How to Set A Welcoming Red & White Christmas Table
It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas around here, especially today as I share ideas for How to Set a Welcoming Red & White Christmas Table as part of Home for the Holidays blog tour sponsored by Sondra Lyn at Home! (see links at the bottom of this post) I am thrilled to be part of the Christmas Tablescape section of her tour. I've titled this a red & white Christmas table but of course there's quite a bit of green too. Living in the south, Magnolia's are an intricate part of our landscape and here at my farmhouse we are blessed to have one in our backyard. I'm so excited and am proudly including Magnolia leaves in a starring role on my red & white Christmas table.
I began by putting together this magnolia leaf garland to run down the center of the table. Next, because I always like a bit of sparkle, I added in a few faux gilded leaves, berries, red poinsettia blooms, and red plaid ribbon for an extra snap of color.
The branches don't require water picks so this is a very easy garland to create, and you don't even “have” to wire it unless you want the branches to hang down over the edge. In that case I would recommend wiring the branches, otherwise, you can be nice and lazy like me and simply lay them down the center of the table and tuck in a few accents. Easy-peasy!
These red and white Christmas plates were a find at a local antique shop booth run by my friend Tara. Displayed with Magnolia leaves then, I was inspired, and knew I would use leaves again for a Welcoming Red & White Christmas Table.
A few extra leaves tucked under the plate help to tie the setting in with the centerpiece and don't take any time to place.
To help create vertical interest since the garland centerpiece is all basically one height, I added varied height glassware.
I found these golden jingle bells at a local craft show recently and scooped four up. I knew they would be adorable as a napkin ring/Christmas decor accent. Golden flatware complements the warm tones of the bells.
When dining with a group I always like to have placecards but sometimes they can feel a bit stuffy and formal. To avoid that tone, I decided to grab a small art paint brush and quickly swish a golden letter onto each leaf. Less than a minute is all the time it takes to make these easy and pretty Magnolia Leaf Placecards, which are perfect for a Welcoming Red & White Christmas Table.
The branches of my magnolia tree gracefully shade the table – so pretty!
Do you love a Red & White Christmas Table too? For me, it feels so welcoming and nostalgic!
As I mentioned, it is with much excitement that I join this year's Home for the Holidays blog tour sponsored by Sondra Lyn at Home! This is the 3rd year for her HFTH tour, and we promise to bring some of the most awesome decor, craft and recipe ideas you'll find anywhere. It has gotten bigger and better each year and I think you're going to love what you see! Enjoy the links below – it's 30 blogs over the week, with a different topic each day. Here's a run-down of the topics and featured blogs:
Monday – Holiday Mantels
Country Design Style | Duke Manor Farm | Domestically Speaking
Organize and Decorate Everything | Sondra Lyn at Home | Two Purple Couches
Tuesday – Holiday Recipes
An Alli Event | Not Just Paper and Paint  | Nourish and Nestle
StoneGable | Sweet Pea | What Meegan Makes
Wednesday – Holiday Crafts
An Extraordinary Day | Lovely Etc | Lilacs and Longhorns
Lydi Out Loud | Salvage Sister and Mister | Weekend Craft
Thursday – Holiday Decor
Atta Girl Says | Chatfield Court | Create & Babble
Designers Sweet Spot | The Heathered Nest | Worthing Court
Friday – Holiday Tablescapes
Celebrating Everyday Life |Cottage at the Crossroads | Cottage in the Oaks
The Everyday Home | Postcards from the Ridge |  2 Bees in a Pod
Are you ready? Here we go!
Home for the Holidays 2016
Holiday Mantels
Holiday Recipes
Holiday Crafts
Holiday Decor
Holiday Tablescapes
Finally, thanks so much for joining me today and for visiting my other talented friends! You sincerely mean so much to us!
Happy Celebrating!
Your tablescape is gorgeous! The magnolia leaves were a perfect choice. We are also in love with your vintage red and white china plates! So fun hopping with you!
Jennifer, your table is lovely. We don’t have magnolia leaves around here but I could recreate the runner with pine leaves. 🙂 I love vintage dishes too!
Lovely! How wonderful Jennifer to be able to still go outside the beginning of December and set such a pretty table. (I love your patio spot… it’s dreamy!) I am totally in envy of those gorgeous magnolia leaves. Oh! the things I could do with those! They truly make your table. And the red dishes and vintage goblets are so very special, too.
What a stunning tablescape! Just lovely! You are certainly talented in creating the perfect ambiance for a delightful meal.
Oh Jennifer! This is positively splendid! Your amazing decor skills truly shine in this tablescape. I too love magnolia leaves, but no longer have access to them – I miss them! Everything about this Chrstmas table is lovely!
So glad you could be with us for the 2016 HFTH tour!!
WOW! That is just gorgeous.
Hi Jennifer, like you I am lucky to have magnolia leaves in my yard and you are right, they are so perfect for a table setting. And their classic look pairs perfectly with your beautiful red plates. I’m pretty much a fan of traditional decor at Christmas and your table is just classically lovely. Well done.
Wishing you a great weekend.
Hugs, Lynn
Jennifer, I adore your vintage red and white plates along with the vintage red stemware. They help create such a beautiful Christmas table along with that magnolia leaf garland. I have always admired your mad tablesetting skills, and I’m honored to be touring with you on the Home for the Holidays blog tour.
Absolutely stunning tablescape! I love your magnolia garland!
What a beautiful table! Magnolia combined with red is perfect for Christmas!
Love the magnolia leaves with the poinsettias – so pretty!
Your table is stunning, Jennifer. I love all the details, especially the magnolia garland. Fun touring with you. Have a merry Christmas! ~ Angie
Your table and the outdoor setting is beautiful! I love how you used the magnolia leaves in the centerpiece and place cards.
Your table is stunning! The magnolia leaves add the perfect shade of green to complement all of the reds and whites.
Your table is gorgeous, Jennifer. Love how you used the magnolia leaves and red and white is always a winner, to me, for the holidays.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this at Home Sweet Home and have a Merry Christmas!