Every December, as Geneva begins to glow under soft winter light, I find myself drawn to the quiet ritual of dressing the Christmas table. It is a moment of pause. A gentle interruption in a season that often moves too quickly, and most importantly, an opportunity to create a space where memories are made.

For me, table styling has never been a purely decorative exercise, it is an emotional one. A way of honouring the people who gather around it, as well as the stories carried in the objects we choose to display.

Every Christmas and Easter, a few cherished pieces always return to my table: my grandmother’s silver cutlery and her fine porcelain. She collected them slowly, lovingly, carrying them across continents and homes. When I inherited them, I continued that tradition, packing them carefully, taking them with me from one country to the next. Setting them out at Christmas feels like welcoming generations of memories to join us for dinner. A reminder that a festive table is not just a composition of objects, it is a reflection of tradition and legacy.

This deep emotional grounding is what guides everything that comes next. Before I place a candle, unfold a napkin, or choose a single flower stem, I begin with a concept.

What emotion should the table carry this year?
What story should unfold as guests sit down?
Should the atmosphere feel classical and symmetrical… or spontaneous, playful, and unexpected?

Your Christmas tablescape sets the tone for the entire evening. Its aesthetic matters, but its intention matters even more. Here’s a preview of how my table is going to look this year…

My Concept for Christmas This Year

This year, the concept for my table is The Enchanted Forest. I wanted our Christmas Eve table to feel light, joyful, and quietly whimsical, a gentle balance of elegance and spontaneity. I leaned into objects that bring movement and personality:

  • Layered glassware

  • Flowers sourced partly from my garden and partly from a favourite Geneva florist

  • Candle holders in mixed heights and shapes

  • Small handcrafted accents with sentimental meaning

I approached the table almost like it’s my canvas: layering tones, playing with negative space, and composing objects so the result feels effortless, but deeply considered.

To keep the overall mood fresh, I moved away from the classic festive palette of red, green, and gold. Instead, I chose mint green, soft pastels, and delicate complementary tones. Controversial? Maybe, but for me, I chose colours that feel airy, modern, and still festive. A palette that still evokes celebration, but with a more refined, contemporary twist.

A Beautiful Discovery: The Art of Tinina

This year, I also fell in love with the concept behind Tinina by Adeline du Chastel. Her 100% natural rapeseed wax powder allows you to transform almost any vessel be it a bowl, a cocktail glass, even a child’s ceramic creation, into a candle or photophore.

With just a handful of wax and a wick, you can create something utterly personal.

I used this idea to turn several of my cocktail glasses into soft glowing photophores, and I repurposed a few of my daughter’s playful ceramic pieces as decorative accents. It’s a beautiful, sustainable way to add warmth and create a table that feels genuinely unique.