Seven Creative Ideas to Set a Christmas Table

Today I am sharing Seven Ideas to set a Christmas table. At first, I thought I would share ideas from seven different tables I had already created.

But then I got an idea. What if I set a table with seven creative ideas all in one? That would be a fun challenge. I have created many Christmas tables over the years. It’s Day Eight of Twelve Days of Getting Ready for Christmas, and I can’t wait to share this gorgeous table.

This one is one of my favorite holiday tables. I hope that you are inspired to try one or two, or all seven of these ideas!

Seven Creative Ideas to Set a Christmas Table

Here are the seven creative ideas I used on just one holiday table!

#1 Use Everything You Already Own to Set a Formal Table

You know how much I like to set a table! Over the years, one of my favorite things has been setting a Christmas table. 

But this one is different. It is more formal, and everything on this table is something I already own.

I created a silver and gold theme and decided to set a more formal table. It’s funny because initially, I started with a “rustic” idea, yet this is how it ended! 

If you wonder how I develop my table-setting ideas, I always look first at what I already own. For this table, that was easier said than done. It required going into the attic space (on our third floor) and pulling out all my Christmas decorations. I also had to go to the storage behind our garage and pull out all the Christmas decorations. (I know you are wondering why I have Christmas decor stored in different places, but I am pleased to say that all of my Christmas decor is now happily together on the third floor.)

Once I could see everything all in one place, developing this Silver and Gold theme was easy. I created a list of many silver and gold items you can access here.

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# 2 Repurposing What You Don’t Have

I am the queen of repurposing. I love using things for purposes other than their original intent.

For vases, I have used vintage cheese molds, glass battery jars, and brick molds (to name a few). For my everyday glassware, I use mason jars. (My kids have them in their houses, too!) I have many vintage windows hanging on the walls inside our home, and I store everything in vintage crocks.

I realized I needed an off-white placemat as this table was coming together. If you look at the linen placemats on my table, you probably can’t tell they are napkins! I am unsure why I don’t own an off-white set of placemats, but improvising works fine for me. All I had to do was iron the napkins flat, and the problem was solved.

 #3 Creating a Pendalogue Forest Centerpiece

Don’t hesitate to use something other than flowers in the center of your table. For this table, I pulled out some of my small trees and used them to decorate the center.

I wanted to set the table with my bobeche trees. I love the crystals and found these trees at Pottery Barn (on sale, of course), and I love them. Who would have thought that the proper name for the crystals on these trees is not bobeche, it is pendalogue. Huh? A pendalogue is a large cut glass or crystal prism in a semi-teardrop or pear shape. (If you are curious, a bobeche is usually a glass collar on a candle socket to catch drippings or a chandelier to hold suspended glass prisms.) 

#4 Use Vintage Items

Over the years, I have collected a lot of vintage glassware (and china and silver and more) at flea markets. I bought the gold-rimmed glasses at the Rose Bowl flea market over ten years ago. I purchased a set of 24 glasses for $25, and I rarely use them. It makes me so happy that they made their premiere showing on my blog today.  

I also collect Cranberry Glass and colored glassware, which I recently bought online at a great price.

#5 Add a DIY – Gilded Pears 

I bought some inexpensive pears online last month with plans to do something to them for Thanksgiving. That didn’t happen, so I covered them with (faux) silver and gold leaf. (OK, to be honest, I was originally going to do them in all silver, but I didn’t have enough metal leaf in my craft room. So I decided to use gold, too, and I am so happy with how they turned out.)

If you have never used metal leaf before, it is much easier than it looks. Here are the pears after I finished them.

This is what they looked like before.

Pretty scary green, huh?

What You Need to Make Gold and Silver Leaf Pears

Six Faux Pears

Metal Leaf Adhesive

Gold, Silver and Rose Leaf Sheets

Water Based Sealer

To learn how to make these, watch the video here of the pink foil apples I made.

#6 Quotes for Placecards 

I have shared many ideas for place cards, and today, I am trying something different. It is a fun idea, and I can’t wait for my family to experience it. 

I did some research and found quotes that perfectly fit each member of our family. (The easiest way to do this is to find one word that describes the person, such as baseball, and then search for “quotes about baseball.” I can’t even tell you how much fun this was!)

I printed the quotes on card stock, cut them, and placed them under the gilded pears. 

When it is time for dinner, I will open the dining room doors, and each person will find which quote is theirs. This is fun because I am sure my boys will have fun figuring out who all of the quotes belong to!

The quote on the table above is by Steve Prefontaine. It is Andrew’s favorite quote, and everyone in our family will know in a nanosecond that this is his place setting. The others are a bit harder to figure out, I promise.

#7 Add an Unexpected Decor Item

I love to decorate the backs of our dining room chairs. To coordinate with my theme, I pulled out some of my mercury glass ornaments and tied them on with a bow. 

Even the simplest of items can have a huge impact on your table setting.

I hope you like the beaded chargers I pulled out from the basement. I haven’t used these in years, either. Sometimes, we all need to set a Christmas table with a fresh perspective.

Gold and Silver Table Ideas to Set a Christmas Table

Below are some pretty silver and gold glassware items that I love. Check out the items below for everything you need!

Here are some ideas for you to create your gorgeous centerpiece!

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If you missed any of my Twelve Days of Getting Ready for Christmas, you can find them here.

• Day 1 – How to Choose Christmas Colors for Your Holiday Decor
• Day 2 –  Stocking Stuffers for Christmas Morning
• Day 3 – Gift Wrapping Ideas and Sunday Morning Coffee
• Day 4 – Decorating with Christmas Ribbon in the Dining Room
• Day 5 – Easy Christmas Button Crafts
• Day 6 – Creative Ideas for Christmas Gift Tags
• Day 7 – DIY Table Top Christmas Trees

Silver & Gold Decor

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This live show is titled Everything You Need for a Holiday Party.

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