Christmas Decorating Ideas For Dining Rooms

Red and White Christmas Table Decorating

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

It's one of the most memorable meals of the year. It will be delicious—so shouldn't it be pretty, too? The dining room is a hub for family, friends, and guests during the Christmas holidays. It's a place to spend time together, to have Christmas dinner, and enjoy gorgeous Christmas dining room decor. It's time to unpack your boxes upon boxes of holiday decor—but this year, try something new. Let us help you choose your color palettes and incorporate a few inspired ideas for your holiday dining room decorating. From place settings to table runners (and tiny touches that create big festive impact), focus your Christmas decorating efforts on the all-important dining room now, and you'll have countless beautiful memories later.

1 of 20

Dramatic Reds

Meg Braff in her dining room

Credit: Erica George Dines

When in doubt, design your tablescape around a dramatic flower arrangement. This classic arrangement of red roses in a glistening gold vase is stunning and emphasizes both the red in the rest of the room—goblets on the table, roses on the mantle, vases for candles on the mantle, and the red tones in the magnolia leaf garland—as well as the gold accents in the tablecloth, chairs, valance, and curtains.

2 of 20

Ribbon Runner

Christmas Day Brunch party hosted by Mary Alice Sublett and Amber Housley

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Embrace shades of red for a cheery Christmas tablescape. Instead of a traditional table runner and placemats, these decorators opted for silky ribbon in red and light blue that is layered across the table lengthwise, widthwise, and underneath each plate. Rather than classic red and green, this table adds an unexpected blue hue, retaining Christmas festivity but infusing a dose of freshness to the color palette.

3 of 20

Traditional Elegance

Collina Farm, Charlottesville,VA set a southern table with Lynn Easton

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Create a Christmas wonderland with elegant white china, napkins, and a centerpiece of greenery and white roses flanked by glowing white pillar candles. As for the tree, take your cues from the tablescape, and channel understated elegance by weaving a bronze ribbon through the branches. This elevated style is classic and always a Christmas crowd pleaser.

4 of 20

Lively Brights

Georgia with James Farmer Dining Room

Credit: Hector Sanchez

This elegant tablescape makes the most of cheery flower arrangements in a series of blue-and-white vases. The blue-and-white theme keeps the table looking clean and streamlined, but the flowers add vibrancy and playfulness with lime, magenta, ruby, and yellow hues.

5 of 20

Central Glow

dining room showing custom banquette

Credit: Helen Norman

Putting aside traditional Christmas decorating choices, this tablescape works with the home's everyday decor and only adds a cluster of collected candlesticks in the center of the dining table. To make this mixed-and-matched design work for you, choose a variety of candle sizes, but ensure that they are all in the same color. White or taupe-colored neutrals are great for a coastal flair. Light the candles in the evening for a flickering, festive dinner by candlelight.

6 of 20

Winter Wonderland

Browns Holiday dining room and tablescape decorations

Credit: Erica George Dines

Go simple, understated, and a little frosty with your tablescape this year by keeping to taupe tones. Beautifully symmetrical, this design showcases three wreaths, all crafted from rope, hanging in the three windows. Beige hues adorn the dining table, with assorted greenery clustered low on the table and tall vases of gorgeously unruly branches stretching out overhead. The proportions here ensure that guests can enjoy the centerpiece design but still talk to each other across the table.

7 of 20

Two-Tone Classic

Red and White Christmas Table Decorating

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Classic red and white gets a dose of whimsy in this impeccable tablescape. When choosing elements, stick to these two hues for a striking final effect. A tight cluster of roses in the center of the table—plus poinsettias on the mantel—keep the floral additions on-hue. For a touch that guests will ooh and ahh over, add decorative Christmas trees in a deep red tone.

8 of 20

Striking Magnolia

Silver and Magnolia Dining Room

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

This Christmas tablescape makes the most of magnolia—in the dramatic centerpiece, the garland cascading across the mantel, and the wreath hanging over it. For a dramatic look, stick with one decor choice and extend it to each area of the room. Other touches, like flowers in shining silver julep cups for each place setting, add even more festive impact to this Southern tablescape.

