How To Set A Festive Christmas Table

As with any type of decorating, you want to have each room compliment each other. For instance, if your Christmas decorating is modern, you want to keep your Christmas Table Setting modern. As you walk into your Dining Room the character of the table should mimic your decorating taste. So what's your taste, modern, old world, poinsetta, reindeer,  the possibilities are endless but what ever your taste is bring it into your Dining Room in your Christmas table setting. There are so many different products out there today that it can be difficult to choose but I know that you will find what you need to accomplish this.

Personally I like neat, clean lines and love the red of the Christmas season but then again there is silver, gold, green, blue, white...yikes enough to make your head spin.

Before you begin, let's take a minute to go over the basics of table setting.

Keep in mind the following when planning to set your Christmas Table

How many guests are you having, what type of table - round, square or oblong, formal or casual? What type of mood are you looking to create? What do you need to accomplish your "look"?

 Tablecloths come in standard sizes for square, round, oblong (rectangle) and oval. Need help figuring out what size and shape of tablecloth you need?

Do you know the difference between and oblong and oval tablecloth? Many time people confuse oblong with oval. An oblong tablecloth is designed to fit a rectangle table with square corners and an oval tablecloth fits an egg-shaped table.

Do you know how to figure out your tablecloth size?
Measure the width and length of your table. Add the overhang or drop, which is how long the tablecloth will hang over the side, typically the desired overhang is 10-12 to lap level on dining tables and 15 inches for banquet tables.

When you have these measurements, add the overhang times 2 to each measurement of your table. You don't want the tablecloth to be too long. Your guests should be able to be able to sit and not have the tablecloth touch their legs, you don't want anyone pulling that tablecloth!!

Example: If your table size is 30x72 inches and the desired drop is 10 inches you would figure it this way:
10 inch (drop size) X 2 would be 20 inches
Add the 30" (from your table measurement) to the 20" (doubled desired drop) = 50 inches
Add the 72" (from your table measurement) to the 20" (doubled desired drop) = 92 inches

The perfect cloth size for your table would be 50 X 92 inches. Since tablecloths come in standard sizes you would then select the size closest to those figures.

Something fun....Tablecloths date back to Midevil Times when people traveled from village to village and castle to castle. During these trips food items were carefully wrapped in cloth. Upon arriving at their destination, they would place the cloth on the table, unfold and prepare for their meal. The unfolded cloth now served as a napkin were the persons dinning would clean their hands and mouths during the meal. At the end of the meal, the remaining food items were re-wrapped in the same cloth.

If your table is Oblong/Rectangle, your cloth should be approx...
Small - Seats 4 your cloth should be approx...70" Long
Standard-Seats 6 your cloth should be approx...80"-90" Long
Extended by 1 Leaf-Seats 8-10 your cloth should be approx...102"-108" Long
Extended by 2 Leaves-Seats 10-12 your cloth should be approx...124"-126" Long

If your table is oval and the size is
Small-Seats 4 your cloth should be approx...70" Long
Standard-Seats 6 your cloth should be approx...80"-90" Long
1 Leaf-Seats 8-10 your cloth should be approx...102"-108" Long
2 Leaves-Seats 10-12 your cloth should be approx...124"-126" Long
3 Leaves-Seats 12-14 your cloth should be approx...144" Long

If your table is round and the size is
Small-Seats2-4 your cloth should be approx...70"-72" Round
Large-Seats 6-8 your cloth should be approx...86"-90" Round
1 Leaf-Seats 4-6 your cloth should be approx...80"-90" Long
2 Leaves-Seats 6-8 your cloth should be approx...102"-108" Long
3 Leaves-Seat 10-12 your cloth should be approx...124"-126" Long

I have a rectangle table and start with a biege tablecloth, then I use a square green colored tablecloth laid down with the points showing at the mid point of the table, add a table runner and use a small corresponding table square.  Layering Looks stunning!!!

I am a big fan of Table Runners, they just add a little something extra to your table setting and can be used to compliment your linens, china and decor. Table runners can also be used to hide a leaf in the table. Table runners are sometimes called "scarves" and are pieces of material that run lengthwise or across your table. Table runners can run within the dimensions of a table or extend into the overhang.

Table runners have been used for centuries to decorate tables, sideboards and buffets when not in use. Heirlooms were displayed on runners, such as candlesticks, centerpieces and bowls. Table runners have come along way, today they are used for decorations, and are a big trend in table setting.

A napkin is a napkin or is it?

There are so many things that you can do with a napkin.

Napkins are a piece of material (made of cloth or paper) used to clean the lips or fingers and for protection of clothing. Napkins can be made of a variety of fabrics including cotton, linen, silk, and cotton/polyester blends. Cotton, Linen, and Silk napkins are typically used for more formal settings while cotton/polyester blends are used for casual everyday dining.

