101 Christmas Decorating Ideas (and Style Tips) for Tables, Sideboards, Mantles & More

I’m so excited to share some stylish Christmas decorating ideas for tables, sideboards and mantles with you today. Because let’s face it, you have to think well beyond the Christmas tree when decorating your home for the silly season. You gotta deck the entire house out! 

These festive ideas are all from your (and my) fave retailers. I’ve got goodies from Lorraine Lea, BIG W, Target, Kmart, Adairs, Provincial Home Living, Bed Bath N Table and more.

The mood boards below contain 101 items that sadly may no longer be in stock from the suppliers just mentioned, but it gives you a colour palette and vibe to work from if you’re trying to piece together a Christmas theme for your place. I hope you enjoy the inspiration.

PS the delicious Christmas photo above comes courtesy of Pottery Barn.

Luxe Christmas Decorating Ideas

I thought it best I kick off the list of Christmas decorating ideas with the most luxurious look of all. Who doesn’t love a pop of gold against a crisp white backdrop?

There’s loads of ideas in the mood board above; some for dining tables, some for consoles, and even things you can eat and drink from. 

The key to getting this look right is to not mix too many metallics together. It really is a celebration of gold/brass. You can mix in white, cream, oak, and even soft grey. But try not to bring in silver or copper or nickel. This look is unapologetically luxe.

Christmas Decorating Tip for Dining Tables

A lot of stuff you’d traditionally put on a tree or somewhere else in the home can work wonders on a dining table.

For example, all of the wreaths in this festive roundup could be taken off the front door and popped in the middle of your dining table instead (or you could buy two and keep one on the door!).

You could then pop a tall battery-operated LED Christmas tree in the middle of the wreath (there’s a gorgeous one above) to create a focal point in the centre of the table. 

Scattering Christmas crackers and baubles down the centre of your table is another really effective way to make it feel festive.

Traditional Christmas Decorating Ideas

The Christmas decorating theme I had in my home when I first moved out of Mum and Dad’s place all those years ago was a traditional one.

My festive look has evolved over time, but I have to admit that I always find something quite emotive and reminiscent about the classic red-green-white colour palette.

It’s also the palette I grew up with, and it really does scream ‘Christmas’. It brings back loads of good memories for me. And hopefully for you too!

Keep the palette red, green and white and that’s really all there is to it. A little black or grey can work its way into the mix if you need, but this look shines when it keeps itself classic.

Christmas Decorating Tip for Sideboards

A buffet or sideboard that’s near your dining table should really display a consistent theme. But the beauty of the sideboard is that you can display larger, taller decorative moments that are just too intrusive on a dining table top.

It’s always good to have one large moment in the middle of the buffet (the green LED trees above are a nice idea), and then stage one smaller moment on each side of the middle arrangement.

Just make sure you leave some vacant space on the top of the buffet to serve food from if you intend to use it in this way.

Scandi Christmas Decorating Ideas

Ah, my fave Christmas decorating theme of all is here: the Scandi theme. There’s something so charming about this look, don’t you think?

I got on board with this one the last few years and am loving it. I like the inclusion of timber because it’s a traditional element you can add in over time.

For example, we holidayed in Europe in 2019 and brought back some darling little timber ornaments from a shop in Prague. I love a tree with memories, don’t you?

Christmas Decorating Tip for Neutral Palettes

I know this Scandi theme isn’t for everyone. A lot of people find that the neutrals don’t feel festive enough. I guess I can see where they’re coming from, but can I add that you can pop colour into this look to channel the Scandi vibe, but make it a tad brighter?

Red would be a good addition to this scheme. In fact, I’ve styled a lovely Scandi Christmas theme with red in it here if you want to take a look. It’s the best of both worlds I reckon.

Blue & Silver Christmas Decorating Ideas

Lots of table-friendly finds in this one, but of course you can go well beyond that and onto mantles and sideboards too.

Now this colour palette might remind you of the movie Frozen (is the song stuck in your head now?) but can I just say I was rocking it well before the film came out.

I moved onto this theme after the traditional one and before my most-recent switch to Scandi, and I can attest to how glorious it can look across the home.

Christmas Decorating Tip for Console Tables

Never underestimate the power of a cluster of baubles. People get stuck in the idea that baubles are just for Christmas trees but they’re for so much more.

On a console table for example, you could fill a glass dome with a collection of baubles and have it sit proudly to welcome guests in your entryway. A simple glass bowl/vase/vessel would work just as well.

I like to think this gives visitors a hint of what’s to come in your home once they walk through and hit your living room where the tree it.

Feminine Christmas Decorating Ideas

If you love these feminine Christmas decorating ideas for tables, sideboards and more, they’re just a click away from snapping them all up. This is a glorious look full of charm and whimsy.

I’ve called it feminine but honestly let’s not get caught up on labels. I reckon any and all genders can and should rock this one. It feels elegant and playful at the same time, so dive right in and make the most of it.

Christmas Decorating Tip for Coffee Tables

I don’t suggest you move every single thing off your coffee table and make it a festive moment (well, you can, but I know some people find that a bit much). What you can do instead is keep all your existing pieces on except one, like an ornament on top of a stack of books.

If you just replace that one ornament with a festive decoration it can be enough to make the setting feel festively connected to your tree. You could also wrap a stack of coffee table books in ribbon. Just saying 😉

Australiana Christmas Decorating Ideas

There are so many gorgeous goodies in this mood board and they feel so rustic yet refined. I love that this aesthetic is gaining momentum locally. I put it down to the recent (and very popular) Australiana interior design trend. It’s a glorious look, and the Christmas version of it is just as divine.

If you have a rustic or Scandi vibe at your place at the moment, you’d only need a few of the products above to make it an Aussie Chrissy theme.

Christmas Decorating Tip to Save Money

Christmas is expensive, I get it. That’s why I don’t recommend you run out and buy an entire dinner set of Christmas themed plates, cups, tablecloths, runners, glassware (the list goes on!).

Honestly, use your existing dinnerware but elevate it in a small way. For example, with place settings at the dinner table, you could wrap your existing cutlery with twine or ribbon, and adorn it with a mini bauble. It’s cheap but it’s effective!

Over to you, Gang!

I hope you found these Christmas decorating ideas for tables, consoles and mantles helpful. Now it’s over to you. I’d love to know what theme above is your fave, and which one you’re rocking at your place this year.

Also, feel free to share any nifty Christmas decorating hacks you do at home to make the scenes in your space feel festively elevated.