Ideas for Christmas Plate Setting

When you are throwing a dinner or party around Christmas, decorative place settings can be the final touch to the decoration of the table and the room. As you plan settings, consider ways you can use traditional Christmas themes and holiday materials to create a festive feeling at the dinner table. Does this Spark an idea?

Gold and White

For a sophisticated, less traditional holiday table setting, use gold and white. Start with subtle gold dinner plates, topped with white salad plates. Use crisp white cloth napkins held together with a decorative napkin ring. Find wide gold, metallic ribbon and tie it around the napkin in a bow; affix a small gold bell to the ribbon for an extra holiday touch. Find small pine cones and spray the tips with gold glitter, and slide small place cards into the pine cone. Place the pine cone on the plate behind the napkin to complete the place setting.

Dramatic Setting

If you are holding a dinner with a dramatic, over-the-top decoration scheme, don't hold back on the details. Find short table runners and lay them across width of the table so that each runner lies under diners who are sitting opposite each other. Using mismatched plates in coordinating prints and colors, lay a dinner plate, a salad plate and a saucer on top of the runner. On top of the saucer, place a Christmas ball place card holder. Place the wine or water glasses face up next to the plates and tuck the napkin inside so the ends stick out over the rim.

Traditional Table

When you want to create the feeling of a traditional red-and-green Christmas, use bold napkins for a bright table setting. Start with simple white plates and use bold, red napkins for contrast. Fold the napkins into a simple rectangle shape and place on top of the plates; put the utensils on top of the napkin. Tuck a wide green ribbon under the plates, wrap the ends up and tie them in a bow over the utensils. You can tuck a sprig of evergreen or a small candy cane under the center of the bow, or add a gift tag place card for an extra touch of tradition.

Silver and Blue Snowflakes

For a wintry dinner party, use a cool blue, white and silver theme. Start with white plates with silver detailing, and place a blue paper napkin or square of fabric between the dinner and salad plates; allow the edges to show beneath the salad plate. Fold white napkins in a simple roll and lay on top of the plate. For a finishing touch that doubles as a party favor, use silver snowflake ornaments or make your own out of silver bells and lay them on top of the napkin. If you are using place cards, you can lay them on top of the ornament.