DIY Glam Christmas Tablescape in Plum and Gold
Gold chargers topped with plum lace circles, a single ornament at every seat and a glittering garland running down the middle of the table: this tablescape swaps the usual red and green for plum and gold, and it still feels completely festive.
The secret is mixing a few handmade pieces with store-bought ones, then sticking to one color scheme so everything looks like it belongs together.
Supplies
- Gold charger plates, one per guest
- Plum or purple card stock
- A cutting machine such as a Cricut, with a lace circle design
- Gold, plum and glittery ornaments, plus extras for the garland
- Metallic vellum for the place card flags
- Metallic poster board, which has a different color on each side
- A pre-lit Christmas garland
- Mini purple poinsettia picks
- Fishing line
- Glue, scissors and a pen for names
How to make it
- Cut the lace circles. Cut large lace circles from plum card stock, sized to fill the center of each charger. Pick out the tiny leftover pieces from the lace pattern with a weeding tool or a pin. It is fiddly but easy, so it is a good job for a child who wants to help.
- Set each place. Put a gold charger down, lay a lace circle on top, then rest one ornament in the center. The ornament works as a gift and a place card at once.
- Add a name flag. Cut a small flag from metallic vellum, write a guest’s name on it and attach it to the ornament. Cut a simple pennant or swallowtail shape.
- Build the centerpiece. Fold the lighted garland in half along its length and lay it down the table. Doubling it makes it look fuller and heavier. Check that the cord reaches an outlet before you decorate it.
- Decorate the garland. Tuck in ornaments, tucking some deeper and leaving others on top. Add the purple poinsettia picks in clusters.
- Cut extra ornaments. Use the cutting machine to cut ornament shapes from metallic poster board and nestle them among the real ones. Because the board is colored on both sides, the pieces look good from any angle.
- Hang a few overhead. Tie some ornaments to a chandelier with fishing line. The line almost disappears, so the ornaments look as if they are floating over the table.
Why the mix works
Each material does a different job. The ornaments add sparkle and the poinsettias add a soft, velvety texture. The metallic poster board and vellum bring flat shine, and the lace gives the charger plates some detail. Because every piece stays within gold and plum, the table looks styled rather than busy.
Variations
- Swap plum for deep teal, navy or blush pink and keep the gold. Choose poinsettia picks and card stock in the new color.
- No cutting machine? Use paper doilies on the chargers and cut the ornament shapes and flags by hand with a template.
- For a smaller table, use a shorter garland and skip the folding, or run it in a loose curve.
- If you are not hosting a dinner, hang the extra ornaments from a doorway or a window frame the same way.
Tips
Dry-fit everything before you glue. Place the garland and ornaments first, step back, then fill any gaps. Keep ornaments away from the table edge so guests do not knock them off. If you use real candles, keep them well away from the garland and paper pieces.
