Decorating the Table for a Christmas Celebration

Are you decorating the table for a Christmas celebration this year?  I do this every year because I love to decorate.  Check out my earlier posts from the last two years:  Samantha’s Christmas Table and 42 Items for Your Holiday Table.  Some years I have help (Samantha) and some years I don’t!  This year, just me and a smaller table for a smaller crowd.

I always start in the center with a crystal 3-tier dessert stand that my sister, Gail, gave me years ago.  Instead of real desserts, I add fake ones.  The  3-tier present tower on top this year (sometimes I put a Christmas tree on top), I found a few years ago in the drug store.

I add my sparkly strawberry ornaments on the second tier.  I got these at Pier One years ago and thought they were so cute!

On the bottom tier, I add my gingerbread houses.  These are candles, not real gingerbread.  I don’t remember where I got them, I’ve had them so long!  I just never light them, so I can use them again and again.  My mother gave me the beautiful poinsettia ball ornament on the right.

I add festive trees on either side of the cake stand – a sparkly green tree on the left and a red feathered one on the right.

I pile ornaments in a crystal bowl…

If you look closely, you’ll see me in the reflection in the red ornaments, taking this photo!

And, I stand my Santa from Michael’s Craft Store on top of a holiday cake stand by Patience Brewster!

Then, I work my way down the table, this way and that way, scattering things around making sure no place setting is left without some holiday cheer!

I add my Christmas fairy…

More quirky trees…

Donna…

And Dancer…my two Patience Brewster reindeers.  I’ve had Donna for years and my sister, Dawn, gifted me Dancer a few years ago!

Let’s not forget my adorable elves that I got at a florist’s shop a few years back!

I scatter presents around; this one is actually a metal tree ornament.  I’ve perched a feathered cardinal on top of it.

Here’s another red-feathered bird perched on a different sparkly present (also an ornament)!

I place beautiful ornaments all around…

The most beautiful ones were all given to me by my mother…

After the fire, and we’d moved home to our new house, my mother went on a mad shopping spree!  We moved home 2 weeks before Christmas in 2008 and she felt badly that we didn’t have any ornaments.  So, she solved that problem {grin} and not only did she buy me ornaments, but she bought spectacular ornaments!  So, I like to put them on the table for everyone to enjoy.

Sometimes I put our Christmas Teddy Bear on the table and sometimes I put him by the front door.  This year, he’s on the table!

At the opposite end of the table is another Santa, this one in a sleigh with his own Teddy bear…

With a red-feathered bird perched on the end of his sleigh.

I like to include something “real” on the table and this year it’s two little ferns with red foil surrounding the pot and a sparkly red bird nested in the fern.  I got this at my local grocery store.

Then I place my Christmas signs around.  This one, HoHoHo, I got at the pharmacy…

And this one, Peace, too!

Believe…

Falala…

And Jingle signs are all ornaments.  If you look carefully, you’ll see holes at either end where I removed the ribbons.  Now I just stand them on the table!

Then I set each place setting.  I use red chargers and place cream-colored stoneware plates on top.  I use red balloon wine glasses and a plaid napkin at each place.  Then, I top each with sequined stockings that I got from Michael’s years ago.  This one has a purple sequined stocking.

And this one a red sequined stocking…

And this one a green sequined stocking.  I also have stockings that are blue, pink and silver.  Pink ones for the Princesses in the family.  Did you notice that each place setting has a plate with a different design?  I have 3 difference sets of cream-colored stoneware and I mix and match them on the table for a bit of interest, adding to the casual nature of this tablescape!

Inside each stocking, I give everyone a million dollar chocolate bar!  My million dollar gift to them {grin}!  But, the kicker is that if they want to get another million dollar chocolate bar next year, they need to leave the stocking behind!  That way, I don’t have to buy new stockings every year!  A few times, some have disappeared.  But, then, when I least expect it (like at Easter), they’ll reappear somewhere in my house!

And, I don’t forget to tell everyone where to sit!  I’m bossy like that {grin}!  These are cute little place card holders shaped like Christmas ornaments that have flat bottoms so they’ll stand upright on the table.

And, I don’t forget Grinch glasses for the kids!

I always decorate the table at least a week before Christmas so that I can enjoy it before Christmas day.  Notice the giant Santa head hanging on the wall by my front door?  He’s a new addition to our holiday collection this year!  So cute!

Tootles,

Related Posts:

(other posts with tablescapes)

Ice Cream Sundae Dessert Buffet

Samantha’s Table

Toot Sweet 4 Two Turns One:  Blog-o-versary Party Recap

Decorating the Table for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Decorating the Table for an Easter Celebration

Decorating the Table for a Thanksgiving Celebration