21 Christmas Table Decor Ideas for a Small Dining Table

A loose runner of cedar and eucalyptus sprigs, with a few pinecones and votives, is the classic small-table centerpiece. It stays flat and narrow, about 8 to 10 inches wide, so dishes fit on either side.

A 6-foot faux garland costs about $20 to $40 and can double as your mantle garland after dinner.

For Christmas table settings on round tables, lay a small wreath flat in the center and set a pillar candle inside it. It echoes the round shape, stays low and takes up about 12 inches of space.

A 12-inch faux candle ring costs $10 to $25. Place settings go around it like the numbers on a clock.

Taper candles in brass holders are the fastest way to make a table look elegant. On a small table, group three in the center at different heights, with a strip of eucalyptus at their base.

If you use real candles, the NFPA advises keeping them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn and never leaving them unattended. Flameless tapers skip that worry and cost about $15 to $30 a set.

A wide glass bowl filled with ornaments in sage, cream and gold makes an instant centerpiece. Tuck a few pine sprigs between them for texture.

Use shatterproof ornaments ($15 to $30 a set) if kids will be at the table. The bowl comes off in one move when you need the space.

On a small square table, a red and cream checked or plaid tablecloth does most of the decorating. Add a low wooden bowl of clementines with pine sprigs, and you're done.

Plaid tablecloths cost about $20 to $40. For a 36-inch square table, a 52 by 52 inch cloth gives a drop of about 8 inches on each side.

Fold a linen napkin into a rectangle, tie it with thin velvet ribbon and slip a sprig of pine under the bow. It's the easiest elegant touch on the list.

A roll of velvet ribbon costs $6 to $12 and covers a dozen napkins. Cloth napkins run about $15 to $30 for a set of four.

Woven rattan chargers under each plate frame the setting and make simple white dishes look finished. Top the plate with a plaid napkin and a small brass bell.

Rattan chargers cost about $20 to $40 for a set of four. Most are 13 inches across, so check that four fit on your table before buying.

A small kraft card tucked into a pinecone on each plate tells guests where to sit and adds a personal touch. It also saves the awkward shuffle in a tight room.

Kraft place cards cost a few dollars for a pack. Pinecones from a walk are free.

No matching dinner set? Mismatched vintage plates in cream, green and gold look intentional on a Christmas table. Thrift stores often sell single plates for $1 to $4.

Keep one thing the same at every setting, like the napkin or the glass, to tie it together.

A tablecloth that's too long gets caught in laps on a small table. For a casual dinner, aim for a drop of about 6 to 8 inches on each side.

Measure the table and add twice the drop. A 42-inch round with an 8-inch drop needs about a 58- to 60-inch round cloth.

Elegant Christmas table settings often come down to one metal used three times. Brass candlesticks, gold cutlery and a small brass bell on each plate tie the table together.

Gold flatware sets cost about $30 to $60 for four place settings. Brass candlesticks are easy to find secondhand.

Drop-leaf tables are made for small apartments. Fold them narrow against the wall for daily life, then raise the leaves on Christmas to seat four or more.

New drop-leaf tables run about $150 to $400, and they're common secondhand. Folding wooden chairs that hang in a closet the rest of the year finish the setup.

Pushing the table against the wall and using a bench on one side often adds a seat, because benches fit more people than chairs. Run garland and candles along the wall edge, where no one sits.

Dining benches cost about $80 to $200. Add a cushion and a throw to make it comfortable for a long dinner.

A Christmas for two still deserves a table. A 24- to 30-inch bistro table by the window, a tiny potted pine as the centerpiece and one taper candle make it feel like an occasion.

Tabletop rosemary or Norfolk pine plants cost $10 to $25 and keep going after the holidays with good light.

The biggest small-table trick: don't put the food on it. Set up a console, a sideboard or the kitchen counter as a buffet with plates, glasses, napkins and serving dishes.

Now the dining table only holds place settings and a low centerpiece, which means more room for elbows and decor.

On a 36-inch table seating four, skip chargers, bread plates and extra glasses. Each person gets about 24 inches of table edge, and every extra piece eats into that.

One plate, one glass, a napkin and cutlery is plenty. The centerpiece carries the holiday look.

Chairs often run out before table space does. Borrow from a neighbor, or rent folding chairs from a local party rental shop, which often runs a few dollars each.

Wooden folding chairs look warmer than metal. Tie a sprig of greenery or a small ribbon on the back to match the table.

On a round table, a wooden lazy Susan in the center holds the centerpiece and the salt, pepper and butter. Guests spin it instead of passing dishes across a crowded table.

Wooden lazy Susans about 14 to 18 inches across cost $20 to $40.

Round tabletop extenders are large rounds, often 48 to 60 inches, that sit on top of a smaller table and fold or store flat. They turn a 36-inch table into seating for six for one night.

They cost about $100 to $200. Check that your table base is sturdy enough before you add one.

Napkins, ribbon, candle holders, place cards and the runner fit in one lidded bin. Label it, and next year's Christmas table takes 15 minutes to set.

A clear 30-quart bin is about $10 to $20 and slides under most beds.