New Year table decor ideas are the perfect way to transform an ordinary dining setting into a magical space for merriment and celebration.
For Christmas lunch, many of us stick to our traditional Christmas table decor, but New Year's dinner parties can be a wonderful opportunity to get creative and explore a variety of fun styling themes. The first thing to think about with New Year decoration ideas for entertaining is the tone and formality of the event. Decorating can get expensive, so try these budget tablescaping ideas for a glitzy New Year's Eve party that's filled with lavish opulence.
Whether you're planning a big themed party to see in the New Year, a quiet family affair, or are still wondering how to celebrate the New Year at home this year, these New Year table decor ideas are guaranteed to get you inspired.
8 inspiring New Year table decor ideas
When it comes to New Year table decor ideas the options are endless, so it can be daunting to know where to begin. The key is to style the table to match the atmosphere you want to create.
For many new year is a time for reflection, but also to look forward with hope and optimism, and this can be a great source of inspiration for table settings – think rejuvenating green tones, crisp whites, or bright, joyful colors. Metallics are always a good idea when it comes to tablescaping and this couldn't be more true for New Year's hosting.
Alongside a beautifully laid table it's a good idea to style up a sideboard for a home bar, or, alternatively, you could invest in a handy bar cart that can be moved from the dining space into the living room to serve after-dinner treats or drinks.
1. Choose a fresh floral centerpiece
Set your New Year table decor apart from the traditional pine and holly-based Christmas table decor embellished with dried fruit and baubles. Instead opt for a fresher, more delicate arrangement featuring white and frosty green tones along with plenty of feathery flowers and foliage.
Atlas Flowers' Rob Copsey suggests Statice Tatarica, a delicate white flower that he describes as 'brilliantly versatile and can be used in many ways. It looks beautiful in floral arrangements and bouquets.' Its neutrality makes this plant an easy, elegant choice that will pair well with all types of tableware while retaining a wintery feel.'
Rob also suggests using Helichrysum as a colorful centerpiece. He says, 'It's ever so popular and so vibrant.' A top tip is to 'Use either stems for a vase arrangement or heads that can be scattered across a table setting'. The Helichrysum botanical is grown in a variety of colors, but Rob recommends a bold orange or red. This will make a celebratory statement and give your table a much-needed dose of vitality for the big night.
You'll likely have an excess of leftover Christmas decor after the big day, so utilize your festive foliage and use pine, fine, or eucalyptus within your tablescape. Add some new additions (like metallic decor) to create an elevated festive display, appropriate for New Year celebrations. 'Make sure that wreaths, trees, fresh garlands and flowers are still looking reasonably fresh. If not, discard them and replace them with something a little less Christmassy,' suggests Simon Temprell, interior design manager at Neptune.
For this New Year centerpiece floral designer Philippa Craddock has used pine and eucalyptus Christmas foliage as a base, but has added wax flowers and skimma for a fresh feel, along with potted white cyclamen (pictured above). With its delicate blush tones, the skimmia works beautifully with the dusky pink crockery and taper candles.
2. Display an elegant winter bouquet
If you don't have time to make a centerpiece, a winter bouquet in a lovely vase will work just as well, though it may need to be moved to a side table during meal times to prevent it from getting in the way of conversation.
Again, reuse any Christmas foliage you have left over that still looks fresh, and then add in some brighter shades to make it feel less Christmassy and lighter for the New Year.
For a truly celebratory bouquet, incorporate some faux branches sprayed in silver or gold. This will tie in with the New Year theme and bring a color variation, enhancing the overall table.
Delicate and pretty, Silver Dollar will be your best friend when it comes to winter floral arrangements. The best thing is that this spray is faux, making it apt for yearly celebrations.
Rich and decadent, these faux Hydrangea stems are painted in gold and finished with fine glitter. Create the ultimate Christmas and New Year bouquet with this decoration.
Amaranthus is known for its distinct long stems that droop elegantly. Faux and finished in silver, this branch would make a welcome addition to any New Year arrangement or tablescape.
3. Add sparkle with metallics
New Year’s Eve can be slightly more sophisticated than Christmas so subtle changes can help create a scene that is a bit more grown-up suggests Simon Temprell.
'The table should look grown-up and sparkly. This is a time for metallics, and you can mix several if you wish: Gold, silver, and copper mix beautifully. Simple table centerpieces made from tall cylinder vases filled with colored Christmas baubles (one silver, one gold, one copper?) and fill the vase with water so that you can use a floating candle in each one.'
'Dot some succulents amongst your glass cylinders to introduce a natural element. Intersperse gold and silver votive holders for added sparkle. Avoid metallic confetti as it makes the table look messy and it gets everywhere!'
Anna Sheridan, an interior stylist loves the silver look and it couldn't be more appropriate for a New Year's table. 'Stainless steel tableware looks great with anything. I can say this because it’s a sure-fire way to add a surprising and contrasting material to your dinner party table.' A top tip from Anna is to use contemporary shapes to build a show-stopping centerpiece. Or pair it with lace and bold patterned table linen.
4. Spark joy with bold colors
'New Year’s Eve is the occasion to go all out; the evening is all about looking to the future with positivity so why not add plenty of color and drama?' suggests Sam Hood, co-founder and chief creative officer at Amara. 'Use bright flowers interspersed with candlesticks at different heights, and why not add different colored candles too for that extra layer of flamboyant glamor?'
Anna Sheridan is a fan of the stripes trend and suggests incorporating them in your table for a whimsical look. Speaking about striped tablecloths, she says, 'The stripes are here to stay. I love to mix and match colors, widths, and stripe directions. This creates a really playful look.' And the best thing is they can be used all year round, Anna suggests 'anything from a casual lunchtime catch up, to a wedding party.' To make the look even more cohesive, bring in some contrasting napkins too – the bolder the better.
