Creating Magic At The Table...
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
IMAGES: MARCEL AUCAR
Believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. It's almost as if, as soon as November flips over, I feel the sparkle switch on. It’s that fast and furious time of year when our homes start to hum with excitement, the calendar fills with catch-ups, and the dining table becomes the heart of it all.
This year, I’ve gone completely all in on a Red Christmas. Think bold, think playful, think modern-meets-nostalgic. And yes, everything is from my brand-new Chyka Home for Harris Scarfe collection. I love designing for Christmas, and this year was no different - I’ve genuinely had the best time putting this range together because when pulled all together, it lets you style a beautiful, affordable, and totally creative Christmas table without any fuss.
Now, you know I love a theme and a table that tells a story; this year’s is unapologetically festive. My candy cane plates bring instant whimsy, the striped cutlery gives that cheeky pop, and the flocked velvet trees… oh, they are everything! Perfect to style your table, your entrance, your counter…everywhere! Soft, luxe, sculptural, and ideal for creating little forest moments along the table. Mix in the glittery red trees in different shapes, sprinkle a few velvet bows around the place, and suddenly you’ve created a table that feels like a modern North Pole dinner party.
And the best bit? You don’t need to overhaul your whole home to make it magical. My Chyka Home HS range is designed to blend beautifully with what you already have. A white dinner plate, a simple glass, a favourite tablecloth…you’d be surprised how seamlessly these new pieces weave themselves into your existing collection.
Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful. Truly. I’ve always believed in building a collection slowly. A collection should be filled with pieces you love, pieces you’ve been handed down, pieces that last, pieces you bring out every year with a bit of flutter of excitement. Pick up a couple of new things each season- maybe it’s the candy cane plates this year, perhaps the velvet trees next year, and let your collection grow organically. Everything in this Harris Scarfe range has been designed to mix, match, and evolve with you. And don’t overlook what’s already in your cupboards! A red ribbon wrapped around a napkin, a scattering of cranberries, vintage glassware from your grandmother... these little touches add soul! That’s what makes Christmas personal.
CREATIVE THEMES TO STEAL!
🎄 Candy Cane Carnival
Red and white everything, with stripes stealing the show. Layer your candy cane plates, striped cutlery, and all those delicious red trees for a table that feels playful, graphic and a little bit nostalgic.
🎄 Red Velvet Wonderland
Make it lush. Velvet bows, flocked velvet trees, deep red napkins, and shimmering accents. Add candles at different heights and watch the whole thing glow.
🎄 Modern Santa Chic
Think bold red pieces paired with sleek black or crisp white. Use your glitter trees as sculptural centrepieces and add a twist with geometric napkin folds or matte black plates you already own.
🎄 Retro Red Revival
Mix your new HS products with vintage finds - op-shop glassware, mismatched plates, old-school paper decorations. It’s charming, warm and makes the whole table feel like a joyful memory.
Christmas, for me, isn’t really all about the table; it’s about the people around it. It’s about the laughs that spill over, the recipes that get made every year, the kids sneaking sweets and the adults topping up their drink one more time, when they think no one’s watching. It’s the love we gather. So, as you start your festive decorating, styling, and dreaming up your theme, choose things that make you smile. Things that feel like you. That’s the real magic.
