Holiday Tablescape Tips Interior Designers Swear By for a Warm, Elegant Christmas Look

The holiday season brings people together, and your dining table becomes the centre of those moments. Whether you're hosting a festive dinner or preparing a quiet meal with loved ones, your tablescape sets the atmosphere. Yet creating a table that feels elegant rather than overwhelming can be challenging. Too many colours, too much decor or the wrong proportions can easily take away from the warm, inviting mood you want.

If you’ve ever felt that your table didn’t look quite as polished as the ones you see from designers, you’re not alone. It’s easy to overcomplicate or overfill a table, especially during the festive season. But a beautiful table doesn’t rely on lots of decorations — it relies on thoughtful placement, natural textures and a cohesive design plan.

These holiday tablescape tips are the exact strategies interior designers use to create warm, elegant and balanced festive tables. With the right layers, textures and lighting, you can make your Christmas table feel intentional, calm and effortlessly stylish.

A designer-approved Christmas tablescape isn’t created with lots of decorations — it’s created with thoughtful layers, soft lighting and simple, intentional styling. When each element supports the atmosphere you want, the entire table feels warm, elegant and beautifully festive.

At a Glance

• Build a calm, cohesive colour palette

• Layer linens and textures for warmth

• Style plates and napkins the designer way

• Use low, balanced centrepieces

• Add soft candlelight for atmosphere

• Use greenery for a natural, organic feel• Maintain scale and breathing room

1. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Start with a Calm, Simple Colour Palette

Your colour palette shapes the entire mood of your tablescape. Soft, warm neutrals such as ivory, linen, sand, brushed gold and evergreen are ideal for creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. These tones feel festive without being overpowering and pair beautifully with natural elements like greenery and candlelight.

Choose two or three main colours and repeat them across napkins, candles, greenery and ceramics. This repetition creates a cohesive and designer-level table. If you enjoy traditional festive tones, choose one shade — such as muted berry or deep green — and use it sparingly for accents.

Small space? Same rules — just scale them down.

Designer Tip: Keep your palette to 2–3 colours to avoid visual clutter and maintain a clean, elevated look.

2. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Choose a Textural Base Layer

A textural base layer softens your table and adds instant warmth. Linen tablecloths, woven runners or textured cotton cloths create depth without overwhelming the design. If you have a beautiful wooden table, let some of it show. A neutral-coloured runner over timber instantly creates a warm, natural foundation.

A full tablecloth feels classic and formal, while a runner feels modern and minimal. Choose whichever best suits your interior style.

Designer Tip: A runner should leave 25–30 cm of visible table surface on each side for balance and proportion.

3. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Layer Plates in a Clean, Elevated Stack

Layering plates adds height and structure to each place setting. Designers often use matte stoneware or ceramic plates in soft whites, light greys or warm neutrals to keep the table cohesive.

A simple, elegant plate stack includes:

• Charger plate (optional but beautifully grounding)

• Dinner plate• Salad plate or shallow bowl

• Linen napkin (draped or folded)

Keep all shapes soft and simple for a refined look.

Designer Tip: Ensure the charger is 2–3 cm wider than your dinner plate for proper scale.

f you’re unsure which palette suits your dining space, send us your room photos — we’ll help you choose a warm, cohesive colour scheme.

4. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Style a Low, Balanced Centrepiece

A centrepiece brings your table to life, but it should never block conversation. Keep arrangements low and wide. Use natural greenery, a few ceramic or glass elements and candle clusters to create depth without height.

Evergreen branches, eucalyptus stems, olive branches or cedar garlands work beautifully. Scatter them loosely rather than creating a tight arrangement.

Friendly aside: We’ve all created centrepieces that were too tall at some point — now we always keep everything below chin height.

Designer Tip: Arrange items in odd numbers. Groups of 3 or 5 always look more natural and balanced.

5. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Use Candlelight for Soft, Warm Atmosphere

Candlelight adds warmth, movement and intimacy — essential elements of an inviting holiday table. Combine different candle types for layered light, such as tapers with tea lights or small pillars.

Cluster candles in small groups rather than spreading them in a straight line. This creates soft pockets of warmth that feel elegant and intentional.

Designer Tip: Avoid scented candles during meals — they disrupt the flavours and aromas of your dishes.

6. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Add Greenery for an Organic, Natural Look

Greenery is one of the simplest ways to elevate a festive tablescape. It adds softness, texture and a natural, organic feel that never looks overdone.

Use a few stems of eucalyptus, winter greenery or spruce. Place them casually along the centre of the table or into small ceramic bud vases.

Designer Tip: Keep greenery slightly imperfect and asymmetrical. Natural movement makes the table feel relaxed and intentionally styled.

Soft CTA (after H2 #6):If you want your holiday table to feel elegant but not overdone, book a mini styling consult — we’ll help you refine your design.

7. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Add Subtle Metallic Accents

Metallic accents add just the right amount of festive shine, but the key is subtlety. Choose one metallic finish — brushed gold, matte brass or black — and use it sparingly.

Bring metallic in through napkin rings, candle holders, cutlery or a few decorative pieces. Avoid mixing too many finishes, which can make the table feel messy.

Designer Tip: Matte finishes look more sophisticated and blend better with natural materials.

8. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Fold Napkins Naturally

Napkins introduce softness and movement. Linen or cotton napkins work best because they drape beautifully and add a handmade texture to the table.

You can drape napkins loosely over plates, fold them under bowls or tie them with greenery and twine for added charm.

Designer Tip: Choose napkins at least 45–50 cm in size — they fold and drape much more elegantly.

9. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Keep Glassware Simple

Glassware should enhance your table, not compete with it. Stick to clear glass with thin, elegant silhouettes. One water glass and one wine glass per setting is enough.

Avoid coloured glassware, which adds visual noise and disrupts your palette.

Designer Tip: Use curved glass shapes for a soft, cohesive look that photographs beautifully.

10. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Add Personal, Meaningful Touches

Personal touches make your table feel warm and considered. Try handwritten place cards, small sprigs of greenery, linen ribbons or mini bread plates.

Friendly aside: Small details make the biggest difference — they show care without creating clutter.

Designer Tip: Repetition is essential. Use the same detail across the table for harmony.

11. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Edit Your Table Before Hosting

Great styling often requires editing. Once your table is fully styled, remove one or two elements. This avoids crowding and leaves room for plates, serving dishes and conversation.

Designer Tip: Intentional negative space gives the table room to breathe — it’s one of the secrets behind elegant styling.

12. Holiday Tablescape Tips: Do a Final Lighting Check

Lighting changes everything. Before guests arrive, turn off bright overhead lights. Use candles and a soft lamp nearby to create a warm, intimate glow.

This instantly makes your table feel more expensive and more inviting.

Designer Tip: If the room needs extra light, use a warm-toned lamp behind you rather than switching on an overhead light.

“Holiday tablescapes should feel warm, natural and effortless — never overdone.”— Beril Yilmaz, Interior Designer, BY Design And Viz

FAQ: Holiday Tablescape Tips

1. How do I choose the right holiday tablescape colour palette?

Choose 2–3 warm neutrals and repeat them through candles, napkins and greenery for a cohesive, designer look.

2. How do I style a centrepiece without blocking conversation?

Keep everything low and wide. Avoid tall vases and keep decor below chin height.

3. What’s the easiest way to make a festive table look expensive?

Layer textures like linen, ceramics, greenery and candlelight. These elements instantly add depth and

warmth.

4. Can I use these holiday tablescape tips for a small table?

Absolutely. Just scale down your centrepiece and reduce the number of decorative elements.

Conclusion

A beautiful holiday table doesn’t require elaborate decorations or dozens of festive accessories. With these holiday tablescape tips, you can create a warm, elegant and inviting table by focusing on thoughtful layers, natural textures and simple, cohesive styling. When your palette, centrepiece, lighting and tableware all support each other, the result feels calm, intentional and effortlessly festive.

Your dining table becomes more than a place to eat — it becomes a moment, a mood and a memory shared with the people you love.

Start Your Styling Project

Ready to transform your home for the season? Start your Interior Design Project with BY Design And Viz. We’ll help you create a warm, elegant festive look that feels curated, intentional and beautifully you.

Author Bio

Written by Beril Yilmaz, founder of BY Design And Viz — an interior designer known for warm, natural and calm spaces with a modern organic edge. Beril specialises in thoughtful styling, layering and creating homes that feel beautifully intentional.