The stylists’ guide to a BEAUTIFUL FESTIVE TABLE
WORDS SARAH WILSON, SUE ROWLANDS AND CLAIRE MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHS SIMON SCARBORO
Twig centrepiece with bark-covered candle jars
Bestowing your festive dining table with a shimmer of special touches not only sets the mood but also shows off your lovingly crafted feast to its best advantage. We set three stylists the challenge of creating one of their favourite looks – but with strict criteria: it had to be quick, simple and make maximum of use of bits and pieces from around the house and garden. In other words, we wanted great ideas that won’t cost you a king’s ransom. Here’s what they came up with…
SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS
Former Country Homes & Interiors lifestyle editor Sarah Wilson has styled many a Christmas food shoot. She favours a Scandinavian theme for her table.
“When I think of a magical Christmas I imagine myself preparing the table in a cabin in the forest, deep in a snowdrift,” she says. “I like the style and simplicity of Nordic design, and the look I’ve gone for is informal with lots of light wood, classic white tableware and neutral homespun linens. Take a basket into the woods to gather interesting bark and moss-covered twigs, then make a decoration for the centre of the table – bare winter twigs are ideal. Keep it minimalist – less is more with Scandi style.”
Bouquet garni place settings
THE TWIG CENTREPIECE
The twig tree is a classic Scandi decoration. Find pliable branches in the garden or woods and sift through your decorations for ornaments in natural colours to decorate the twigs. The resulting look is pared-down and pleasing.
YOU WILL NEED • Pliable twigs – it looks good if some of them bend slightly when you decorate them • Spray paint (we used Liquitex Spray Paint in Iridescent Antique Gold, £9.95 for 400ml, Cass Art) • Large glass jar • White and metallic Christmas ornaments in simple shapes (if you don’t have any, try notonthehighstreet.com and John Lewis) • Natural string • Grey felt mat, or similar