9 of 20

Cozy Christmas

Holiday Dining Room

Credit: Hector M Sanchez

This tablescape evokes rustic elegance. The deep wood tones of the floor and walls ground the room's design, and moments of decor—ruby-hued flowers, glowing candles, and pine garland greenery—keep the room feeling festive, lively, and ready for Christmas dinner.

10 of 20

Symmetrical Style

Danielle Rollins' Holiday dining and tablesetting decorations

Credit: Erica George Dines

This tablescape embraces classical elegance but avoids typical holiday decor and color palettes. Bright hues, including pinks, yellows, oranges, and emeralds, fill the flower arrangements. Instead of one central arrangement, three coordinating ones are incorporated. A pretty wreath at the central window adds another elegant nod to the holiday.

11 of 20

Lively Greenery

Tilton Finwick Christmas Dining Room

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Tucking greenery into unexpected corners makes this tablescape feel holiday-ready. The dramatic chandelier is the ideal locale for a garland of evergreen (borrow it from your tree to save a trip to the store). Hang clusters of greenery tied with a bow to the backs of the chairs for another special touch.

12 of 20

Understated Contrast

White Magnolia Dining Room

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

This elegantly decorated room doesn't need much additional decor to feel festive for the holidays. However, its all-white style is a perfect canvas for greenery and contrast with deep tones. A lush wreath and mirroring centerpiece add that elegant contrast. Tucking silver ornaments into the centerpiece lends a touch of sparkle to the table.

13 of 20

Olive Opulence

Iris Thorpe Dining Room

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Personalize basic, solid chair covers with silk ribbon and a small boxwood wreath. Add a pop of natural reds with fresh flowers and candied fruit as a centerpiece. Don't forget the chandelier and art when adding extra greenery to the room.

14 of 20

Al Fresco Festivities

Outdoor Dining Table

This open-air Christmas tablescape draws its inspiration from the great outdoors. Lamps filled with flickering candles add light near the edge of the patio, and tall pillar candles in warm red and gold hues add cozy ambience. Deer antlers rise from the clusters of magnolia leaves—touches of rustic elegance and warm winter designs.

15 of 20

Vertical Designs

Kitchen Banquette

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

When in doubt, take your designs upward. This evergreen garland adds just the right amount of pop to this wall of windows, and Christmas trees made from magnolia leaves give this table a stylish, Southern-inspired centerpiece.

16 of 20

Classic Christmas

Harrison residence dining room and living room

Credit: Lucas Allen

Embrace traditional decor with shades of deep red and greenery in every corner. The red taper candles and table runner are so simple to incorporate—and so very festive. Nothing here is too over the top, and the design takes advantage of each moment—the table, the windows, the mantle, the tree, the bookshelves. There are holiday touches everywhere, and the overall effect is carefully considered and beautifully festive.

17 of 20

Merlot Tones

Fran Keenan designer, dining room

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

This tablescape adds several beautiful touches, but none that draw attention from the regal, wine-toned chairs. Green accents, like the chandelier and vases, add contrast, and a simple arrangement of gold and bright green add life to the table, as do the magnolia-and-orange place cards, a nod to Christmas in the South.

18 of 20

Emerald Accents

More Christmas Party Ideas

This room doesn't emphasize one focal point in its Christmas decor. Instead, it adds touches of green throughout the room to create festive moments wherever you look. Small wreaths add special holiday cheer to doors, a tiny garland over the mirror, and a small centerpiece in the middle of the dessert table are just enough to make this room party ready.

19 of 20

Easy Accents

Smith residence Dining room for Christmas

The dinner is in the oven and the guests are arriving any minute—what to do? Add one festive touch, like this pretty wreath hung with a bright yellow ribbon. Work with the decor that you already have and love. At every place setting, this homeowner added a gift for each guest—wrapped in yellow paper and tied with a white bow (that evokes the cheery ribbon tied to the wreath).

20 of 20

Sparkling Centerpiece

Simple Christmas Dining Room Decor

Credit: Johansen Krause

This festive holiday decor focuses on the centerpiece. The tablescape adds unexpected delight with vibrant, playful flower arrangements but tempers that lightness with elegant silver Christmas trees and baubles scattered to look like snow.

Up Next