Decorating A Christmas Buffet Table

Annie Schlechter

If you're planning on hosting the holiday feast this Christmas, the table should be as memorable as the menu. Once you've figured out your holiday centerpiece (and decided what you're serving, of course), it's down to the plates, linens, and other holiday table decor. We're spotlighting 45 set-ups so you're guaranteed to find Christmas table decorations, settings, and decor ideas you'll want to recreate this year, and next year, and... maybe you should just throw more dinner parties?

table decorated for the holidays

Buff Strickland

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Balance Relaxed and Formal Elements

For a big family dinner that feels both approachable and special, blend formal materials like metals (take note of the candlesticks and place card holders) with more casual, farmhouse chic pieces, like striped linens, wooden dinner plates, and a makeshift vase.

BUY NOW Mixed Wooden Plates, $25

festive christmas table decor

Alison Gootee

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Mix Prints

Styled by Sara Rodrigues and Robert Rufino for House Beautiful, this festive Christmas brunch table is easier to create than it looks. Pair grocery-store carnations with tartan patterns, cinnamon candy, classic holiday motifs, and a pattern-packed tablecloth.

BUY NOW Red Print Tablecloth, $68

black and white design for christmas

Emily J Followill

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Go Monochrome

"As much as I love red and green, I wanted to do something a bit more glamorous and elegant this year," says designer Beth Webb of this sleek Christmas table setting. The mixed metals on this holiday table are perfect for any winter holiday meal.

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christmas table with garland centerpiece

Aubrie Pick

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Mix Shades of Green

If you're going to use a garland as a centerpiece for your Christmas dinner, break up all the greenery with some vibrant red florals. Then mix modern metallic accents and drinkware with classic winter motif plates. Then, offset the lush, moody tone with a more regal, saturated hue for the runner and napkins.

BUY NOW Christmas Tree Dinner Plate, $44

Room, White, Furniture, Interior design, Dining room, Table, Home, Building, Ceiling, House,

Sara Ligorria Tramp

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Make It Nondenominational

Hosting guests who celebrate differently? This is how you set a festive nondenominational table. Emily Henderson jazzed up the dining room bench with a sheepskin throw, enhancing both comfort and the winter vibes. The table itself is decorated with miniature white-painted houses, gray candles, and a simple linen runner.

BUY NOW Linen Table Runner, $17

Christmas Garland

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Layer, Layer, Layer

Decorate using objects of different heights. Start by hanging oversized snowflakes, and building up the table with tall candlesticks. For the mantel, hang a garland made with olive branches.

BUY NOW Glass Candlesticks, $60

Decoration, Centrepiece, Cut flowers, Flower, Red, Flower Arranging, Candle, Floristry, Bouquet, Floral design,

BRIAN WOODCOCK

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DIY a Graphic Vase

Create a red and white striped backdrop for your flowers with gumballs or marbles. Light pink and coral candles lighten the mood and bring a little something unexpected.

BUY NOW Glass Cylinder Vase, $52

white christmas dessert table with diy decor

BRIAN WOODCOCK

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Match the Food

This dessert table setup is proof that simple DIY alternatives can look just as (if not more) elevated and tasteful as expensive store-bought Christmas decorations. And we love how the edible element dictated the whole table decor direction. The white painted branches arranged in a spool of beige thread can be recreated with objects throughout the home and yard. The simple wood beaded stars and light brown tea light candles, pale beige linen napkins, light brown and cream gingham runner perfectly accent the real treat of the table (those gingerbread snowflake cookies, of course).

BUY NOW Gingham Tabe Runner, $59

Room, Dining room, Furniture, Green, Interior design, Table, Turquoise, Home, House, Building,

LESLEY UNRUH

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Create a Miniature Forest

Fill a long shallow serving bowl with fruit and then stagger some mini faux fir trees around it. Then just add a few flowers. This will give your holiday table a seasonal touch without clashing with your dining room design scheme.

BUY NOW Mini Christmas Tree, $70

Table, Tablecloth, Tableware, Furniture, Christmas decoration, Linens, Textile, Event, Food, Plant,

Courtesy of Sugar and Charm

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Add a Touch of Holly

Attach holly leaves to napkin rings, add a garland as a runner, and you've got a festive, nature-inspired table.

See more at Sugar and Charm.

BUY NOW Holly Leaves, $11

Christmas decoration, Home, Interior design, Room, Christmas tree, Tree, Christmas, House, Houseplant, Interior design,

COURTESY OF WYNN MYERS

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Incorporate Ornaments

The garland adorned with ornaments makes this dining table wonderfully festive while the blue and turquoise candlesticks and glass add a fresh contemporary edge. Place throw pillows on the seats to make them extra cozy.

White, Room, Table, Interior design, Furniture, Tableware, Christmas decoration, Dining room, Branch, Textile,

Zan Passante

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Get a Snowy Look

Take a cue from Sugar & Cloth by adding some texture to your table with a faux fur table runner. Mimicking the look of soft snow, it sets the perfect winter scene. Add bells for good measure and then fold napkins in the shape of trees to drive home the theme.

Tablecloth, Pink, Purple, Table, Textile, Flower, Centrepiece, Flower Arranging, Cut flowers, Linens,

Courtesy of Lia Griffith

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Go for Jewel Tones

If you're over red and green this year, try some jewel tones, like purple and teal. It'll feel wintry, but not overdone.

See more at Lia Griffith.

BUY NOW Purple Napkins, $12

christmas table with paper decorations

BRIAN WOODCOCK

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Get Crafty

Looking for some ideas beyond your formal Christmas dinner table? Whether it's the dessert table or a casual holiday party buffet setup, add a little greenery to your table with a DIY paper leaves chain. Then give it the full Christmas treatment with red berries sprinkled throughout.