Who doesn't love a whimsical candy stripe pattern? Accented with a scalloped ribbon, this adorable tablecloth is the ultimate year-round table decoration.
Try placing these candles in quirky holders for a fun yet elevated take on a New Year's table.
Side plates are essential when you're hosting. These stoneware plates come in a handy set of 4, perfect to place at your guests' seats.
5. Create a natural Nordic look
If you're not a fan of glitz and glamor why not embrace Scandi decor and go for a calm and chic table? Scandinavian decor is defined by its simplicity and artisanal nature. If you're a lover of the aesthetic, remember to use a neutral color palette and vary textures to liven up the table.
'Combine neutral tones with natural materials; plenty of greenery especially scented stems like eucalyptus and pine to bring this Nordic aesthetic that we all love into your home this New Year,' suggests Sam Hood.
Cover bench seating with sheepskins to bring a relaxed and cozy hygge atmosphere and style up side tables with simple bowls filled with pine cone decorations.
6. Create a magical atmosphere with candlelight
'If there's one thing no New Year's table should be without it's candles say the experts. 'I like to use as many candles across the table in bold colors – think burgundy, cobalt blue, or black, to pack a punch. I also like to layer a mix of taper candles in various heights with swirl, twist, and spiral candles to add to the drama and fun,' says Olivia Alers-Hankey. When the night settles in and the flicker of the candles floods the table with an ambient glow, you’ll be enveloped in a magical setting to ring the new year in!'
'New Year is a very twinkly time falling as it does between Christmas and Epiphany, so keep the festive magic going with lots of cream or white tea lights in clear glass holders clustered at the center of your table,' adds Sarah Davies-Bennion, senior designer at Kate Guinness. 'You can use almost anything for this – your best cut-glass wine glasses, pleasingly-shaped old jam/condiment jars, old scented candle jars… even old pudding pots.'
The secret is a mix of different shapes and sizes and plentifulness. This will give a feeling of abundance and warmth appropriate for New Year but will also be an antidote to the Christmas riot of color.'
These metal taper holders come in a variety of sizes, so why not mix and match for a quirky yet refined New Years table?
Elegant and slender, this glass candlestick is the perfect New Year's centerpiece. Style with a gold candle for a sophisticated yet atmospheric look.
Painted with festive stars, no New Year's table is complete without this pair of beauties.
7. Use potted bulbs for a centerpiece
The time between Christmas and New Year is a busy and valuable time for catching up with friends and family, so it's a good idea to prepare your New Year table decor in advance. A lovely centerpiece idea for New Year's Day, potted bulbs will bring a wonderfully fresh, hopeful feel to a dining table and will remind guests that spring is on the way.
The great thing about using bulbs is they can be potted up in advance and brought into the house a week or so before where the warmth will bring them into flower. Before you start check out our guide on how to force bulbs.
'Flower wise there isn’t a huge amount to choose from so I would go for indoor bulbs such as hyacinths and narcissi, along with colorful glasses and napkins,' says Speronella Marsh founder of Hare’s Tail Printing. Amaryllis would also work well.
8. Style a bar cart or side table
Having a console or side table in the dining room is handy for easing the pressure off the dining table and can be used as a serving station for food or for storing bulky items like large ice buckets for wine and champagne which can get in the way of conversations across the table. Alternatively, if you're wondering how to host a cocktail party, they are a perfect place to create a home bar.
Many of us aren't blessed with the extra space to build a bar, so the bar cart is a handy, mobile alternative. The cart's wheels allow you to easily transport your hosting equipment into any room, with your glasses, serveware, and drinks all stored in one neat place.
While bar carts are handy vessels for New Year's hosting, they are so functional that they can be integrated as permanent pieces in the home for all occasions. Try styling your bar cart with a tablecloth or platter to protect it and set the tone. Then place your favorite champagne flutes or cocktail glasses along with some of your alcohol essentials. To create a New Year-inspired bar cart, decorate your cart with a metallic garland and candles for an opulent feel that ties in with the rest of your decor. Finish with just a few sculptural steams of foraged foliage or try hanging a beautiful sparkly wreath above.
Finished with a gold rim, these fluted coupe glasses are the ultimate party essential. They are deco in style and couldn't be more chic.
This delicate star garland couldn't be more fitting for New Year's decorating. Try draping across your bar cart for a themed, cohesive look.
Embroidered with metallic starbursts, these cocktail napkins make both a practical and pretty choice for New Year's hosting.
What do you put on a New Year's table?
How can I make my New Year's table look beautiful?
Adding a decorative fresh floral centerpiece or a table garland interspersed with candles is an easy way to make a New Year's table look beautiful and is guaranteed to bring a sense of occasion to dinner parties.
'Centerpieces of flowers and foliage add elegance and the feeling of luxury to any table. If you want to make your own table centerpiece, look for spruce and pine, climbing ivy, holly, and a touch of bay for fragrance,' advises Asta Foufas, head of product at Arena Flowers. 'Silvery white senecio from the garden adds gorgeous variety to the texture and color too. Be sure to keep the height low, as you want your guests to be able to see each other over it.'
'For a more sustainable centerpiece, opt for rolled-up chicken wire in your base instead of floral foam – you’ll be able to clean and reuse it. Check your water level every couple of days and top up as needed to stop your stems from drying out,' adds Asta Foufas.
With these interior-designer-approved tips and tricks, New Year's decorating couldn't be easier and more fun. There are a variety of styles, from colorful and vibrant tables to low-key Scandi looks, any of these themes will fulfill all of your hosting desires.
