Host Christmas In Style With These Easy Tips

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And if, like us, you want to make it perfect then check out these awesome tips for creating a stunning setting for your Christmas table by one of our most favorite interiors stylists Laura Jones @thejonesgirlsdubai (we're obsessed with her home...check it out!) - time to get planning, styling, hosting and enjoying! 

• I’ll be putting a few tables together to accommodate a large group this Christmas, how can I make this look good and not messy?

Firstly head to Satwa and buy a huge piece of muslin fabric, you will have yourself a giant table cloth at a fraction of the price and your starting point, if you're planning on keeping the tables separate they can cut it to separately to size. Now add some foliage, lay some down the centre of your tables or fill miss matched glassware and jam jars with tea lights, sprigs of holly, berries and eucalyptus. simple white crockery always works well and perfect teamed with colourful napkins. You can mix faux flowers if you want more colour or simply scatter pine cones and dried oranges. Finally add your lighting, battery powered fairy lights, tea lights or candelabras all work well.

• My home is really minimalist and I want my table to match but still look festive- how can I do that?

Christmas is typically a time for extravagance but that’s doesn’t mean a simple table set up won’t look Christmassy. Using Branches of foliage - (Florette sell great boxes) run along the centre of your table, some soft candlelight and natural textiles in muted tones alongside white dinnerware will give you a beautiful paired back festive look.

• I want my table to look like a Christmas explosion of colour and fun, any tips? 

You can go big and bold and reinvent the classic Yuletide colour palette by adding yellows, blues and pinks alongside the traditional reds and greens. Indulge your inner child by adding mini Christmas trees, striped linens, bows and frills. I adore these Linen napkins. Pairing all of this with some fresh foliage, hints of gold with spray painted pine cones and these tea light holders to add warmth and a soft glow and you will have yourself a cracking colourful table this year!

• How can I make the place settings look cute?

Boxfetti have a gorgeous range of place settings this year, these Wooden House ones being my favourites.Or if you're feeling crafty have a go at making your own (we have done this for a few years now using air drying clay) - you could string some wooden beads into a loop and add a name card or slot one into a pinecone. All of these options double up as great little gifts  your guests can take home and hang on their own tree!

• We’ve got a special table set up for the kids shall we decorate it differently?

Keep the table linens and crockery the same, but have fun with the decorating! Ignite their imaginations and get them involved, swap out the candles for battery powered tea lights and hide some chocolate coins and Christmas maileg mice and elves in the foliage. Ask them to make their own place cards a few days before, it’s a wonderful craft to enjoy on the build up to the big day and a special tradition you can build as a family creating some treasured childhood memories.

• How can we tie our location / Dubai in with our Christmas styling? 

In true ‘dubai bling’ style fill your table with an abundance of gold finishes, I’m talking cutlery, candlesticks and glassware, team them with a sumptuous colour palette of midnight blue and rich mulberry, tie placecards to metallic baubles with blush pink velvet ribbons and scatter the table with golden magnolia branches weaved with twinkling fairy lights. I’m sure Kris & Briana would approve! 

• Finally...what are your 5 top  Christmas decorating tips?

1.Start with your space and soften it up, layer blankets and throws that are perfect for cosy Christmas movie nights and change over cushions to softer textures. 
2. Bring nature indoors and fill vases with fresh evergreens and eucalyptus, placing them around your house along with wreaths and garlands lit with fairy lights will instantly make your home feel more welcoming.
3. Light a Christmas candle my current favourite is our jones girls Mrs Claus’ kitchen  which will fill your house with the gorgeous scent of gingerbread and trick everyone into thinking you have been baking. 
4. Wrap empty boxes in brown paper tied with ribbons and place them under your tree. 
5. Make a simple Christmas decoration to add to your tree, or tie to homemade gift hampers.