Furniture, Dining room, Room, Table, Chair, Kitchen & dining room table, Interior design, Restaurant,

Brian Woodcock

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Make It Soft

Make it feel nice and soft with knitted cozies around the vases and wine bottles. With fresh white flowers to match the cream cashmere seat cushion covers, it's perfect for a white Christmas.

White, Room, Interior design, Green, Furniture, Home, Yellow, Table, Living room, Dining room,

Sara Ligorria Tramp

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Think Beyond the Table

This dining room decorated by Emily Henderson is a winter wonderland, from the white wreaths to the 3D paper trees, greenery, and metallic candle holders.

Yellow, Purple, Table, Furniture, Room, Violet, Dining room, Interior design, Coffee table, Material property,

Pamela Cook/Studio D

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Make It Modern

Make your holiday table modern with burgundy flowers, black and white graphic vases, and matching graphic linens and tableware. It still feels seasonally apt and the moody color scheme ensures that the dining room table is dressed for a formal meal.

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Tablecloth, Placemat, Plate, Dishware, Pink, Linens, Textile, Table, Tableware, Food,

Mike Garten

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Color Block

Lay two tablecloths in differing vibrant colors. Put pine needles in the center of the table and punctuate the greenery with florals that the reflect the colors in the tablecloth.

Dishware, Plate, Table, Tableware, Food, Tablecloth, Vegetarian food, Dish, Brunch, Plant,

Courtesy of Sugar and Charm

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Get Festive With Flowers

Don't underestimate the power of flowers. Choose green and white for a simple, neutral table that still feels incredibly fresh.

See more at Sugar and Charm.

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White, Room, Interior design, Yellow, Centrepiece, Furniture, Table, Twig, Branch, Tree,

Lark & Linen

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Stick to Neutrals

This understated Christmas centerpiece from Lark & Linen is simple and easy to replicate. The designer calls this easy and elegant style "woodland whimsical."

Clock, Pocket watch, Still life, Still life photography, Home accessories, Stock photography, Furniture, World, Pattern, Antique,

Alison Gootee

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Mix Metals

Though technically decorated for New Year's by Sara Rodrigues and Robert Rufino, this impactful tablescape would also work well for a formal Christmas dinner. Mix metals and tuck some Queen Anne's lace into the flowers.

Dining room, Room, Furniture, Table, Interior design, Turquoise, Chandelier, Ceiling, Lighting, Kitchen & dining room table,

Courtesy of Jayme Burrows for Emily Henderson Designs

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Break Out the Garland

Want something unexpected, but over-the-top festive and fun? String garland from your chandelier.

See more at Emily Henderson.

BUY NOW Ornament Garland, $33

Dishware, Plate, Tableware, Cutlery, Table, Textile, Linens, Platter, Napkin, Tablecloth,

Clare Winfield

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Use String Lights Creatively

What's more Christmas-y than string lights? They don't only belong on the tree, either. Add them to your dining table with playful DIY garlands, like these stars strung together. Then print out little menus that say "Merry Christmas" on them.

Dining room, Room, Table, Furniture, Branch, Christmas decoration, Design, Interior design, Pattern, Home,

Annie Schlechter

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Repurpose Blankets

Use plaid blankets as a tablecloth for a grounded atmosphere and then lay a garland down the center of the table. Add a few tangerines for a pop of orange. And if you don't have enough dinning chairs for the guests, slide up a bench.

Meal, Food, Brunch, Cuisine, Dish, Buffet, Thanksgiving dinner, Supper, Dinner, À la carte food,

GARETH MORGANS

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Show the Buffet Table Some Love

If you're serving Christmas dinner buffet style, don't forget to dress up that area, too. A simple white runner and scattered ornaments will do the trick.

Green, Leaf, Plant, Table, Napkin, Linens, Room, Herb, Dinnerware set, Textile,

Sugar & Charmed

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Keep It Simple

Stick to a simple color palette and nature-inspired materials. not only does it look beautiful, but it makes things a little easier on yourself. Sugar & Charmed added gold flatware for a little dash of shine.

Meal, Dish, Food, Cuisine, Brunch, Ingredient, Supper, Recipe, Vegetarian food, À la carte food,

Brian Woodcock

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Get Creative With Placecards

A metallic runner will help warm up a white dining table for the holidays. Paired with light pink candlesticks and a white, red, and pink centerpiece, this table is feels festive without being cheesy. And how cute are the Scrabble letters for placecards?

Table, Tablecloth, Food, Brunch, Meal, Rehearsal dinner, Linens, Furniture, Textile, Dish,

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Celebrate With Golden Tones

Who says you can't mix your metals? At this table set by Sugar & Charm, copper and gold go so well together. The woven placemats and crystal accents warm things up.

White, Room, Dining room, Furniture, Property, Interior design, Home, Building, Table, Ceiling,

Pernille Loof

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Complement Your Decor

If red is going to clash with your dining room decor, avoid using it in your Christmas table decorations. With special gold candlestick holders, fresh florals, and a wreath in the background, it will still feel on-theme. Then add a vase of plumes for a unique and textural touch.

White, Branch, Centrepiece, Twig, Tableware, Table, Tree, Christmas decoration, Room, Drinkware,

Live DIY Ideas

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Brown Bag It

Switch up Christmas grab bags for something a bit more glam. Brush brown paper gift bags with white paint, creating a snowy scene. Stuff with pine and branches before finishing with a wrap of charm-adorned twine.

Get the tutorial at Live DIY Ideas.

BUY NOW Brown Paper Bags, $6