Christmas Table Decor Ideas: 14 Ways to Set a Festive Table, Small or Large

Christmas table decor ideas for any size of table: four color schemes, runners, place settings, napkin folds and candles, plus what to do when the table is too small for a centerpiece.

By Ania Kowalska · DIY

Oct 8, 20268 min read

In this guide · 21 sections

The Christmas table decor ideas that work best are built in layers: something under the plates, something down the middle, a place setting with one festive detail, and low, warm light. You do not need matching china or a long table. A linen runner, greenery from the tree lot, candles and a sprig tucked into each napkin will carry a table for four as well as a table for twelve.

Below are four color schemes to choose from, 14 ideas for the runner, the plates, the napkins and the lighting, and a section for tables that are too small to hold a centerpiece once the food arrives. If the middle of the table is your only question, go straight to our Christmas centerpiece ideas.

Build the Table in Five Layers

Layer	What goes there	Low-cost option
1. Base	Tablecloth, runner, or the bare wood	A length of linen, burlap or brown paper
2. Middle	Garland, candles, a centerpiece	Tree trimmings and tea lights
3. Place setting	Plate, charger or placemat, cutlery, glass	Everyday white plates on woven placemats
4. Detail	One small thing at each place	A sprig of rosemary, a name tag, a cinnamon stick
5. Light	Candles, fairy lights	Battery micro lights woven through the greenery

For the place setting itself, the usual order is forks on the left, knife and spoon on the right with the knife blade facing the plate, the glass above the knife, and the napkin on the plate or to the left of the forks. Everything else is decoration.

Pick a Color Scheme First

Choosing two or three colors before you buy anything is what makes a table look planned.

Green, cream and brass. Evergreen garland, linen napkins, brass candlesticks. Calm, and it works with any plates.
Deep red and green. A burgundy runner or napkins with greenery and gold cutlery. The traditional look, kept rich by using dark red, not bright.
Red and black. Black plates and a red velvet runner for a formal, evening table.
White and silver. White linen, glass, silver or mercury candle holders and a little pale greenery. The best choice for a small room because it reflects light.

Christmas Table Decor Ideas for the Runner and the Middle

1A full garland runner with brass tapers

Lay a thick evergreen garland down the middle of a bare wood table, weave fairy lights through it, and stand brass candlesticks with cream tapers in it at different heights. Linen napkins tied with twine at each place keep the palette to green, cream and brass.

2A green table with clustered candles

Use a dark green cloth or runner, add pillar candles and brass votives in tight clusters along the middle, and scatter a few red and gold baubles between them. Green plates or green napkins tie the settings to the middle of the table.

Evergreen garland with fairy lights and brass candlesticks down a wooden table set with linen napkins tied with twine — Green, cream and brass on bare wood

Dark green table with clusters of pillar candles, brass votives and baubles between green-rimmed plates — Candles grouped in clusters, not spaced evenly

3A burgundy knitted or velvet runner

A runner in deep red does half the decorating on its own. Let it hang over the ends of the table, repeat the color in the napkins, and keep everything else neutral. Two red taper candles and a low line of greenery are enough on top.

4Red velvet on a black table

For a dinner party, pair a red velvet runner with black plates, gold cutlery and red glassware. Tall red tapers give height. It is a strong look, so keep the centerpiece to a thin strand of greenery with a few baubles.

Wooden dining table with a burgundy runner, burgundy napkins, red taper candles and low greenery — One deep red, repeated in the runner and the napkins

Dark table with a red velvet runner, black plates, gold cutlery, red glasses and tall red taper candles — Red and black for an evening table

5A dark green fabric runner with pine cones and cinnamon

Seen from above, this is the simplest table to copy: a strip of dark green fabric, loose pine branches laid along it, pine cones, cinnamon sticks and three or four candles in glasses. Nothing is arranged; it is just laid down in a line.

6A garland that follows the table's shape

On an oval or round table, a straight runner looks stiff. Shape the greenery to follow the table, wider in the middle and tapering toward the ends, and set the candles inside it. Red napkins on gold-rimmed plates around the edge finish it.

