Whatever your home style, take your pick and wow your guests with these four Christmas tablescape trends, from welcoming Scandi to dramatic metallics.
To help us create the four very different looks for a festive table you’ll love, we enlisted the services of Liz Cocozza, a creative director and stylist, specialising in interiors, fashion and beauty. Liz offers her tips for making each trend work for you...
Earthy tones and materials inspired by nature ensure this understated look is warm and inviting.
Styling tip: Make the most of the space above the table by using a rod to hang paper decorations or trailing foliage, or tack them to the ceiling. For a casual feel, layer the table with textiles, crumpled linen, foraged pine cones and eucalyptus.
For many of us, Christmas is all about indulging in favourite time-honoured rituals, and nothing feels more festive than a beautifully laid red and gold table.
Styling tip: Give this timeless look a few modern twists. Fabric crackers and tablecloths in crimson and gold will add a luxe feel. Bring extra bling to the table with gold-rimmed plates and glassware mixed in with foliage with a touch of sparkle.
This is a modern alternative to a classic Christmas look and is perfect for taking you through into the party season.
Styling tip: This fun trend is inspired by the colours we're seeing in interiors right now – soft sorbet shades mixed with coral, fuchsia and dove grey. Balance them against clean white space and simple shapes so they really pop.
Bronze and copper with masses of warm fairy lights draped along the walls will set the scene for a theatrical banquet.
Styling tip: Metallics teamed with teal and olive green is a rich mix that works together to form a beautifully dramatic backdrop. Velvety ribbon, mercury glass and burnished baubles add to the sumptuous look.
• Get the look in the Dec/Jan issue of House Beautiful, out now.
Photography: David Loftus / Styling: Liz Cocozza / Direction: Sarah Keady
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.
14 Christmas garlands on our wishlist this year
We love this pretty gold garland with delicate bells. The 72 warm LED lights will add a cosy ambience to your home and radiate a warm feel. Please note, this is mains powered.
With a traditional feel, this green garland features mixed berries, pinecones and hessian bows. Use it as a Christmas table decoration or place it along your sideboard.
Habitat's white berry garland features clusters of snowy-white berries that come together to feel timeless and inviting. Drape it over your mantel or lay it along your table for a soft, wintry touch.
We're big fans of this lovely garland with realistic berries, pine cones, and foliage. It would look wonderful wrapped along a bannister or as it has been styled here, as part of a festive tablescape.
Paper decorations have made a resurgence over the past few Christmases, offering a handmade and fun feel to a space. This elegant star paper garland will create a statement when draped across any fireplace.
For a touch of old-school glamour, Anthropologie’s pearl swoop garland brings a hint of Art Deco elegance to your festive scheme. Pair with the matching pearl Christmas tree ornaments for a beautifully coordinated, softly shimmering look.
Thick, bushy and long, this cream and gold garland from Amazon has a variety of berries, pine cones, baubles, flowers and leaves interwoven with a slight glittery finish.
Pastels And Gold Crystal Cascade LED Garland
A beautiful addition to your tree or mantel, this jewelled Christmas garland with pale pastel gems is so elegant. The delicate golden droplets add a touch of glitz, making it a great choice for a Christmas tree that isn't flocked.
This snow-flocked design has a frosted look that's perfect for a wintry and snowy feel, and warm LED lights for a hint of sparkle.
Add a delicate hint of whimsy with this sparkling leaf garland that's well-suited for a slim Christmas tree or for creating a dinner table centrepiece, like this one. With 30 LED lights built in, you can even add extra sparkle after dark.
With its pussy willow and fir branches, this charming pre-lit garland from The White Company has a lovely rustic feel. This one is battery-operated.
All Aglow Pre Lit Christmas Garland
If you want a garland that sparkles, look no further. From shimmering gold berries to real woodland pinecones and botanical sprigs, this LED garland lends itself to a luxe decorating theme. It's also dusted with shimmering gold glitter.
Red and pink is a colour pairing we’ll never tire of, and this satin bow garland is pure joy for maximalists. Drape it across a mantel for a cheerful pop of colour that feels instantly festive and fabulously fun.
Woodland Sparkle Natural Christmas Garland
We're quite fond of this woodland garland, featuring twinkling lights for extra ambience. It's perfect for decorating the home over winter.
Where can you hang a Christmas garland?
Christmas garlands for stairs can be strung along a banister and winding staircase (see the image above for inspiration), while you can also buy garlands for fireplaces, creating a beautiful focal point on your mantel. Christmas garlands with lights (as a bundle or a light-up garland) are especially helpful for creating a magical, festive ambience across the home.
And if that wasn't inspiration enough, garlands can also be used on your classic Christmas tree, a twig Christmas tree (these are typically string or beaded garlands), as a table centrepiece, or even across windows, either pinned along the window frame or on the windowsill.
How long should a Christmas garland be?
Essentially, you can use a Christmas garland wherever you want, just ensure you get the appropriate length. For example, if you want to drape a garland around a staircase or wardrobe, you'll need a longer length, compared to a dining table or windowsill.
The same can be said for using a garland to add fullness to a Christmas tree. For LED garlands, you'll also want to double-check what batteries you require, or if it is mains powered, as this will affect where you can use it.
