STYLISH CHRISTMAS TABLESCAPING - 3 WAYS

Tablescaping is all the rage and feathery friends we are HERE FOR IT!

For this month's edition I've collaborated with the team at REDROW, a home building company specialising in spacious and character-filled new builds. Redrow make a conscious effort to provide modern housing with a period feel so that the exteriors fit in with their surroundings and the interiors feel warm and comfy.

I've created the following 3 tablescapes to complement the gorgeous interiors created by REDROW's lead Interior Designer Alysha Alli.

I tapped in three of our favourite trends this season and presented the tables in 3 different layouts to give you maximum inspiration and hopefully leave you with something to take home to YOUR tables this year!

1. CHRISTMAS WITH A TWIST

First up is the Traditional Christmas style revisited, using reds & whites with accents of green but mixing in contemporary items for a fresh feel. For example I have combined a modern stoneware dinner plate with playful festive patterned side plates and bowls.

This playful look will satisfy all kids, big and small. Make it super casual and fun-packed! Put large ornaments like nutcrackers on the table, place a handmade decoration (created by the kids?) holding the name tag on each place setting.

Choose napkins rings in keeping with something else on the table, here the berry rings match the berry wreath centre piece.

Think story-telling with this look: nutcrackers, woodland animals, candy canes, bring out the whole Christmas delirium BUT keep it classy, there really is a fine line with this one for it to get a bit tacky.

"Keep it fun and playful"

TOP TIP: Use your food as decoration, have the cheese board on your table for your guests to feast their eyes as they enter, it will also open their appetite (remove it at the start of the dinner to make space). Same thing with your Christmas pudding, display it on a gold cake stand at the centre of the table for wow-factor and something to look forward to at the end.

Scatter wooden decorations and candy canes on the table

(anything big enough to not be harmful to chewing fanatic children)

2. BOTANICALS

Next up is the Botanicals look, heavily tapping into the dried flowers trend. This is the Sugar Plum Fairy lover to the nutcracker in the previous look. Think delicate and feminine, pretty pastel colours like blush pink and lilac married with accents of matt golds, shinny pearls and raspberry pinks.

For this look, the star of the show is a long floral runner made up of dried flowers and different varieties of eucalyptus; providing a soft colour palette and a wonderful scent for your guests.

Obviously this option is going ALL OUT and I don't expect everyone to have that kind of budget, but you can always do it on a smaller scale with a wreath only or just bundles in each plate.

TOP TIP: The advantage of this floral runner is that it will keep on drying beautifully and you will be able to leave it on the table for the duration of the festive period (and even further if you wish, just remove the baubles comes January).

As this is quite a neutral look you can afford a bit of pattern on the napkins, here I've fallen in love with these cuties from Originals Studio, don't they look adorable tied with a bit of gingham ribbon? Tuck in a few extra dried flowers and voila!

Keep the raspberry pink as an accent only so not to overwhelm

3. GLAM & ORNATE

Our final look is the grand finale, surfing the Neo-kitsch vibe, it's a complete theatrical and extravagant spectacle! Absolutely fabulous dah-ling! Think swinging 20's Gatsby Glamour meets Burlesque decadence: dark rich colours, with textured fabrics like thicks linens and velvets, married with accents of golds and jewels colours.

As a centre piece here we have a large gold tray with the drinks. Have a statement wine decanter pre-filled with a fine vintage wine before your guests's arrival so that it gets to air out to perfection and gets to a nice room temperature. You could also have a gold cocktail shaker with all the ingredients for a pre-dinner drink. Or again a gold champagne bucket with all the bubbles ready to sparkle.

TOP TIP: Finish the look with a diamanté battery-powered fairy light trailing across the table it will make all the glass and gold sparkle!

"Absolutely fabulous dah-ling!"

It would also be perfect for a New Year's Eve dinner party!

Layers upon layers upon layers! Placemats, chargers, plates, extra cutlery, bring it all out! More is more with this look!

QUICK FIRE TIPS:

- Try having the napkin hanging over the edge of the table for a smart casual look.

- Place a velvety flocked bauble for that tactile feel

- add a feather held by a gold place-card holder for extra fabulousness.

FURTHER READINGS:

• Hungry for more?!?! Or perhaps you might prefer something more scandi and neutral, then head over to this fabulous post "How to Create a Nature Inspired Christmas Table" over on JP's Life And Loves, where JP is renovating a gorgeous grand Victorian home in Emsworth, and putting his unique sophisticated Hamptons-inspired style into everything he touches.

• To find out more about REDROW and the variety of construction options they have on offer, or to find out all of the sites currently being built across the U.K head over to this link

CREDITS:

Interior Design by Alisha Ali

Photography by Sean Pollock

Interior Styling by me

Art Director Sarah Watts

Production Adam Strand @ DRP

TRADITIONAL

Table runner red sequins, glassware, red napkins, cutlery from Marks & Spencer

Dinnerware from HomeSense

Berry Wreath, Christmas decorations from Dobbies

berries napkin rings from H&M Home

BOTANICALS

Pink table runner, pink/gold cutlery, candle holders from Wayfair

Napkins, star decorations, tree candles from Originals Studio

Scalloped edge plate from Marks & Spencer

pompom placemats from Next Home

Pink glassware from HomeSense

Floral table runner from @k.p.nutz

GLAM & ORNATE:

Linen aubergine Tablecloth from The Linen Works

Gold plate chargers, placemats, gold cutlery, napkins from John Lewis

Geo Dinner set from Next Home

Glassware with gold rims, centrepiece gold/mirror tray from Biba @ House Of Fraser

Gold gingko leaves, flocked Christmas baubles from Dobbies

Feathers from Amazon

Decanter, star shaped- candles from Marks & Spencer

Brass candle holders from H&M Home

Coloured candles from Originals Studio

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