From elegant candles to impressive centrepieces, Crave has everything covered for setting a festive table this Christmas.
Text by Doretta Lau
This is the season to be jolly. Succulent turkeys, cranberry sauce, spiked eggnog, candied yams and mince pies will soon be gracing dinner tables around the city.
It’s time to break out the holiday décor.
Festive table settings don’t have to be complicated. It’s possible to work with the china and flatware that you already own. Wendy Siu, founder and president of Heather & March, suggests that attention to glassware and napkin rings can make
a difference. As well, she suggests, “change the tablecloth by adding a new texture
or colour element. Mix and match the existing set with some additional side or
under plates.”
Colour, of course, sets the tone for any table. Both Dierdre Gleeson, brand director at Indigo Living, and Michelle Koller, creative directorat Tequila Kola, suggest that you can’t go wrong with white, paired with colourful accents.
“Use the colour white as your base as youlikely already have white dinnerware and napkins in your home, and select a highlight colour to overlay on top,” says Gleeson.Koller suggests that turquoise can be anunexpected and exciting choice for afestive table.
“Choose a colour scheme and add pieces to each table setting as well as the centre of the table,” says Gleeson. “Make sure you don’t make it too high so that people can still see each other across the table and enjoy the conversation.”
Gleeson recommends silver and gold for a glamorous look, and the standard red and green to capture the traditional feeling of the holidays. Krister Svensson, General Manager of W Hotel, reveals that their holiday palate will be green, silver and gold.
Siu shares her thoughts on the current colour trends. “There is a more pared down chic colour scheme for table setting this holiday season,” she says. “The normal intense and lovely Christmas colours like the traditional green, red, gold and silver are introduced in a more toned down fashion. For example, the traditional red and green may be replaced by a different or lighter shade of red and green.”
In addition to traditional colour schemes, Siu offers modern suggestions. “These standard Christmas colours can be matched with some new daring building block colours like black and Parisian grey.”
Small decorative touches can also transform a dining table. Ilona Yim, Director of Communications at Island Shangri-La, reveals the secret to the hotel’s dining décor for the holidays: “We’re using poinsettias and other items related to Christmas, like cinnamon sticks and apples.” She also shares her personal tips for setting the table at home. “Remember to keep things simple. Don’t overload the table. You need to have a focal point.”
A centrepiece is a natural decorative choice. Siu suggests attractive flower arrangements, while Gleeson believes that berry garlands with candy canes and snow globes can do the trick for families with young children. Tequila Kola changes up traditional textures with feathers.
Another fun item to make the table look festive is a food centrepiece. Edible Arrangements has a variety of treats that fit the bill, including bouquets of chocolate-covered strawberries.
The inclusion of traditional holiday items can immediately transform a table. “For decorative objects, choose the ones with strong Christmas connotations,” says Siu. “It can be a whimsical animal like a reindeer, a character like Santa Claus, angels, or natural winter theme objects such as snowflakes or stars.”
Non-traditional decorative touchescan give a table setting a modern edge. “Reflective surfaces, such as crystals, always look good at Christmas because it looks really glamorous,” says Koller.
“Small ornaments on the tables give the hint of the spirit of Christmas,” says Svensson. But he counsels against going overboard with too many items: “Keep it simple.”
Lighting is key to creating a festive atmosphere. It’s unlikely that anyone in the city will be building a roaring fire in the hearth, but that warm glow can be captured with candles and a little dim lighting.
“Candles play a very important role for Christmas,” says Svensson. “It gives a feeling of cosiness and warmth. And here in Hong Kong, it does get a little bit colder, so it’s nice to sit next to candles that will warm you up.”
“The trend in Europe is to do multiple settings of low candles,” says Koller.
“Not just two candlesticks at either end of the table, but collections of candles.”
Siu has advice on the debate between scented and unscented candles. “For the dining room, it is better to use non-scented candles to avoid distracting the guests. But the use of candlesis important to create a lovely dining ambiance.”
Attention should also be paid to serving items. Gleeson says that a must is “a good wine or Champagne bucket, preferably on a stand that you can place close to the table.” As well,she suggests that you have “enough platters, trays or serving dishes that you can simply place your dishes in the centre of the table and let everyone serve themselves”.
Above all, take some risks. The holidaysare a time to have fun, and play around.
“Dare be to be different, and use decorative items in an imaginative way,”
says Gleeson.
FESTIVE TABLE SETTING 101
It doesn’t take much to transform your dining table from everyday to festive. Just follow these tips from our panel of experts.
Text by Doretta Lau
1. CANDLES
Whether it’s simple candlesticks or clusters of smaller candles or tealights, the glow of a flickering flame creates a holiday ambience. Try to avoid scented candles in the dining area. Don’t have too many tall items on the table—make sure your guests will be able to make eye contact.
Flower candle stand from agnès b.
2. CENTREPIECES
For a traditional approach, use poinsettias, pinecones, evergreen boughs, apples and cinnamon sticks. If you have kids, cute items like snow globes and snowmen will do the trick. And if you want to do something unexpected, try a fruit centrepiece, like this one from Edible Arrangements.
Fruit centrepiece from Edible Arrangements
3. COLOURS
Liven up the table with touches of colour. Red and green accents deliver a traditional feeling, while silver and gold give a table a more glamorous edge. Done correctly, colours like turquoise and purple can evoke the holiday spirit, while blacks and greys can be utterly chic.
4. ORNAMENTS
The tree isn’t the only place where ornaments can go. Use small items like reindeer figurines, snowflakes, crystals and even feathers to capture that festive look you’re after. But above all, remember to keep it simple.
Loading ...