Overhead view of a table with a dark green fabric runner, pine branches, pine cones, cinnamon sticks and candles — Laid down in a line, not arranged

Overhead view of an oval wooden table with a red runner, a garland of greenery and baubles, candles and red napkins on gold-rimmed plates — On an oval table, let the garland follow the shape

Ideas for Place Settings and Napkins

7Napkins folded into Christmas trees

Fold linen napkins into tree shapes, stand them on the plates and tuck a sprig of rosemary or pine into the front of each. They add height to the table without taking any space from the middle, and guests always notice them.

8A sprig and a ribbon on every napkin

The five-minute version: roll or fold each napkin, tie it with twine or velvet ribbon, and slide in a sprig of pine, rosemary or a few berries. This is the place setting in the photo at the top of the page.

9Name tags you can eat or keep

Write names on gift tags tied to a cinnamon stick, on a bay leaf with a gold pen, or on a gingerbread biscuit. Place cards settle the seating before anyone sits down, which helps at a crowded table.

10Layer plates on a placemat or charger

A woven placemat, a gold-rimmed charger or even a round of brown paper under a plain white plate makes everyday plates look dressed up. Mix what you have: the same layer under every plate is what makes them read as a set.

Linen napkins folded into Christmas tree shapes with pine sprigs, standing on white plates among candles in glass holders — Tree napkins add height without using the middle of the table

Small Christmas Table Decorations: When There Is No Room

11One bowl in the middle

A shallow bowl with one pillar candle, moss or greenery, pine cones, dried orange slices and a few berries decorates a table for two or four on its own. It lifts off in one hand when the dishes come out.

12Decorate above and beside the table instead

When every inch of the table is needed for food, move the decoration off it. Hang a wreath or a branch above the table, run a garland along the windowsill or sideboard next to it, and tie a ribbon to the back of each chair. Our guide to hanging Christmas decorations without nails shows how to do that in a rental.

13Put the decoration on the plates

Skip the centerpiece and give each plate its own: a folded napkin, a sprig, a wrapped chocolate and a name tag. The table looks full when guests sit down and the middle stays free for serving dishes.

14Use tea lights instead of candlesticks

Tea lights in small glasses fit between dishes where candlesticks cannot. Use an odd number and spread them along the table. LED tea lights are the safer choice on a crowded table with sleeves reaching across it.

Shallow bowl with a lit pillar candle, pine sprigs, pine cones, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and red berries on a wooden table — One bowl is enough for a table for four

Living in a small place? Our small apartment Christmas decor ideas cover the tree, the windows and the door as well.

Christmas Table Decor on a Budget

Ask for tree trimmings. Tree lots and garden centers often give away the branches they cut off; they make a garland when laid end to end.
Use fabric by the length. A strip of linen, burlap or velvet from a fabric shop is cheaper than a made-up runner and can be any length.
Dry your own orange slices in a low oven and scatter them with cinnamon sticks.
Shop second-hand for brass and glass. Candlesticks, chargers and glasses are easy to find; our thrift store decor guide explains what to look for.
Reuse the mantel. The garland, candlesticks and baubles from the fireplace can move to the table for the day; see our Christmas mantel decor ideas.

Reader Poll

Which Christmas table are you setting?

FAQ

How do I decorate a Christmas table simply?

Lay a runner or a line of greenery down the middle, add three or five candles, and tie a sprig of pine or rosemary to each napkin. Keep to two or three colors.

How do you decorate a small table for Christmas?

Use one small bowl or a row of tea lights in the middle, put the decoration on each plate, and move the rest off the table: a wreath above it, a garland on the windowsill, ribbons on the chairs.

What colors go on a Christmas table?

Green, cream and brass for a calm look; deep red and green for a traditional one; red and black for a formal dinner; white and silver for a small or dark room. Pick one scheme and repeat it in the runner, napkins and candles.

What can I use instead of a tablecloth?

A runner, a length of fabric, brown kraft paper you can write names on, or nothing at all on a wooden table with placemats under each plate.

How far ahead can I set the table?

The cloth, runner, plates, candles and faux greenery can go out a day or two before. Add fresh greenery, flowers and anything edible on the day so it looks fresh.