Christmas will be very different this year, but I am looking forward to it regardless. I’m determined to fully embrace the festive season and make the best of it.

I even wanted to get matching family pyjamas, something I deemed silly just a couple of years ago. Guess what, they are all sold out, and I'm annoyed I missed it. Matching pyjamas and global pandemic or not, enjoying the festive season is quite easy with an excited 3 year old in the house. Everything in her eyes turns into magic, and we’ll have a lovely time even if it’s just the three of us.

If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s styling a pretty table (I am normally quite modest, I promise, but I throw pretty parties for a living, so I’m confident to say this), and I thought it would be fun (for me at least, but hopefully for somebody else as well (and please excuse my overuse of brackets)) to do Christmas table set-up inspiration series.

I’m planning to do four series altogether, and I will explain my tried and tested formula for achieving the right look and balance so that your festive table looks GLORIOUS.

I reached out to Eimear from Wink and Elbow, the amazing homeware store here in Dungarvan that I keep praising all the time. She kindly agreed to lend some of her beautiful items for me to play with, and I’ll link everything I use so you can find it in case you’d like to get any of them on time for Christmas (this is not an ad, I just genuinely love everything she stocks, and it’s good to support an amazing local business).

WHAT YOU NEED

To set a pretty table, there are a few basic things I always use.

Nice table linens and napkins. Nothing says ‘special event’ more than a tablecloth and fabric napkins. They don’t have to be matching, but they have to work in harmony.
Centerpiece runner. Not entirely necessary, but using a runner makes it easy to define the focal point of the table and to anchor the décor items you’ll be using for styling.
Candleholders and candles. It might be just me, but I simply don’t know how to set a festive table without using candles. Even my 3 year old knows there is no celebration without them. If you don’t have candleholders, I wouldn’t be worried, you can just pick up a couple of pillar candles to set the mood.
Pretty tableware, of course. From glasses, plates and cutlery to butter plates, water jugs and salt and pepper shakers, it’s nice to build up a pretty collection of tableware. Not that I have it all myself, that’s why I borrowed my dream items from Wink and Elbow. All in time my friends, don’t stress if you don’t have everything I’m mentioning here because, frankly, neither do I. We will use what we have and make the best of it.
Something live. Ok, I realise this sounds kind of creepy, but what I mean by something live is flowers or foliage, or even pinecones, branches, dried ferns - it doesn’t have to be anything fancy or complicated, but it’s good to add that fresh touch. For the first set-up, I use ivy and Christmas tree branches I picked up while walking in the forest. There’s pretty stuff everywhere, you only have to look for it.

And that’s about it, I think. Easy peasy. Let’s jump on to the first table set-up!

PART 1: BLACK AND GOLD CHRISTMAS TABLE

This set-up is elegant and understated, and should work in any interior. I used a dark grey linen tablecloth (find similar here), and I layered two runners - a grey muslin one (mine is handmade by myself, but you can find a similar one here) and a gold sequin runner (find similar here). I bought a whole bunch of the gold runners for my wedding, and I’ve used them so much since. I love how the sequins bounce the candle light, it just looks so pretty. Please don’t worry if you don’t have a nice runner at your disposal, it’s not the end of your pretty party.

Next, I set up the two 3 branch candle holders from Wink and Elbow, and laid out the ivy and Christmas tree brunches I foraged during our forest walk. No vases or any vessels necessary, I got these on a Sunday, kept them outside in the cold (in the boot of my car) until Thursday and they are still perfectly fresh and fine. Ivy grows everywhere and is the perfect foliage trail that you can get anywhere, and even if you don’t have a table runner, it should look great.

Next, black taper and black pillar candles and tealights. Note how the brass candleholders are the focal element on the table, and they are placed symmetrically. The pillar candles are the next highest element on the table, and I grouped them purposefully to create what I call “strategical randomness” - a cluster of 3 off center towards one of the candleholders, and a cluster of 2 towards the other candleholder. And then I dotted tealights to create even rhythm of light.

The dinner plate set is from Wink and Elbow, and it is just so so beautiful. The black wine glasses and the stunning black and gold cutlery, also from Wink and Elbow, are the perfect finishing touch.

I added a Christmas tree bird and a sprig of rosemary for a pretty and fun place setting, and dotted some of the prettiest Christmas tree decorations to add that extra sparkle.

And that, my friends, is it! Your pretty table is set.

Let me know if you’d like to know how I made the hanging installation above the table. It’s actually so easy anyone can make it, no screws or special skills necessary!

Part two coming next Thursday.