Louise Roe reveals how to avoid this Christmas table mistake

(Image credit: eBay)

published 24 December 2021

Christmas plans have changed a lot in the space of one week. If you've suddenly been landed with having to set a last-minute Christmas table, interior designer Louise Roe shares the common mistake to avoid.

When it comes to filling your table with traditional Christmas decorations, it is easy to go hard on the festive element. However, Louise Roe warns that this is the last thing you should do.

You might recognise Louise Roe as one of the red carpet presenters from Access Hollywood. However, the presenter is also a talented interior designer indulging her love of interiors via her homeware brand Sharland England.

Speaking exclusively to Real Homes she shared her Christmas table ideas to celebrate the launch of ‘Louise Roe’s Personalised Picks’ on eBay. The presenter turned interior designer has curated three elegant tablescapes for the festive season however, none of them is overtly Christmassy on purpose.

According to Louise Roe, the biggest mistake you can make when dressing your table for the festive season is going OTT on the Christmas part.

'The table doesn’t need to be red and green or all gold for it to be festive,' explains Louise. 'I always plan around the place settings themselves, which I love to personalise to each of my guests.'

Rather than dashing out for some last-minute decorations, using what you have around the home to personalise the setting will have a much stronger (and wallet-friendly) effect.

'I stole a few of my daughter's wooden Nutcracker soldiers to add to each place setting last Christmas!' says Louise.

However, before you get too carried away with curating a stunning table there is one more thing to be aware of - where will the food go. Christmas dinner is about the Turkey and nut roast after all.

'It easy to get carried away and then not have space for any actual food,' adds Louise. However, her top tip is to lay the plates and dishes out first.

'Once you know where your plates are going, you’ll have a better idea of what you have room for and where it will go.'

It might not be the Christmas we all planned, but that doesn't mean we can't make it wonderful.

Rebecca Knight is the News Editor on Real Homes. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She moved into digital journalism and developed an interest in homes and interiors when she joined the Ideal Home website team in 2019. Since then she has written for a range of gardening and interior websites including Town and Country, Homes and Gardens and Living etc. As a flat renter, she is always looking for smart DIY hacks that can be easily removed without annoying her landlord, whilst also helping her save money towards her first home.