How to Decorate a Christmas Dining Table

When it comes to Christmas lighting, twinkling lights are a must! Fairy lights are like the frosting on a Christmas cake. Delicate, magical, and utterly necessary. The soft glow will provide just enough light to add that magical “wow” factor while making sure everyone can see their pigs in blankets.

The tiny twinkling bulbs on fairy lights can instantly add a whimsical, enchanted feel. Drape a string of fairy lights around the centre of your table or weave them through a garland of greenery for a magical effect.

If you have a larger table, you could also hang them from above, cascading down in soft strands to create an illusion of stars twinkling overhead.

Creating the b-right atmosphere is all about setting the mood with soft, ambient lighting. Too harsh a light, otherwise known as "the big light"  can make the space feel sterile or clinical. Instead, opt for a soft warm glow that welcomes your guests into a cosy and inviting space.

Candles are a great choice for this. They bring an air of tradition and the glow of Christmases past to the table, and nothing says Christmas like the flicker of candlelight! Try adding a mix of candles to your dining table for depth and texture.

If you have kids or pets around, you might want to opt for flameless LED candles, which offer a similar warm glow without the worry of open flames. LED candles are also great for preventing sleeves catching on fire when reaching for an extra serving!

A stunning centrepiece can add visual interest to your table, but we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t suggest adding lighting into your centrepiece design! You could place an LED tree candle or lantern in the centre.

A simple glass jar filled with pinecones and fairy lights makes for a gorgeous, rustic centrepiece that will light up your dinner table while looking effortlessly chic. Fairy lights can also be used to highlight your special once-a-year-use tableware or to create little pockets of light around the room.

You can also get creative with rechargeable lights, using oversized lanterns or even mason jars with LED tea lights. A glowing, festive centrepiece is a great conversation starter, and it’s sure to spark joy for your guests.

Layering different types of lighting is key to creating depth and warmth in your dining room. Ambient lighting, like overhead chandeliers, will provide general illumination, while accent lighting will highlight specific areas or create focal points.

Task lighting can be used in spots where people need more light to perform activities, like cutting food, reading menus, or reading the Christmas cracker joke.

But wait, there’s myrrh! You don’t want to feel like you’re dining under a spotlight, about to be interrogated about who ate the last roast spud. Instead, choose dimmable lights with adjustable brightness, so you can set the mood as you see fit.

For a modern touch, pendant lights can provide an air of sleek sophistication above your table. Opt for a cluster of pendants with soft, warm-toned bulbs to create a more intimate and cosy ambiance.

The best part? You can use pendant lights to direct the focus on your table, making it the ideal spot to highlight all your hard work perfecting those napkin swans.

Consider placing small up-lights around your dining room. These lights shine upwards, casting a soft glow that highlights the ceiling and walls, adding depth to the room.

On the flip side, you could use downlights in the ceiling for more direct illumination on your table, making the food look even more delicious.