Tablecloths, runners and napkins by colour
Christmas table colours
The cloth is the largest thing on a Christmas table, so its colour sets the tone for everything put on it. Red and green are the colours most of us grew up with. Navy, burgundy and gold come into their own by candlelight, while ivory and silver keep a table light through a long lunch.
Each colour below runs through several of our designs, and every design comes as a tablecloth, a runner and napkins in the same colours. Choose a printed cloth and pick up one of its colours in plain napkins, or keep the whole table in one print.
The traditional choice
Red Christmas tablecloths
Red came to Christmas with the holly berries and robins of Victorian cards, and it still says Christmas faster than any other colour. On the table it is also the most forgiving: it suits white and cream china, silver or brass, and whatever greenery comes in from the garden.
Our red is a clear, warm red. It is drawn on ivory in the Village Toile and Spruce Stand, makes the ground of Partridge and Pear and Turtle Doves and Mistletoe, and comes as the tartan, ticking and plain red.
Red, deepened
Burgundy Christmas tablecloths
Burgundy is a bridge between the red and the green of a traditional Christmas, and it gets on with both: green napkins, a red runner or a gold candlestick all look at home on it. Because it is darker than red, it carries from Christmas lunch through to a late supper without looking out of place.
Burgundy is the ground of Partridge and Pear, with its golden pears, and of Gilded Ivy and Stars, where it is paired with gold. It also runs through Stag Woodland, the tartan, ticking and plain burgundy.
The evergreen
Green Christmas tablecloths
People brought evergreens indoors in midwinter long before anyone decorated a tree, and green still feels settled on a Christmas table. A deep green cloth is the calmer of the two traditional colours and suits wood, brass and candlelight. Green on ivory is lighter, for a table set in daylight.
Deep green is the ground of Stag Woodland and Turtle Doves and Mistletoe. The Fir Forest Toile, Spruce Stand and Pine Bough are drawn in green on ivory, and green meets gold in Stars and Gilded Ivy.
For after dark
Navy Christmas tablecloths
Navy suits a Christmas table that leans towards dinner rather than party. It is quieter than red, looks well with brass and pewter, and sits comfortably in rooms painted in deep colours, where a red cloth can feel loud. Ivory and gold motifs read particularly clearly on it.
Navy is the ground of the ivory stags in Stag Woodland, the gold stars of Stars, and Mistletoe and Gilded Ivy. The Village Toile comes in ivory on navy, and there is a navy tartan, navy ticking and plain navy.
Warm antique gold
Gold Christmas tablecloths
Gold works in two ways on a Christmas table. As a whole cloth, plain gold glows under candles and warms a simple white table setting. As a detail, gold stars, gilded ivy or a toile drawn in gold on ivory bring some of that glow without taking over the table.
The gold throughout is a warm antique gold. It runs through Stars and Gilded Ivy, the Village Toile and Fir Forest Toile in gold on ivory, Mistletoe, Amaryllis, gold ticking and plain gold.
Cool and light
Silver Christmas tablecloths
Silver grey is for a cooler Christmas table: white flowers, clear glass, pale china and plenty of candlelight. It is softer than white and less formal than gold, and it lets the detail of a print show without the contrast of a dark ground.
The Village Toile and the Fir Forest Toile are drawn in silver grey on ivory, Mistletoe and Amaryllis are printed on a silver grey ground, and there is silver grey ticking and plain silver.
For daylight
Ivory and white Christmas tablecloths
An ivory ground is the most adaptable of all: every napkin colour here sits well on it, so the same cloth can be red and green one year and navy and gold the next. Our ivory is a warm white, softer than a bright white cloth, which keeps it from looking clinical by candlelight.
Most of the drawn designs are printed on ivory, among them the Village Toile, the Fir Forest Toile, Spruce Stand and Pine Bough, as well as Amaryllis on ivory, Stars and Gilded Ivy in ivory and gold, and plain ivory.
Combinations
Putting colours together
Most tables look best with one main colour and one or two others in smaller amounts: in the napkins, the runner or the candles. These are the pairings that suit our designs best.
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Red and green
The classic pairing, and the one the tartan is built on. Let one colour lead and keep the other for the napkins, or the table starts to look like a cracker.
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Navy and gold
Navy with gold stars or gilded ivy, gold or ivory napkins and brass candlesticks, for a table that looks its best late in the evening.
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Burgundy and green
Two deep colours that settle into candlelight together. Partridge and Pear carries both, with blue-green leaves on a burgundy ground.
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Green and gold
Deep green with gold stars or gilded ivy is quieter than red and gold, and suits oak, walnut and brass.
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Ivory and silver
The lightest table: silver grey on ivory with white china and clear glass, and a single colour in the napkins if you want one.
Plain colours
Every colour here is also made in plain cotton, as tablecloths, runners and napkins in red, burgundy, green, navy, gold, silver and ivory. Use them on their own, or to pick up one colour from a printed cloth.
Questions about colour
What is the traditional colour for a Christmas tablecloth?
What colour napkins go with a red tablecloth?
Green, ivory or gold napkins all suit a red cloth. With a printed cloth, choose a colour from the print; plain napkins let the pattern lead.
Is navy a good colour for a Christmas table?
Yes. It is less traditional than red or green, and gold and ivory designs stand out particularly well on it. Look at Stag Woodland, Stars and the Village Toile in ivory on navy.
Do the runners and napkins match the tablecloths exactly?
Yes. Each design’s tablecloth, runner and napkins are printed in exactly the same colours.
Which colour is best for a Christmas lunch in daylight?
Ivory, silver grey and prints on an ivory ground keep a table light in daylight. Navy, burgundy and deep green look their best after dark.
