Mad Hatter’s tea party, this is a sophisticated pink scheme that could start with a salmon tablecloth, gold charger plates, pink plates like these from West Elm and gold or pink glassware. Finish it off with a striking centrepiece made from a group of these gold Christmas trees or glass vases filled with pampas grass.

Food for thought?

We hope we’ve inspired you to up your Christmas table game this year. It costs very little to spread some extra festive cheer ahead of what may be another unpredictable year in property. And however manic the holiday period may seem right now, our celebrations of Christmas and the New Year do afford us the opportunity to sit back and recalibrate; to appreciate what we have and maybe even implement certain changes that are better suited to our lifestyle. 

Did you know, for example, that off-market transactions make up 20% of Australia's total property market? So if you are looking to sell or buy a property this year, one of the changes you might consider is to buy or sell off-market with us. To learn more about how we can help you, speak to one of our team who will introduce you to our portfolio of stunning new off-market listings or advise you about the many selling options we offer which save our members money and help them sell more quickly.