How to Style a Beautiful Christmas Table: A Designer’s Guide to Festive Magic
Every December, as Geneva begins to glow under soft winter light, I find myself drawn to the quiet ritual of dressing the Christmas table. It is a moment of pause. A gentle interruption in a season that often moves too quickly, and most importantly, an opportunity to create a space where memories are made.
For me, table styling has never been a purely decorative exercise, it is an emotional one. A way of honouring the people who gather around it, as well as the stories carried in the objects we choose to display.
Every Christmas and Easter, a few cherished pieces always return to my table: my grandmother’s silver cutlery and her fine porcelain. She collected them slowly, lovingly, carrying them across continents and homes. When I inherited them, I continued that tradition, packing them carefully, taking them with me from one country to the next. Setting them out at Christmas feels like welcoming generations of memories to join us for dinner. A reminder that a festive table is not just a composition of objects, it is a reflection of tradition and legacy.
This deep emotional grounding is what guides everything that comes next. Before I place a candle, unfold a napkin, or choose a single flower stem, I begin with a concept.
What emotion should the table carry this year?
What story should unfold as guests sit down?
Should the atmosphere feel classical and symmetrical… or spontaneous, playful, and unexpected?
Your Christmas tablescape sets the tone for the entire evening. Its aesthetic matters, but its intention matters even more. Here’s a preview of how my table is going to look this year…
The Enchanted Forest will be my Christmas tablescape this year
My Concept for Christmas This Year
This year, the concept for my table is The Enchanted Forest. I wanted our Christmas Eve table to feel light, joyful, and quietly whimsical, a gentle balance of elegance and spontaneity. I leaned into objects that bring movement and personality:
Layered glassware
Flowers sourced partly from my garden and partly from a favourite Geneva florist
Candle holders in mixed heights and shapes
Small handcrafted accents with sentimental meaning
I approached the table almost like it’s my canvas: layering tones, playing with negative space, and composing objects so the result feels effortless, but deeply considered.
To keep the overall mood fresh, I moved away from the classic festive palette of red, green, and gold. Instead, I chose mint green, soft pastels, and delicate complementary tones. Controversial? Maybe, but for me, I chose colours that feel airy, modern, and still festive. A palette that still evokes celebration, but with a more refined, contemporary twist.
Antique knife rests and LSA water glasses
A Beautiful Discovery: The Art of Tinina
This year, I also fell in love with the concept behind Tinina by Adeline du Chastel. Her 100% natural rapeseed wax powder allows you to transform almost any vessel be it a bowl, a cocktail glass, even a child’s ceramic creation, into a candle or photophore.
With just a handful of wax and a wick, you can create something utterly personal.
I used this idea to turn several of my cocktail glasses into soft glowing photophores, and I repurposed a few of my daughter’s playful ceramic pieces as decorative accents. It’s a beautiful, sustainable way to add warmth and create a table that feels genuinely unique.
Layered greenery from my garden
Elevating the Foundation: Velvet as the Anchor
To ground all these light, joyful elements, I used Dedar silk velvet as the base for the table. Velvet adds instant depth, luxury, and warmth, an indulgent backdrop that makes every object layered on top feel more expressive.
Against the richness of velvet, the pastel tones, glass textures, florals, and candlelight seem to glow. It is this careful balance of opulence and ease that makes a Christmas table feel truly special.
Candles made with Tinina rapeseed wax and my own LSA mix of cocktail glasses
Five Expert Tips for Styling a Meaningful, Beautiful Christmas Table
1. Begin with a Colour Story
A thoughtful colour palette is the foundation of any elegant tablescape. Choose:
two main colours
one metallic accent
This creates instant cohesion and ensures the table feels intentional rather than improvised.
2. Layer Textures for Depth & Warmth
Texture brings sophistication. Mix:
crisp linen or cotton
glass and crystal
ceramic or stoneware
velvet or metallic details
These layers add dimension and make the table feel inviting from every angle.
Dedar silk velvet base
3. Bring Nature Into the Composition
Natural elements soften the table and introduce organic movement. Consider:
olive branches
eucalyptus
pine
winter berries
moss
Choose greenery with a gentle scent. Subtle enough to complement the meal without overwhelming it.
4. Use Height to Create Rhythm
A beautiful table has visual flow. Mix:
low florals
medium-height candles
a few taller decorative elements
This creates rhythm and balance while keeping sightlines clear for conversation.
5. Light Thoughtfully: Candlelight Is Everything
Atmosphere comes alive under warm, soft light. Use:
mixed candle holders
glass photophores
Tinina-style personalised candles
Avoid bright, flat lighting. Christmas should feel enveloped in a gentle glow.
Asymmetrical composition with my heirloom porcelain, silver cutlery, flowers and greenery
A Final Word: Let Your Table Tell Your Story
An elegant Christmas table is not about perfection; it is about emotion, harmony, and connection. These are values deeply aligned with how we design every space at Alexandra Henry Interiors . Your table should feel like an extension of your home: warm, thoughtful, and reflective of the people who gather around it.
If you allow memory, intention, and beauty to guide you, your Christmas tablescape will naturally become something meaningful and something your guests remember long after the candles burn out.
My daughter’s ceramic creation next to my grandmother's porcelain and silver cutlery
To talk to Alexandra about how to elevate your home interiors, contact us today.