Turning a plain piece of cloth into an exotic swan for instance, brings back my many days in the catering business. Napkin folding can turn your table into an elegant work of art and it is an easy and fun task. Not into napkin folding, then napkin rings are the best thing. There are napkin rings for anyone budget and taste.

The Charger is making a big come back on tables. The charger makes a table look more elegant, whether serving dinner to your family or entertaining the guests.

Chargers are simply under plates that are used at each place setting of a formal table. The charger will be larger than the actual dinner and salad plates used to hold the food. The dinner plate is never placed on the charger. When you are shopping for chargers, place the salad plate or soup bowl, not the dinner plate, on the charger to see how it sizes and coordinates.

Historically, chargers were used in the best of restaurants to hold a place at the table before the diners arrived. This also aided in the setting of a elaborate table. Without a place for the plate, it was difficult to place the silverware properly. Once guests were seated, the plates were removed and the dinner process began.

Today, a charger is still used as a marker, but is used when dinner is served in courses. The appetizer, soup, and salad plates are placed on the charger, creating and elegant look and the charger also helps to keep the area around the diner clean before the entree is served.

The charger should compliment the choices of china, silverware, and décor of the table setting. A charger may be used with or without placemats, depending on your table setting.

The use of the right charger can add a touch of elegance to the table. By coordinating the design of the table setting, the color choices, and the pattern used for the china, the charger will beautify other pieces and create a sense of an elegant and festive table setting.

I could go on forever about the different types, shapes, sizes and colors of Christmas Dishes, there are so many that are available to you. What it really boils down to is your taste and what you like. For me, I like clean lines and borders and have a set of Mikasa China that I use for all holiday's, ivory dishes with a gold inlaid border. Plain and simple and I use chargers, tablecloths, napkins and decorations to bring in the color of the holiday.

Now on the other hand, many people have a set of Christmas Dishes and Tableware such as Spode, Lennox, Mikasa and the list goes on from the most expensive to the least expensive. It's up to you, your budget and your taste.

Most sets of china come with some basic serving dishes and if you are like me over the years I have accumulated additional serving pieces for my china. Then there are the holiday serving pieces that we save over the years.

But for ease of serving and cleaning, I like to use Stoneware/CorningWare serving dishes, that can easily go from the oven to your table. Stoneware is attractive, microwave proof and even oven proof. Right from your oven to your table, eliminating extra dishes, pots and pans. Another reason you need table padding, to save your table from the heat of serving dishes.

Just as versatile as stoneware is Corning ware, both help eliminate extra chores on a busy Christmas Day and add beauty to your Christmas Table.

Most of us know how to set a table, but for those that need a little refresher here is an overview...

* Forks should go on the left and spoons and knives to the right of the plate
* An easy way to remember the correct order to place utensils is that they go in the order in which you use them; so the salad fork goes on the outside left while the larger fork used to eat the main course goes on the inside left. Turn the blade of all knifes so they face toward the plate, why well in midevil times the blade pointing out meant harm to the person next to you.
* If you are using chargers, place the salad plate and/or soup bowl on the charger.
* Place the side plate or bread and butter plate to the left of your place setting;
* Place the wineglass at the tip of the main-course knife. The water glass and any other glasses should be arranged in the order they will be used with the first one on the outside.
* The napkins can go under the knife and spoon or on the side plate. If you choose to use napkin holders or fancy folds, the napkin can go on top of the charger plate set up or even in the water glass for a more decorative and elegant place setting.

What do you say about Glassware? There are so many styles and shapes that just can boggle the mind.

If you are using a Christmas pattern such as Spode, you most likely have the coordinating glassware. Most importantly, set a water glass, wine glass if you serve wine or alcohol and for the more adventurous, a stylish shot glass for the tradition after dinner sambuca with coffee beans.

Finally, for an extra special touch, you could leave a small gift at each place setting. If you shop around in dollar discount stores you can find all kinds of small gift items. Wrap them and use ribbon to give them a holiday look. You could even place the name cards in a frame for your guests to bring home. Opening the gifts will make a great conversation starter when everyone sits down at the table.

Decorating your table with a festive Centerpiece will give your table a festive Christmas feeling. Candlesticks are another great way to decorate your table and add a flair of elegance. You can also use candles and music to create the perfect festive Christmas setting.

The final and finishing touches create a festive Christmas Table Setting!

There is nothing better during the holidays than to hear some "ole time" favorites, some of which still are popular and live on today. Thinking of Christmas, you can't help but hummm a little...holly jolly christmas, jingle bell rock, rudolph the red nosed reindeer and the list goes on....Burl Ives will always stand out with the Christmas Classics..

Have a holly, jolly Christmas
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh, ho the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And in case you didn't hear
Oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas
This year

And who could forget the Chipmunks.....

Pictures are courtesy of Flickr, Webshots and Photobucket, all links have remained in tact. Thank you for such wonderful photo's!!