Want your Christmas table to look pulled-together without feeling fussy? Think summer-ready, guest-friendly and easy to clear. Below are the five strongest trends this season and how to make them work in a Southern Hemisphere context – long, bright evenings, warm weather and al fresco dinners included.
Retro heirloom, but edited
This look blends a little 70s nostalgia with family treasures in a way that still feels modern. Start with a calm base – plain linen cloth or a runner in oatmeal or stone. Layer heirloom bits sparingly: a vintage jug for water, your gran’s dessert spoons, mismatched side plates with a subtle stripe or check. Keep the palette earthy rather than loud: olive, rust, cream, dark wood. Use candlelight to soften it all, and keep arrangements low so conversation flows.
SA summer tweak: Add local foliage in tiny bud vases down the centre – eucalyptus tips, olive sprigs or a single protea per vase – instead of dense, hot-weather centrepieces.
Quiet luxury for hot nights
Minimalism is gentler this year. Think calm tones, tactile materials and breathing space between settings. Pair a natural table surface or light linen with stoneware, clear glass and a whisper of metallic in cutlery or napkin rings. One simple garland of greenery and a few pillars is enough.
SA summer tweak: If you are dining outdoors, swap fragranced candles for unscented or LED, and keep flames well away from greenery and décor. Candles should sit on stable, heat-safe surfaces and at least a foot from anything that can burn.
Scandi natural, with Cape notes
Cosy does not have to mean heavy. Scandi at Christmas is all about honest materials and little rituals. Use cotton or linen napkins in warm neutrals, simple white plates, and tiny details at each setting – a sprig of rosemary tied with twine, a slice of dried orange, or a bay leaf with a handwritten name. Keep the centre line airy: a scatter of pinecones, nuts and a few tea lights in glass.
SA summer tweak: Lean on hardy, heat-tolerant greenery that copes through a long lunch – eucalyptus, olive, and rosemary do beautifully in shallow water cups and stay fresh in the heat.
Celestial evenings
For night-time dinners, deepen the palette: midnight blue, charcoal and soft silver played against lots of glass. Use reflection to do the work for you – mirror tiles or plain glass chargers, clear candlesticks, and a cluster of small silver accents so the whole table shimmers without glitter overload. Keep everything low and linear so sightlines are clear.
SA summer tweak: If wind is an issue, switch taper candles for enclosed lights in hurricane vases or rechargeable pillars so you keep the glow without the fuss.
Joyful kitsch, grown up
If you love colour, channel it with intention. Pick two brights and one grounding neutral and repeat them in napkins, ribbons on glass stems and a dotted run of mini ornaments. Balance playful patterns with plenty of plain surfaces so it reads curated, not crowded. A single “moment” in the middle – a bowl of cherries, a heap of pomegranates, or a ribboned cake – gives the eye a place to rest.
SA summer tweak: Swap heavy garlands for bowls of citrus and herbs. Lemons and limes with mint or thyme smell incredible and tolerate heat.
Make-it-work tips for any style
- Keep it low and breathable: Centrepieces should sit below eye level and allow air to move. Space place settings so elbows are comfortable and plates are not crammed.
- Think summer service: Ice water jugs on the table, a side station for wine and bubbly, and chilled dessert plates make the meal feel effortless in the heat.
- Edit the surface: Choose three textures and repeat them: linen, glass, and one natural element. Repetition looks intentional and avoids clutter.
- Plan the route: Leave a clear “serve lane” down the centre for shared platters, or push décor to a runner-width strip and keep serving boards to the ends.
- Candle safety, always: Use unscented candles near food, set them in sturdy holders, and keep them well away from foliage, napkins and ribbons. Extinguish before you move dishes or leave the table.
- Local, lasting greenery: If you are including cut stems, condition them in cool water for a few hours, snip stems at an angle and place in discreet water cups tucked into the runner. Eucalyptus, olive and rosemary hold up well through a warm service.
A simple formula to steal tonight
- Runner or bare wood.
- Plates, cutlery, water and wine glasses placed with breathing room.
- Cloth napkin with a small, scented-but-food-safe touch like rosemary or citrus zest.
- A narrow line of small vases with hardy greenery, punctuated by unscented lights in glass.
One quiet “hero” object at the centre or at each end. Done.
Great tables feel easy to sit at. Edit the clutter, keep the palette tight, use local greenery that copes with heat, and let light and conversation do the heavy lifting.
First published by Food & Home
Compiled by Maegan-Leigh Jacobs
Also see: Christmas is over, now what to do with all the leftover food?
