Recreating a rustic, authentic and natural atmosphere
After last year’s festive Nutcracker theme, several factors made me want to celebrate the holidays in a more authentic and rustic spirit. Generally speaking, I don’t particularly like choosing a holiday theme – except when it comes to setting the table for Christmas Eve. And so, for my Christmas table this year, I chose the theme of an Old-Fashioned Christmas, undoubtedly influenced by my recent trip to the Périgord. There, I discovered very beautiful landscapes, magnificent old houses, picturesque villages, and Nature tinged with deep, dark hues in a mystical atmosphere (the leaves had not yet fallen in early December), but also, in some places, a flamboyant Nature with rather pronounced orange tones.
A landscape that felt both rich and raw. I also recently spoke with older people who shared their memories of Christmases from another time, those when oranges and chocolates were the cherished gifts. They recalled the scent of the Christmas tree and citrus fruits, the glow of candles lit only briefly on the tree, the crackling fire in the fireplace, and the delicious aromas drifting from the kitchen. A simple Christmas, featuring many natural elements, materials such as wood and pewter… in other words, a warm and cosy atmosphere in deep, dark tones, almost intimate.
I therefore wished to recreate the spirit of an Old-Fashioned Christmas, without frills, while elevating what the surrounding Nature offers us close at hand, and also to introduce a theme slightly inspired by the Shaker style, whose sober way of life within this American community has always intrigued me.
Using light to create a cosy and intimate atmosphere
The interplay of light is a key element of this table setting. I deliberately chose simple white plates in a country style in order to place the emphasis on the table décor. Three main colours emerge: fir green, orange and brown enhanced by the checks found on the napkins and on the ribbons decorating the candlesticks. Nothing could be easier than embellishing the latter by adding a small sprig of rosehip berries, a little thuja branch and, at the base, some moss adorned with small pinecones. As for the napkins, simplicity is also the guiding principle: a small fir branch paired with lightly frosted faux ornamental apples (if you have real ones, by all means use them; I am eagerly awaiting the day my Malus Everest ornamental apple tree grows enough for me to pick a few small apples for my decorations).
The centrepiece is thus punctuated by candles of varying heights, widths and colours. Two main tapers in subtly marbled, bi-coloured tones are placed in transparent green glass candlesticks. They are accompanied by candles in a beautiful deep green, set in older candlesticks decorated with natural elements and a lovely beige-and-brown checked ribbon. Finally, the very centre of the table is occupied by an alignment of smaller candles in warmer, more luminous shades. All around them are arranged small fir branches, dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks tied with rustic two-tone twine.
Surrounding these various candles, I placed a long fir garland composed of pinecones, faux apples, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks (their scent is wonderfully festive), as well as a few decorations with an antique feel: an old watch, a rustic bell… Another garland of small copper bells was casually draped over the top. The accumulation of all these decorative elements (especially the natural ones) creates a sense of opulence without ostentation. The table feels warm; the candles cast a soft light that almost invites confidences, and the scent of fir and orange gives us the impression of being in the forest, holding a cup of hot cider in our hands…
A few small antique pewter vases hold fir branches and rosehip berries, and nothing else seems necessary to complete this setting. I placed two beautiful white hellebores (a nod to the plates) in terracotta pots. They remain perfectly in keeping with the theme and bring a touch of brightness to the overall table.
If you wish to have a little more fun with your holiday décor, you can coordinate your Christmas wreath with your table and hang it indoors on Christmas Day. I made two wreaths for the house gate in mid-December, and you could very well take one down (or make another) to hang it above the fireplace or in place of a painting near your festive table, the idea being to add a complementary decorative element.
If you would also like to add another type of decoration, such as a natural centerpieces in terracotta pots, I explain how to make them in this small tutorial. You’ll only need a few materials, and they will also work beautifully with the theme of this table. And as I recommended last year, try to place your table near your Christmas tree to enjoy the magic of the holidays even more…
I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
