Hello fun job! This holiday season, I’m working with BIG W on a series of Christmas themed posts. I had a blast looking at their fab Christmas range and my best pick this week is Battery Operated LED light set (20 lights). They are only $2 and brilliant for all kinds of festive decorations and especially the table because they set that magical tone, and don’t need to be plugged in.
When it comes to decorating the Christmas table, I start with an easy centerpiece and work my way out from there. For the middle, I like to couple every day items from around the home with festive decorations. Then, once I have the centerpiece sorted, I look at extending a theme to the rest of the table with items like napkins, name place tags and bon bons.
Decorating the Table in Three Steps
- Start with a table centerpiece theme
- Use everyday items around the home
- Introduce colour and styling through festive decorations and items
Below are ideas on how I bring these three concepts together.
1. White Christmas in a Jar
Concept: a mini fantasy world in a jar
Colour scheme: silver and gold with white highlights
Everyday items: glass cookie jar, salt, glass tumblers (or glass jars)
Festive items: gold table runner, mini Christmas trees, silver mini bonbons, small gold baubles, LED lights, candle
Tip: instead of trees, use an angel or snowman figurine inside the jar
2. Baubles in Glass (with a holly garland)
Concept: easy to bring a pop of colour and a garland ties it all in
Colour theme: traditional red and green with silver highlights
Everyday items: large vase or bowl
Festive items: red table runner, garland, baubles
Tip: bring out the silver highlights with silver napkins and bon bons
3. Stick Christmas Tree
Concept: celebrate with nature
Colour theme: natural tones with diamond (clear) highlights
Everyday items: vase or large jar, tree sticks
Festive decorations: gold table runner, potpourri balls, LED lights, silver birds, diamond tree decorations, small gold baubles
Tip: Make joke tags with paper and hang on the tree
4. Candle & Beads
Concept: bring romance, fun and colour to the table
Colour theme: pink & green with bright highlights
Everyday items: vase/candle holder
Festive decorations: beads, baubles, candle
Tip: Christmas doesn’t always have to be in traditional colours
5. Tea Candle & Glass Tumblers
Concept: Simple! 6 to 8 glasses with tea light candles lined up in the middle of the table
Colour theme: gold, gold and everything gold with glass highlights
Everyday items: glass tumblers (or empty glass jars)
Festive decorations: LED lights, tea light candles, small gold baubles
Tip: attach ribbon to mason jars and use instead of glass tumblers
6. Light Jar
Concept: sparkly lights add a touch of magic to any setting
Colour theme: gold & brown
Everyday items: large jar, bowl or vase
Festive decorations: baubles, potpourri balls, LED lights
Tip: use different coloured baubles to match any theme
7. Fruit feature
Concept: decorate the usual, because it’s Christmas
Colour theme: blue and orange with gold highlights
Everyday items: large glass bowl, oranges
Festive decorations: diamanté stickers
Tip: add eucalyptus leaves and gum nuts along a table runner and add a scattering of LED lights
8. Ice Sculpture
Concept: make your own ice sculpture
Colour theme: white, red with silver highlights
Everyday items: water, balloon, tray/plate with sides
Festive items: candle
Tip: add poinsettia or red rose petals to the balloon before adding water
Good-good times are coming.
Video
The White Christmas in a Jar setting took under 5 minutes to set up. Below is a speedy version.
Giveaway
Get organised early this Christmas with a chance to win a $100 BIG W gift voucher. (I’ll have another 3 vouchers to giveaway in the upcoming weeks).
To enter, leave a comment below to the answer to this question (and your answer could be featured as part of the BIGW_HintSquad):
What food item is essential on your Christmas table and why?
T & Cs – Must be over 18 year of age, Australian residents only, judged on merit. Please read full terms and condition in the link above
Congratulations Rebecca Roffman!
Items I used available at BIG W:
LED lights ($2), 12 silver baubles-60mm ($3), mini bon bons-8 ($4), bird decoration pack ($3), diamond drop decoration-12 ($5), bead garland ($3), table runner ($13), 20 small gold baubles-40mm ($3), 92 tree decorating pack ($15), tinsel holly garland ($5), mini tree table decoration-3 pack ($10), tea light candle-60 ($9), large pillar candle ($8), wave tumbler-6 ($8), potpourri balls pack ($18), large candle vase ($20), large glass bowl ($20)
Disclosure
This post is sponsored by BIG W. All views and materials (including photographs) produced are my own. You can read my disclosure policy here.
