How to Set a Festive Christmas Table with Bordallo Pinheiro

There is something wonderful about getting the Christmas table ready early. The menu can wait, but the plates, the candles and the little decorations that make the table feel like a celebration are worth planning now, while there is time to enjoy choosing them. Our full Christmas collection lands in November, and a few early pieces are already in store and online, including two festive tableware ranges from Bordallo Pinheiro: Christmas Garland and Snowflakes.

Here is how we would style them for a joyful, generous table at home in Singapore.

Start with the charger: the frame for every place

A charger plate is the quickest way to make a table look dressed for an occasion. It frames each place setting, adds a band of colour around the dinner plate and stays on the table from the first course to dessert.

The Bordallo Pinheiro Christmas Garland Charger Plate measures a generous 35.5 cm, so it gives every guest a festive frame. If you prefer a bolder, graphic look, the Snowflakes Red Charger Plate (34 cm) brings a confident band of red to the table.

Styling tip: keep the tablecloth or runner plain, in white or natural linen, so the decoration on the chargers can shine.

Layer your plates for a generous, celebratory look

Layering is what makes a Christmas table feel abundant. Place the dinner plate on the charger, then a smaller plate on top for the first course.

• Snowflakes Red Dinner Plate, 28 cm: a full dinner size for roast turkey, ham or a generous main course.
• Snowflakes Red Fruit Plate, 22 cm: for starters, salads and Christmas cake.
• Christmas Garland Dessert Plate, 22 cm: ideal for panettone, mince pies or the cheese course.

Styling tip: you do not need everything to match. Mixing the Christmas Garland dessert plate with Snowflakes dinner plates, or adding plain white stoneware you already own, gives a relaxed, collected feel that looks very at home.

Make the centre of the table the star

Every festive table needs a focal point. The Christmas Garland Centrepiece is 41.7 cm across, generous enough to hold a pyramid of clementines, a cluster of baubles or a festive dessert. For sharing dishes, the Christmas Garland Salad Bowl (34 cm) is ready for salads, roast potatoes or a mountain of fruit, and it looks just as good on the sideboard through the season.

For individual servings of soup, dessert or nuts, the Snowflakes Red Bowl (15 cm) is a cheerful, practical size.

Add sparkle, greenery and candlelight

Once the plates are set, the details bring the table to life:

• Baubles on the table: scatter a few Shishi gold lined glass baubles along the runner or pile them into the centrepiece. Gold sits beautifully with both the red Snowflakes and the Christmas Garland designs.
• A touch of holly: lay a Shishi rusty metal holly sprig across each napkin as a simple place setting decoration that guests can take home.
• Candlelight: line up slim tapers in clear glass holders such as the Rasteli glass taper holder down the centre of the table. Keep them low enough for guests to see each other across the table.

Our styling tips for a Christmas table in Singapore

• Plan for warm evenings. Choose light linen napkins and keep the table uncluttered so it feels fresh, even when the room is full.
• Set the table the day before. Lay out chargers, plates and candles in advance, then add fresh greenery and fruit on the day.
• Think beyond Christmas Day. Chargers and serving pieces work for Christmas Eve, Boxing Day brunch and New Year's Eve, so they earn their place all season.
• Give a piece as a gift. A single dessert plate or bowl, wrapped with a ribbon, makes a thoughtful hostess present.

Explore the early festive pieces in our Christmas collection and the full range of plates and bowls in Dinnerware. Everything is available online with delivery across Singapore, or come and see the pieces in person at House of AnLi, #02-139/141, Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, open daily 9am to 9pm. Questions? Call us on +65 6235 3851 or email info@houseofanli.com.