Christmas Hosting, Decorating & Dinner Party Ideas

Elevate Your Festive Hosting

When it comes to Christmas hosting, more is always more. It’s all about mixing classic festive traditions with your own personal style to create that warm, magical atmosphere where guests leave with that unmistakable Christmas-induced glow.

Tablescaping is one of the easiest ways to elevate your hosting and dining experience. It evokes special memories, good food and - of course - an iconic design moment. Start with layering. Foliage and botanicals make a statement centrepiece, adding texture and instantly embracing the season. Then accessorise. Add colours that compliment your setup - burgundies, bows, stripes and gold are timeless yet trendy, giving you that classic Christmas palette with a modern twist.

Next up: ambience. Think pine or winter-spiced candles, cranberry and clementine scents, and statement candlesticks in maximalist holders. You want that warm glow to completely illuminate the room. And of course, mood-setting is essential - add greenery, twinkling lights and pops of sparkle. Honestly, just put fairy lights everywhere.

Decorating the Staircase & Entryway

A massively overlooked element of festive hosting is the staircase or entryway - it's the first thing your guests see, so it's your chance to set the tone. Paper decorations are huge right now (thank you TikTok), especially paper chains. There’s a real return to a handmade Christmas. And of course, you can never go wrong with a statement garland. Add string lights, ribbon or even confetti for maximum magical impact.

The Bar Cart Glow-Up

A bar cart or cocktail area is a must-have all year round, but especially during the festive season. Christmas cocktails add a fun, festive element to any party and are surprisingly easy to make using ingredients and tableware you probably already own. Stock up on bottles of bubbles, add paper decorations, fairy lights and anything that gives off fun, sparkly vibes.

Spruce up your bar cart with seasonal foliage - think wreaths of holly, eucalyptus and winter berries. Add tinsel or a classic garland and you’ve instantly mastered fireplace-worthy decorating without stress.

Christmas Party Theme Ideas

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start with hosting, tablescapes and decor, so here are a few party themes to inspire your setup - and take the hard work out of planning.

Ski / Chalet

Baby blues and winter whites are your starting point for Christmas chalet vibes. Add sparkly snowflake bunting, red baubles and plenty of white and green foliage to bring the whimsy of the slopes home. And of course, serve a snowball cocktail, it’s non-negotiable. Light a pine-scented candle and get the fire blazing for that instantly cosy, French Alps feel.

Christmas Cabin

Christmas Cabin is your most traditional hosting theme. Stick to deep burgundies and contrasting forest greens, with touches of gold for a sprinkle of magic. This trend is all about cosy textures - pillar candles of various sizes, warm wood tones, gingham tablecloths and even elements of faux fur for that classic cabin look. It’s rustic, warm and timeless.

The Maximalist Edit

Hosting is the perfect opportunity for maximalists to shine - especially at Christmas. Think novelty decorations, striped candle holders, ‘gimmick decor,’ paper chains, bunting and anything red, pink, green or gold. A maximalist Christmas is never complete without bows, ribbon, paper or velvet, because they instantly add a chic, playful twist.

If you love a 90s tacky Christmas, this trend is your moment. It’s all about tinsel, nostalgia and mix-and-match magic. If it sparks joy, taps into your inner child or is so bright you don’t know where to look - you absolutely need it.

Feeling Inspired 

Take a look at our personality-led art gift guide to help you choose thoughtful, timeless artwork for every style – from cosy homebodies to bold trendsetters, all framed and ready to gift.