265 Comments
Jessie Hay
November 23, 2013 at 12:35 pmMy homemade potato salad because it is loved by everyone!
Emma
November 23, 2013 at 3:55 pmMy Gran’s plum pudding. She starts making it in August and it’s incredible. She is 89 and an incredible cook!!
Benjamin Travia
November 23, 2013 at 5:04 pmThe arancini. My Nonna used to make them every christmas, but now my sister has taken on the responsibility. They’re a ball of tasty, delicious, creamy, ricey christmassy fun.
AmberB
November 23, 2013 at 10:58 pmMy Mum’s Trifle. It’s famous in our family, and it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the sponge, cream, jam, fruit deliciousness that it is!
Rebecca
November 24, 2013 at 10:22 amMy Mom’s mince pies. They rarely make it to the table though, we eat them as quickly as she makes them.
sandy
November 24, 2013 at 11:33 amPavlova, always the pavlova. Crisp shell, marshmallowy centre, fresh australian fruit in season.
Christmas is usually the premiere of mangoes, peaches, nectarines. Because it’s christmas, there is always King Island double cream to garnish… yum.
Lei
November 24, 2013 at 9:27 pmThis may sound a bit boring but we can’t have a Christmas lunch without the baked Turkey roll and ham.
Louise
November 24, 2013 at 9:27 pmBrown sugar pavlova…surprisingly I never mess it up 🙂
Lorna M
November 25, 2013 at 9:58 amA thick rich Christmas Stew, our family’s traditional dish that is loved and enjoyed by everyone.
sonya
November 25, 2013 at 11:03 amMangoes… for some reason we always have mangoes at Christmas!
rebecca scarinci
November 25, 2013 at 11:23 amMy food essential would have to be the christmas fruit cake that my 98 year old grandfather makes from scratch every year.
Lady Tiffany
November 25, 2013 at 11:41 amChristmas mix…since we are snackers…we have a variety of sweet and savoury snacks to keep us going while waiting for the main attraction
Catherine Pitt
November 25, 2013 at 1:00 pmA homemade Christmas cake is a must.
Fiona
November 25, 2013 at 1:04 pmHoney glazed ham! Wouldn’t be a Christmas table without it!
Troy Simpson
November 25, 2013 at 1:30 pmDonuts and frozen sausage rolls. Don’t ask.
Beck Andrew
November 25, 2013 at 3:36 pmDefinitely plum pudding with custard, as kids we used to find coins in the pudding, it was like finding treasure, we loved it! and now I get to do this with my kids, I hope they look back on their childhood Christmas’s and love them as much as I loved mine!
Diana O
November 25, 2013 at 3:47 pmCreamy mushroom sauce, or else the Turkey just isn’t right without it.
Di
November 25, 2013 at 3:48 pmPrawns, an enormous platter full of them. They make Christmas, Christmas!
Kasey Evans
November 25, 2013 at 4:10 pmMy christmas plum pudding as the smell reminds me so much of christmas & is only ever made then!
Karen Mitchell
November 25, 2013 at 4:10 pmCooked prawns. It’s the only time we can have them.
Pauline Stewart
November 25, 2013 at 5:08 pmPavlova! It couldn’t possibly be a proper Christmas without Pav!
Lyndal Griffiths
November 25, 2013 at 5:50 pmThose marshmallow type santas in the lolly mix bag! they are sooooooooooooo good!!!
kerry santillo
November 25, 2013 at 7:38 pmPAVLOVA!! I cannot remember a xmas without it 🙂
Ros McFarlane
November 25, 2013 at 8:19 pmI would have to say a BAKED DINNER. With Ham, Turkey and Pork, along with baked vegies. This is a tradition in our family, which I have taken on and given also to my children.
Jennifer B.
November 25, 2013 at 8:39 pmMy ROASTED RED CAPSICUM JELLY… Whatever the meat each year, it’s the perfect condiment!
pam
November 25, 2013 at 8:54 pmCranberry Sauce. Only at Christmas, and only with turkey.
Why? It has always, always been there.
