How Can You Create Christmas Setting with Red and White Tablecloth?

Quick facts: red and white Christmas table

Choose your lead colour

This ratio is a common interior-design guideline rather than a rule of nature, so adjust it to taste. The red and white tablecloth will be perfect for the Christmas decoration of your table, where dinnerware, napkins, candles, greenery, and centerpieces will create a festive ambiance. This color scheme can be both rustic and elegant, or traditional and modern.

Why Is Red Perfect for Christmas Table Decor? 

The color red has always been associated with Christmas and has a meaning of its own. It symbolizes love, passion, joy, and the spirit of giving the feelings one is supposed to experience during the holiday season with family and friends.

Besides the meaning and symbolism behind it, the color red can also add a pop of brightness to one’s Christmas table. The right touches in red can enliven the whole space and set the festive mood. Moreover, using this color in moderation is much safer than going all out in green and creating a Christmas tree scenery around the dining room. Various red accents can be incorporated into the Christmas table decor: from napkins and candles to berries, bows, and poinsettias.

Start with a Red and White Tablecloth

The tablecloth is the easiest way for you to set the colors for your Christmas table. The red and white tablecloth will give the table a beautiful look, but it also provides you flexibility when it comes to other table decorations.

If you want to have a traditional Christmas table, choose the red tablecloth and go with classic Christmas patterns, checks, stripes, or other traditional Christmas designs. You can also use a white tablecloth and a plaid red table runner or red placemats. This is the best option if you want to use white Christmas ideas for decorations, but you still want red to be the dominant color on your table.

Create contrast with the red and white layers

Layering different textiles on your table is a great way to make it look more elegant. You can do that by contrasting:

• A white tablecloth with a red table runner,

• A red and white patterned tablecloth and white napkins,

• White placemats and red napkins,

• Red napkins folded on top of white dinner plates,

• A neutral tablecloth with red and white Christmas accents and many other combinations. 

The principle is simple: using two colors creates contrast, which makes the table more interesting to look at, but not too busy.

Add Red Christmas Napkins

Napkins are an easy way to add color and texture to your Christmas table setting. Placing red napkins next to or on top of white plates is a great way to liven up your holiday meal.

When setting your table, go with fabric napkins in a deep shade for an elegant look or choose plaid or patterned napkins for a more relaxed farmhouse feel in red.

You can also add a nice touch to each setting by tying with

• Red or white ribbons,

• Natural twine,

• Greenery sprigs,

• Cinnamon sticks,

• Small Christmas ornaments,

• Berry stems.

How to set a red and white Christmas table

Pick the lead colour using the table above.

Measure your table and choose the cloth size (see the next section).

Lay the tablecloth with an even drop on every side; press creases out beforehand.

Add a runner or placemats in the contrast colour, such as a red plaid runner on white.

Set plates and napkins: white plates with red napkins on top, or white napkins on a red cloth.

Build a low centrepiece of evergreen, red berries, pinecones and a few ornaments.

Add candles: alternate white and red tapers, in glass, silver or white holders.

Finish the places with a ribbon, a sprig of greenery or a small ornament on each napkin.

Tablecloth size guide

A simple formula: table length + 2 x drop for the length, and table width + 2 x drop for the width. Choose a 6 to 12 inch drop for everyday meals and 10 to 15 inches for formal ones. Confirm the final size with the All Cotton and Linen tablecloth size calculator before you buy.

Four red and white Christmas table styles

1. Candy cane stripes (playful)

• Linens: red and white striped tablecloth (or turn a striped cloth sideways) with plain red or white napkins.
• Dishes: white plates.
• Centrepiece: peppermint candies in glass bowls, red taper candles.
• Details: a candy cane tied to each napkin with a polka-dot ribbon.

2. Buffalo check farmhouse (cosy)

• Linens: red-and-white or red-and-black check cloth with plain cream napkins.
• Dishes: white or speckled stoneware.
• Centrepiece: wooden tray with evergreen, pinecones and a lantern.
• Details: twine on napkins and a sprig of greenery.

3. Classic traditional (elegant)

• Linens: white cloth with a red runner and red cloth napkins.
• Dishes: white dinnerware with a gold rim.
• Centrepiece: evergreen garland, red berries, white candles.
• Details: place cards and a small ornament for each guest.

4. Modern red, white and silver (clean)

• Linens: white cloth, red napkins, no runner.
• Dishes: simple white plates.
• Centrepiece: a few silver ornaments and glass candle holders with white tapers.
• Details: minimal; let negative space do the work.

Napkin and place-setting ideas

• Place a red napkin on a white plate, or a white napkin on a red cloth, for contrast.
• Tie each napkin with ribbon, natural twine or a sprig of greenery; add a cinnamon stick or small ornament.
• Use napkin rings or a simple fold such as a Christmas tree fold (see our napkin fold guide).
• Add a handwritten place card; small touches make the table feel personal.

Centrepieces and candles

• Keep arrangements low (under about 12 inches) or tall and slim so sight lines stay open.
• Mix evergreen, red berries and white flowers, with pinecones for texture.
• Use several small groupings down the table instead of one large display.
• Alternate white and red tapers; keep flames well away from greenery and fabric, or use flameless candles.

Add texture so red looks rich, not flat

Combine crisp cotton or linen, velvet ribbon, matte ceramic plates, glass baubles and rough wood. A red velvet bow and a red cotton napkin are the same colour but read very differently, which adds depth without adding more colours.

A budget red and white table

Incorporate Red and Silver to Make a Modern Christmas Table

If you think that traditional red and green is a bit much for your home, pair red with silver instead, as it adds a cool element to the warm color.

Place a white tablecloth on the table and add red napkins, silver candle holders, and a few silver ornaments. You could also add some silver accents to a greenery centerpiece.

This combination would be good for someone who wants red modern Christmas table decor or red and silver Xmas table decorations.

Use Texture to Make the Table More Interesting

Although color is essential, you should also pay attention to texture. You can make your Christmas table more interesting by introducing different materials to complement the same color scheme. 

Here are a few ideas:

• Mixing crisp cotton or linen tablecloths

• Soft fabric napkins,

• Velvet ribbons,

• Shiny glass decorations,

• Matte ceramic plates,

• Rough wood,

• Fresh evergreens, and other festive items made of different materials into the composition.

As you can see, a red velvet bow is not the same as a red cotton napkin. And these differences add depth and variety to the color scheme.

Caring for red linens

Red dye can bleed in the first wash, so wash new red cloths and napkins separately in cold water, and follow the care label on the product. Remove stains quickly, avoid chlorine bleach on coloured fabric, and iron on the recommended setting.

Mistakes to avoid

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