Tabletop Christmas Decorations: Set a Unique Table for Christmas Brunch

In this post: Want to set a special table for Christmas morning brunch? These tabletop Christmas decorations are just the thing to set your table apart.⇒

Some people love dependable and customary.

They wear the same thing all the time, use repeat decorations year after year and you always know what the table will look like when you visit their home. After all, how many sets of china does the average person own?

There is a comfort in tradition and a calm in reliability.

Still, even the most old-school amongst us likes to take a step out every once in a while and express our individuality. If this is you and you’re itching to color outside the lines for just a bit, I have the perfect solution.

Why not set a lovely holiday table that’s just a wee bit out of the ordinary?

Tabletop Christmas Decorations

I’m not talking outlandish. But just a bit unique in the most special of ways.

Elegant for sure.

Just not boring.

And above all, a little unexpected.

Why not leave the red and green aside for a moment? Skip the usual tartans and poinsettias. Have a little fun!

The perfect opportunity to do this is for Christmas morning brunch. Leave the formal place settings for the night before and put a beautiful and creative table together to enjoy relaxing with your loved ones.

Here are 8 ideas for setting a unique and special holiday table (or really for any time of year… :-)).

Try a Unique Color Palette

In recent years we’ve begun to see holiday decorations offered in a range of colors, but there’s no question, red and green still rules the day. Some variations are red and gold, burgundy and green, or simply green and white.

Yet holiday greens can pair with any colors and this is a wonderful way to make your favorite color palette a bit more Christmas-friendly.

So if blush pink and shades of blue are your thing, why not give it a try? A tablescape is a great place to experiment with color because it doesn’t involve buying new furniture or making expensive and permanent changes.

Mix Patterned Dinnerware

This has always been my favorite way to decorate and in fact it parallels the way I dress, as well. I prefer separates and love to mix and match, as it adds complexity, personality and interest to your styling.

But what if you’re not sure how to mix color and pattern?

As it turns out, the perfect solution is a mixed set of dinnerware that was designed that way! This gorgeous set that’s featured on my table, called Heritage Collectables, is from Laura Ashley and was inspired by an antique chintz textile. The fine bone china takes advantage of a soft and graceful palette of blues, mint and stone. The pieces can all be mixed and matched and you can feel confident that any combination will work together well.

Place the Silver All on One Side

This is a design decision I get flak for often, but I love to buck convention and place my flatware all to the right side of the plate. This is not workable for a long drawn out meal with multiple pieces of silver, but it’s just right for a brunch.

My reasoning is that it leaves more room on the left side for a decorative presentation of napkin and ring. Unless you’ll be laying your napkins flat on the table, moving the silverware creates space for something a little different.

Use a Mix of Chairs

As I mentioned above, I’m a big fan of mix and match, and that doesn’t end with pattern and color. I keep a mix of French dining chairs around my table and find they mingle perfectly together.

I mix painted white with light woods and oval cane back with tufted curves.

As long as the chairs are similar in size and cohesive in spirit, the blend works wonderfully in the space.

This began several years ago as a happy accident, when I bought 4 matching chairs for the table’s sides and realized they were blocked by the pedestal base. I brought 2 extra chairs in from another room, just to see how they fit and they’ve been there ever since!

Tuck a Flower in the Napkin Ring

I always use fresh flowers in the center of my tables, but a lovely and novel touch is to add a single rose tucked into the napkin rings.

On this table I chose blush as an accent color, to highlight the pinks in the plate’s florals. Since roses dry beautifully, I don’t worry that the blooms are not in water, and in fact after the meal, I kept the dried roses for an arrangement.

Add an Outdoor Planter to the Table

It’s always nice to bring the outdoors in, and I’m a huge fan of vintage garden planters, so a lovely painted cast iron piece is a welcome addition to the center of the table.

Seasonal paperwhites and holiday greenery, plus a few tossed ornaments set a festive mood without betraying my palette.

Pop an Ornament in the Bowls

I love to add height to my place settings and for breakfast a deep bowl is an excellent option. The substantial green ornaments sit nicely in the bowls, just peeking over the tops.

If you’ll be using the bowls for serving food, rest the ornament on a linen cocktail napkin to keep the bowl clean.

Mix Vintage with New

I enjoy notes of vintage tableware mixed into my displays for an air of authenticity. In addition to the planter, I used antique cutting boards and vintage flatware on this table, but candlesticks, serving pieces and other details can work equally as well.

The net result is a table that is warm and welcoming for guests, festive and special for the occasion, but fresh and updated, as well.

And with a few adjustments to the accessories, mixed and mingled accordingly, it can be a completely new tablescape for the next occasion!