Camille
November 25, 2013 at 9:01 pmFamily plum pudding recipe thats been handed down. I remember from when I was a kid every year it gets brandy poured over it and lit on fire. Now I get to share it with my kids!
Liliana Skeens
November 25, 2013 at 9:01 pmMy summer Christmas Pavlova…I only use mango and raspberries for the fruit, I add vanilla extract to the cream when I whip it. It is DIVINE. Even my brother-in-law, that won’t touch anything with sugar or fat in it, will eat a piece or two of this!!
melissa
November 25, 2013 at 9:02 pmstone fruit.. juicy and sweet
Janelle Freeman
November 25, 2013 at 9:02 pmMy Great Grandmother’s Christmas pudding. The recipe has been handed down. Mum and I now make them for all the family. Served with hot home made custard. Yummo
Gabbi
November 25, 2013 at 9:02 pmPrawns! Because it’s often hot on Christmas Day and nothing’s as Aussie as some fresh prawns on Christmas Day!
Imeia tjandra
November 25, 2013 at 9:02 pmPotato salad, my mum made the best potato salad and is a must for christmas meal.
Rebecca Mayberry
November 25, 2013 at 9:03 pmmy mums trifle is the best and only happens at christmas!!
Em
November 25, 2013 at 9:03 pmMy mother in laws sugar coated peanuts – it’s not Christmas til I’ve eaten waaaay too many!!
Peta Sage
November 25, 2013 at 9:04 pmPrawns! We can’t afford to have them very often, plus my SIL doesn’t eat red meat 😉
Vicki Christopher
November 25, 2013 at 9:04 pmMY rocky road!!!!! Only time of the year I do it and its always a hit!
Sandra H
November 25, 2013 at 9:04 pmCustard!! I lt goes with any of the Christmas puddings or cakes we choose that year 😀
Vicki Christopher
November 25, 2013 at 9:06 pm….by the way….love that light jar!
Katy Potaty
November 25, 2013 at 9:04 pmBoth hubby and I can’t go past a big platter of fresh Mooloolaba King Prawns, we love just relaxing and peeling each other delicious prawn, so fresh and quintessentially an Australian Summer food!
(Oh, and sticky watermelon for afters, of course!)
Linda
November 25, 2013 at 9:07 pmbread and butter pudding! * i love the Fruit Feature! It’s a fun, inexpensive Xmas activity that my 8yo daughter will really enjoy making with me ?
Kat Moss
November 25, 2013 at 9:07 pmWe celebrate with a Christmas breakfast. So we have pancakes.
jodie
November 25, 2013 at 9:07 pmBig red juicy cherries and a jug of egg nogg mmmmmm yummy
Lisa
November 25, 2013 at 9:07 pmThe bowls of chocolates! Can never have enough, even after the huge Xmas feast there is always room for chocolate!!
Taylah Boyd
November 25, 2013 at 9:08 pmcrackle, you can’t have Christmas lunch or dinner without crackle so delicious.
Edith Heiberg
November 25, 2013 at 9:10 pmTiny strong mints– to round everything off & refresh your palette.
Cons
November 25, 2013 at 9:10 pmMy mom makes baked macaroni, she only makes it during special occasions. I guess it what makes it special 😉
Elisha
November 25, 2013 at 9:10 pmLemon meringue pie, made with lemons from our lemon tree YUM. ahhhh now I want some ?
Michelle Kearney
November 25, 2013 at 9:11 pmMy moms special prawn cocktail… She’s been making this starter dish for Christmas Eve dinner since I was young and I can’t wait for her to make it this year when we are lucky enough to have her here for Xmas from overseas… Going to be a very special Christmas 🙂
Chelsea Downer
November 25, 2013 at 9:11 pmChristmas Log! A simple jam scroll, turned into a chocolate “log” decorated for Christmas. Something I always had as a child and I now share with my children. And of course the wacky photo of the creator of the log holding it is a must for every year 🙂
PS thanks for the awesome table ideas!
Jade Geran
November 25, 2013 at 9:12 pmAn essential every year is a good leg of ham that dad alway buys =]
Julie C
November 25, 2013 at 9:12 pmThe little box of after dinner mints, each in their own little paper envelope. Reminds me of my nana as she loved these!