Throw subtlety to the wind: Christmas is coming

‘Christmas comes but once a year’ so we say it’s the ultimate excuse for luxury, exuberance and – of course – sparkle! Add to this the excitement of being able to gather loved ones around a table after a long hiatus, and this year has the makings of a very special Christmas indeed.

Here at Faro, we believe more is more, so leave your subtleties at the door and embrace festive colour and opulence as we show you how to achieve a truly magical Christmas table.

Of course, you give oodles of thought to the Christmas meal itself and those all-important questions; Cocktails or fizz? Turkey or goose? Red or white wine? Presents before or after lunch? But before anyone tastes your delicious spread, their eyes will feast on your Christmas tablescape, and first impressions count. You can set the tone for a wonderfully memorable Christmas meal with carefully chosen textures and fabrics, creative personal touches and a festive sprinkle of glitz and glamour.

Setting the scene

Your tablecloth is the canvas for your entire meal. Don’t be afraid to choose a bold pattern that will draw the eye and make your details sing. Be brave with clashing and contrasting colours; a striped napkin that picks out a colour from your base tablecloth will work wonders. Or embrace a decadent gold theme that plays on the shimmer of your cutlery and glassware. If you love layering, adding a runner and placemats allow you to introduce more colour and texture down the length of your table.

Glassware needn’t be traditional or predictable; colourful glass tumblers or gilded wine glasses will add a playful accent to your table and can prevent everything feeling too matchy-matchy. Crockery should make you smile. We love mixing up styles and sizes to add interest and a hint of eccentricity.

Don’t forget – this is the time to polish your finest silver and bring out the special items you don’t use every day; say yes to that gravy boat, the wine decanter and those silver salt and pepper shakers!

All the small things

Next come the details. Christmas is the perfect time to adorn the table with flowers and foliage; be flamboyant in your styling here. Add a large, impactful swirl of ivy down the centre of your table dotted with glittering lights, or opt for a central display of holly and berries around some statement candles.

Create your own personalised napkin rings with a sprig of holly, a few artfully chosen pinecones, finished off with a handwritten name label and beautifully tied silk or velvet ribbon.

Fresh fruit (think pomegranates, grapes, dried oranges) also adds a layer of luxe to your table and lends itself to your decadent OTT vibe.

Make your guests feel extra special by adding a carefully chosen Christmas ornament to each place setting and pop a cosy wool throw on each chair as an invitation to stay at the table until the early hours.

Let there be light!

Lighting is more important than ever at Christmas when the evenings begin around lunchtime (good old Blighty!). Rather than your usual wall lights, consider adding small lamps to your table to create an intimate ambience. And – of course – never underestimate the magic of candlelight; colourful papier maché candlesticks with rich, gold hand painted designs will stand tall and catch the light.

Whether your Christmas this year is intimate or enormous, we wish you a happy – and exuberant – Christmas from the UK and India and look forward to many more adventures in the New Year.

Special thanks to Amelia Knowland for the blog post.