A Coastal Kiwi Christmas Table: Styling for Long Summer Lunches

For most of us, Christmas Day happens in shorts. It might be lunch on the deck, a trestle table under the pōhutukawa, or a long afternoon at the bach with the doors wide open. The food is cold as often as hot, someone always brings a pavlova, and nobody leaves the table before four.

Yet the Christmas styling we see everywhere is still built for snow: heavy reds, tartan and plates of pine cones. It rarely looks right in a bright New Zealand room at one in the afternoon. This is how we would dress a summer Christmas table instead.

Start with greenery, and plenty of it

A summer table wants green, not red. A loose runner of foliage straight down the middle of the table is the most effective thing you can do, and it costs far less than a centrepiece.

Fresh greenery wilts fast on a hot day, especially outdoors. Faux stems will not, which means you can set the table the night before and forget about it. Lay stems of Eucalyptus Spray Bundle end to end down the table, overlapping them so no stem ends show, then tuck shorter pieces of Gum Drop Eucalyptus and Leather Fern around the edges for depth.

Keep the runner low, under about 20cm, so people can see each other across the table. If you want height, use it at the ends, not the centre. A low bowl of Silver Dollar Eucalyptus and white roses at each end of a long table frames it nicely.

Glassware that catches the light

Midday sun is one of the best things about a summer Christmas table, and glassware makes the most of it. Fluted glass throws patterns across a white cloth in a way plain glass does not.

The Amalfi Fluted Wine Glasses suit a long lunch, and the matching Amalfi Water Decanter keeps a jug of iced water on the table all afternoon, which, on a hot day, is the most important thing on it.

Serveware that can go outside

If lunch is on the deck or the lawn, choose serveware that will not mind a knock. White enamel is our favourite for outdoor Christmas: it is light, it looks crisp against green, and it has a relaxed, beach-house feel. The Dishy Enamel Serving Bowl holds a big summer salad, and the White Enamel Shallow Pasta Plates work for everything from prawns to pavlova.

For a coastal touch, a Resin Clam Shell Dish is lovely for lemon wedges, butter or a pile of name cards.

Candles for when the sun goes down

A summer Christmas lunch often turns into dinner without anyone deciding it should. Have candles ready on the table from the start, unlit, so the table looks finished in daylight and glows as the light drops.

Taper candles in sculptural holders give height without blocking the view. The Hera Curved Black Candle Holders come in two heights and look striking against white linen. Scatter tealights in between, in the Zakkia Silver Tealight Holders or the Billy Ceramic Tea Light Holders.

If you are eating outside, keep candles in holders with some depth, or bring them inside once the breeze picks up. And never leave them burning unattended when everyone heads down to the beach.

A tree that suits the season

Not every home has room for a full tree in summer, and at the bach you may not want one at all. The Papier HQ Foldable Paper Christmas Tree in Scandi beige is a light, sculptural alternative that folds flat for next year.

For more ideas from one of Australia's favourite stylists, revisit A Christmas Masterclass with Steve Cordony, and browse our tableware and serveware and faux foliage collections.

In short

A summer Christmas table in New Zealand works best fresh, green and relaxed. Use a low runner of faux eucalyptus and fern down the centre so it will not wilt in the heat, keep it under about 20cm so guests can see each other, and add height only at the ends. Fluted glassware catches midday light, and a water decanter is essential on a hot day. Choose white enamel serveware for eating outdoors, set taper candles and tealights ready for dusk, and consider a foldable paper tree for smaller spaces or the bach.

Related: Fresh Pine: A Scent-Styling Guide to Ecoya’s Holiday Range