Cheshire interior designer Jojo Bradley’s top tips for creating the perfect Christmas table

From choosing your colour scheme to selecting your decorations, here’s how to set the scene for Christmas dinner with a stunning festive table

Whether you are going for the traditional look or bold brights, there is no excuse not to put on a show-stopping display for your guests this Christmas.

Start by choosing your theme. This can be a colour or an idea. It can be based upon a centrepiece you have been lusting after online or childhood memory you want to capture. If you’re not sure what to go for you can’t beat the classic red and green or frosty winter wonderland. Both work well with either traditional or modern interiors. In this setting green is the go-to accent, in the glass ware, candles and place settings. Don’t forget to add some natural green too, holly and ivy are the traditional go to, but consider Christmas roses too for your table and if you can’t find these, simple white roses are a classic option. Think natural materials, greens, velvets and country house idyll.

Always lay your table on Christmas Eve so that you don’t have last-minute panics about missing serving ware or napkins. And always iron your linens, whether you are going for the full tablecloth and runners or plain and simple, there is nothing better than a crisp neat napkin.

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Layer your place settings to give them extra impact. I like to mix a plain white china with my special occasion dinner service, setting the scene perfectly with a festive flourish. Here we have used velvet bows to match the crackers, but you can use holly, mistletoe or even baubles can make it extra special.

You don’t always need a centrepiece but an easy yet striking option is to use a festive wreath filled with candles (making sure you use a heatproof mat and the candles are away from the foliage!) Alternatively, to ensure that guests aren’t dodging the foliage in order to see each other. Don’t forget a little festive sparkle too, nothing says Christmas more than how metallic flourishes twinkle in the candlelight.

Finally, I love a handwritten place card. A personal touch that doesn’t have to be formal and traditional, or complicated. It could be as simple as a velvet ribbon attached to a bell, a frosted pinecone or a tree decoration that matches your theme, but it is a thoughtful touch that guests will value.

Visit jojobradleyinteriors.co.uk for more classic inspiration