I have recently been asked to dress my dinner table for Christmas as part of a competition by Furniture Choice. I jumped at the idea to style my dinner table for the big day, especially as I won’t be at home this year. So this way I get to set it all up how I would have, but without the chaos of my children spilling their drinks everywhere!
So I set to work using the wonderful vintage items I have, that we use most years. Firstly is the red and white star table-cloth set which belonged to my family. It’s now a slightly pinky colour, which I think adds another dimension as I’m always keen to mix up colour in my life and home.
The china is my all time favourite. It is by Crown Devon and called Stockholm and has prancing stags on which have been on trend over the last year. Well, this set was designed in the 1950s and I adore it’s creamy colour and Christmas feel without a hint of Santa. I have the whole service including tea cups and saucers which we only use this time of the year.
I have mixed the 1950s china with 1960s stainless steel accessories. The unusual square napkin rings are Danish, the salt and pepper pots have nice teak bases and the cutlery is the re-designed Alveston range for Old Hall by Robert Welch, now bought through John Lewis. I was lucky to be bought the set for my 40th birthday.
No Christmas table would be a Christmas table without vintage baubles (well in my home anyway). I have piled them up inside a glass dome bought last year from Next. Other nicer ones are scattered over the table alongside crystals. These then echo the crystal in my glasses which sit on silver and glass coasters.
To bring the vintage styling up to date I’ve added more deer. Let’s face it, you can buy this kind of thing everywhere this year, so I have chosen a candle and bell also from Next. The candle isn’t real, just a flickering imitation which will last longer plus is safer. However, my table wouldn’t be right if there wasn’t a vintage deer too. The 1960s teak ones sit alongside the kitsch silver and gold bambis.
Finally, my favourite Christmas item is also here. The spinning cherub candle holder was my Great Aunts and is so special. It gently chimes as the heat rises, making them spin around. John Lewis has modern versions but to be honest, they aren’t a patch on this treasure.
It is actually really sunny here today so it’s turned out to be a bright dinner table! But then again, in my white room with multi coloured bright baubles everywhere, the sun just adds to the fun feel.
We are also loving our lights from Cable and Cotton. They are in bright colours which coordinate brilliantly with all the baubles.
Hope this has helped to inspire your big day. For more styling ideas as well as how to make that vintage bauble wreath in the background, check out my e-book Style Your Vintage Party – Christmas available here.
