9 best Christmas tablecloths that add the finishing festive touches

In a rich caramel with bright gold accents, this is a tablecloth that bucks the trend on Christmas colours yet it is as festive as they come. It’s made from a durable but supple pre-washed cotton and is available in four sizes to suit your table’s dimensions – including a square for smaller set-ups. This one washes well at 40C, keeping both its shape and sparkle. Team it with gold cutlery on the big day to bring out the gilded stars.

Featuring bells and reindeer, holly and snowflakes, this Christmas tablecloth is jam-packed with festive cheer. It’s made from 100 per cent polyester and boasts wrinkle, water, and stain-resistant properties – although it’ll forgive the odd splash of red wine, thanks to its busy pattern. The tablecloth comes in three rectangular sizes – up to an impressive 240cm in length for larger family gatherings. Wash at 30C to keep the print at its brightest.

We loved this quirky table linen for its mix of understated elegance and its fun, textural design. It’s made from a cotton-polyester mix, striking a good balance between hard-wearing and supple. The silver sparkly pom poms give the tablecloth a craft-driven finish while creating a neat edge – and drape. Worth noting is that the Christmas table is always overloaded – and so some eye candy around the sides will go a long way. Machine washable at 30C, this one’s available in regular, large, and extra-large.

This striking tablecloth is made from a cotton-linen blend, which explains its lovely, fine woven texture. The mix of materials also ensures it sits and drapes beautifully at the Christmas table. Designed by Elisabeth Dunker, the block print pattern is inspired by a  Scandinavian forest, while its black on white colourway offers a cool, contemporary look. This one can be machine washed at 40C to keep its crisp background snowy white. And it comes in a larger size, too, allowing guests to spread out in style. 

Bringing a slice of homely retro charm to the Christmas lunch is this heavily patterned tablecloth from H&M. The material is organic cotton canvas, awarding it hard-wearing and durable properties. We loved the painterly berries and leaves on its rich cream background: in red and green, it’s Christmassy, but not just for Christmas Day. Really impressive, though, is the length. At 320cm it would do a large festive feast at a long, extended dining table. It’s also available, unusually, in round.  

With its three-figure price tag, this is a special day tablecloth – but days don’t get much more special than 25 December. Available in two sizes, the ivory cloth is made from a top notch Italian linen, which works best when left in its naturally crumpled form. Wash it at up to 60C and leave it to dry naturally for the full effect. Hand block printed in rich gold using pear wood stamps, it has an imperfect, artisanal quality, which we loved. We also loved that the design focuses the detail around the edges of the cloth, as well as down the centre – like an integrated table runner.

This is another everyday tablecloth that hints at the festive season without being full-on Christmassy, thanks to its metallic accents. It’s made from 100 per cent cotton and boasts a high quality finish, both in the print and the intricate hemstitching. We loved its contrast between the bright gold floral motifs and the earthy muted maroon background. The tablecloth comes in two shapes, choose rectangular or round. We found that this one works whether dressed up with gilded plates and cutlery or down with artisanal earthenware. Machine wash up to 40C.

If you’re after a disposable Christmas tablecloth for the big day, John Lewis & Partners’ offering, unlike most, is a tasteful one. Featuring bright gold and nature-inspired wintry motifs on a crisp white background, this affordable option will bring all the Christmas sparkle to the table without breaking the bank. And of course, made from a thick and durable paper, there’s no need to worry about spills and stains – we will, however, be recycling ours. It’s on the shorter side, so it’s suited to smaller family set-ups or kids’ tables.

This simple but sparkly Christmas tablecloth promises to bring unapologetic glitz to the Christmas lunch. It’s made from 93 per cent cotton with a metallic silver thread running through it and in charcoal, it acts as a perfect background upon which to load up the table with our finest white china and gleaming cutlery pieces. Available in three sizes but not surpassing £20, this one’s all about affordable luxury.