Christmas Buffet Dinner Table Decorating Ideas

Looking for some gorgeous Christmas table decorations? Well good, you are in the right place. The Christmas dinner table is the heart of the festivities. It's where glasses are raised, crackers are pulled and an ungodly amount of pigs in blankets are eaten. And even though Christmas might be looking a little different this year, we say it's still important to make sure your table is dressed to impress.

Use these Christmas table decorating ideas for inspiration – and don't miss all our Christmas decorations ideas too.

1. Hang a wreath above your dining table

An unusual Christmas table decorations but hear us out, foliage hanging over your dining table was all over Instagram last year and admittedly, they look tricky to recreate, but a wreath makes it easy but still just as effective. We would recommend DIYing a wreath to get the best effect – add plenty ivy to drape down and you could even add small decs too, then add string you hang it from and voila.

If you need any tips on how to make a Christmas wreath head over to our guide.

2. Keep things elegant with tall glasses and tapers

Love this elegant Christmas table – a crisp white table cloth, contrasting deep blue napkins, tall taper candles, a touch of sparkle and of course the most bougie of champagne coupes. Simple and yet so effective

3. Make use of what you've got

There's definitely something endearing about Christmas table decorations that have character. Mismatched plates, vintage trinkets and homemade decorations can all come together to create a lovely festive melange. So before you go buying anything new, take a look around your home and see if anything could be given a second home next to the cranberry sauce.

2. Use natural materials for a rustic touch

Nordic style table setting by George Home

We've talked a lot about bringing the outside in at Christmas, but it really is such an effective, inexpensive way to make your Christmas table decorations immediately more festive. Try strewing your table with some branches, stems of eucalyptus and pine cones for an on-trend Nordic look.

We've got some lovely Scandi Christmas decorating ideas, plus a guide to Christmas trees, plants and foliage, should you have a moment...

3. Go for a traditional colour scheme for Christmas table decorations

If you are a sucker for traditional Christmas decorations, don't limit all that red, green, gold and tartan just to the tree, incorporate them into your Christmas table settings, too. Start by dressing the table in a deep red tablecloth and then build up from there – holly, ivy, leftover baubles, tartan napkins – the whole shebang.

4. Add some retro feels with kitsch decor

Nostalgia plays such a huge part at Christmas, it explains why we are seeing a comeback of kitsch Christmas decorations. So why not have your turkey joined by a flamingo or the odd llama this year? Recreate this look by getting playful with pastel colors, confetti, sparkling stars and vintage baubles. Basically, anything colorful goes.

5. Create opulence with gold Christmas table decorations

Because if you can't have an overload of sparkle at Christmas then when can you? Mix rose gold metallics with blush-hued tableware and team with a simple table runner to recreate this look. (And pssst… that glimmering, golden branch running through the middle of the table, isn't a painstaking DIY make, it's actually a pre-lit garland from Lights4fun).

6. Decorate your dining chairs

Add an extra touch to your Christmas table decorations by adding something extra to your dining chairs too. Tie ribbons around them, adorn them with mini wreaths or just simply hang a bough of fir off the back. It might not last long, but looks lovely for the big day, wouldn't you agree?

All this stunning tableware, artificial trees and dining room furniture are by Neptune.

7. Go for a dark, dramatic colour scheme

Not traditionally the most festive of color schemes, black and greys may not scream Christmas cheer, but this table setting is just irresistibly gothic and, combined with the gold candles and plenty of foliage, we reckon it still looks plenty festive.

And if you just love a touch of Tim Burton, why not choose dark candles over the more traditional ivory tapers (below)?

8. Use fur and linen for a softer look

As much as we love a crisp white table cloth, try using a linen one instead for a more casual Scandi vibe. Complete the look by throwing some fur rugs over your chairs and lacing the table with some greenery. Want more Scandi Christmas inspiration? Check out more of our Scandi Christmas decorating ideas.

You can find all this lovely tableware and decorations at Neptune.

9. Go all out Victoriana with your Christmas table decorations

Pay homage to the Victorian tradition of using food as decoration and make it the centerpiece of your Christmas table. Pick out some delectable looking fruit and pile it high in the middle of the table, then chose some vintage-inspired tableware and dramatic tapers to complete the look.

10. Leaving it till the last minute? Candles, candles, candles

You just can't go wrong if you have plenty of soft, glowing candles. And if you don't trust your family to be around an open flame (especially after a few snowballs) these wax LED candles from Light4fun are incredibly realistic no one will even notice the difference (again, especially after a few snowballs).

11. Add a personal touch with place cards

Not only does this ensure that you can be conveniently positioned at the opposite end of the table to whichever sloshed relative has had one too many bucks fizz, but place cards are also a really easy (and inexpensive) touch that shows you have made a bit of extra effort. You could of course have your place cards made, or you could copy this idea and get fancy with a calligraphy pen (or just a biro) and some nice heavy paper.

12. Add some (budget) luxury with deep shades

For an alternative Christmas table try choosing a deep, velvety color scheme – pair together shades of teal and plum and incorporate touches of rich fabrics for a really luxurious but cosy feel. This table setting might look expensive but everything is actually from Ikea!

13. Make a statement with Art Deco tableware

Give your roasties a more glamorous backdrop with some bold tableware. We love these zebra print plates from Maisons du Monde; team them with some gold accessories, vintage-style glasses and printed napkins to recreate this look.

14. Add warmth with autumnal hues

Go rogue this Christmas and move away from the typical wintery blues, silvers and crisp whites and choose a warmer autumnal colour scheme. We love how the deep orange textiles look with the pillar candles, and how gorgeous is that Alpine throw from Neptune? Still very festive of course, just has a bit of a fresher feel.

15. Use accessories to add pops of colour

If you want to stick to a fairly neutral table but still want just a hint of cheery Christmas crimson, choose a few bits of tableware to lift an otherwise pretty restrained color palette. These salt and pepper shakers from Le Creuset add a splash of color and look gorgeous with the wintery blues and greys.

16. Don't forget the kids' table

If you are lucky enough to have to space to stick all the kids on a separate table for the Christmas dinner, then make sure they get some cute table decor too! Zara has a whole range of festive melamine tableware this year – unbreakable, dishwasher safe, candy cane adorned, plates, bowls, glasses and mugs are but a click away...

17. Choose wintery blues and silvers

We've seen a lot of debate about blue at Christmas; most of you seem to agree that blue just isn't a Christmas color but we think paired with the right flourishes of foliage and touches of silver it can totally work. Pinch this idea and use rustic wooden placemats and fur throws to soften the look.

18. Embrace the neon Christmas trend

We are lurrving this neon thing that's going on this Christmas. It's just so far from all the green foliage, red berries and pillar candles you see so often.

This is such an easy Christmas table decoration idea to copy too and is minimal effort for maximum effect – you just have to fill up a statement bowl with fruit, mince pies, whatever you fancy, and then thepièce de résistance? Those clip on parrot decorations! Love. This. So. Much.

19. Switch out your dining chairs for a new look

We know this isn't technically a Christmas table decor idea, but switching around you dining chairs could give you a whole new vibe for the festive season plus determine how you decorate your table. We love these Kartell chairs (on sale at the moment, so snap them up!) They look so stylish contrasting with the more traditional table. To make the setup feel more festive decorate your table with some simple fir cones and a centrepiece of green foliage.