When you think of celebrity Christmas dinners, you might imagine professionally curated tablescapes, designer cutlery, and an elaborate, five-course roast dinner.
You may not, however, picture novelty Santa napkins, snowflake placemats or Fearne Cotton meticulously assembling the individual components of a festive feast.
So, we asked two design experts to forensically analyse the most famous Christmas feasts of the season – including centrepieces, cutlery, and crackers – and deliver their verdicts on who had the best tables overall.
Some celebrities like Lizzie Cundy and Geordie Shore alum Sophie Kasaei stuck to the traditional red and green theme – but with very different results.
Others like Amanda Holden and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen were more maximalist in their approach, whereas the most noticeable feature of Stacey Dooley’s pared-back table was a large bowl of clementines.
Food was clearly the focus for Chloe Sims, who gave her followers a sneak-peek at what looked like a mouthwatering Christmas dinner – complete with all the trimmings and extra gravy.
While not all tables passed the test, one was declared a ‘showstopper’ by Ryan Wenham, founder of Liverpool-based Larsen Architecture.
Together with Jordana Ashkenazi, the Founder and Design Director of Element One House, they reviewed all the celebrity Christmas feasts to decide what’s classy – and what’s undeniably tacky.
Lydia Bright
Former TOWIE star Lydia Bright went the extra mile by adding personalised place mats
Lydia Bright’s two-tone green and gold colour scheme tied everything together as the former TOWIE star showed off a table that was aesthetically pleasing – while still leaving enough room for the food.
Ryan: Now this is a designer’s Christmas table – rich greens, gold accents and layers of detail that all tie together, with that glowing tree in the background finishing the picture. It’s extravagant, coordinated and completely photo-ready; I’d happily pull up a chair here every year.
Verdict: Showstopper
Perrie Edwards
Little Mix star Perrie Edwards opted for a classic table setting, with ruby red accessories and a pop of colour from the yellow plates
Perrie Edwards also gave her Instagram followers a closer look at the Christmas meal served at her home – including a prawn cocktail starter as well as a traditional festive feast
Perrie Edwards opted for an understated beige tablecloth that allowed the ruby red accessories – including the table runner and crackers – to shine. The pop of yellow on the plates brightened up the tablescape without overwhelming it.
Ryan: Now this is what I’m talking about – a plate absolutely loaded with all the good stuff, smothered in gravy and backed up by a full dish of apple sauce right in front of you. The little festive plate and that vintage-style gravy boat make it feel nostalgic and cosy; you can almost hear the family chatter in the background.
Verdict: Pure Christmas joy
Sophie shared a picture of her Christmas dinner menu
The reality TV star also shared photos of her family and friends gathered around a cheerfully decorated table
A closer look at the Christmas meal that Ryan said looked absolutely delicious
Sophie Kasaei’s intimate celebrations with friends and family included a large meal – with everything from Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes to cauliflower cheese and turkey.
Jordana: It looks like they’ve got a lot of family around, so there’s clearly an informal, possibly makeshift table in the mix. But for the effort and the number of people they’re hosting, it’s a really lovely setup. The table feels warm, festive and welcoming, and I love the personal touch of having a Christmas Day menu on the table. That detail shows real thought has gone into it and makes it feel considered and special.
Ryan: A plate absolutely packed with all the trimmings and a very generous pour of gravy (we love that!). The flashes of red, green and gold in the background keep it feeling properly festive, and you can tell the priority here is enjoying the food, not fussing over perfect plating.
Verdict: Warm/Comforting
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence’s table had a centrepiece meticulously assembled from red berries, poinsettias, and lilies, as well as miniature Christmas trees.
TV designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen assembled a table that fits perfectly with his maximalist sensibilities. In a moody video posted on his Instagram page, the Changing Rooms star can be seen lighting the red, green, and gold candles on a table laden with mince pieces. The centrepiece, comprising festive red berries, poinsettias and lilies, as well as miniature Christmas trees, screams ‘more is more, darlings’.
Jordana: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s Christmas table is exactly what you’d expect, dramatic, indulgent and unapologetically theatrical. Rich reds, bold black-and-cream stripes and towering candles create a lavish, old-school festive scene that feels more like a curated set than a casual family gathering.
It’s meticulously styled and undeniably striking, though there’s a sense that every napkin and champagne pour has been placed with the camera firmly in mind, leaving little room for the relaxed chaos that usually makes Christmas feel warm and personal.
Verdict: Opulent
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden opted for a black-and-gold theme for her Yuletide feast this year
TV personality Amanda Holden turned her Christmas table into a golden spectacle – complete with a glitter swan ornament that towered over the centrepiece. Instead of typically red or green crackers, she opted for black festive decorations and brought out the big baubles for her Yuletide feast.
Jordana: Amanda Holden’s Christmas table skips traditional reds and greens in favour of a sleek, gold-heavy palette – a modern, high-glam take on festive hosting. There’s no denying the effort here: from the layered place settings to the dramatic overhead baubles, it’s carefully styled and visually striking. That said, the sheer amount of gold can feel overwhelming, tipping the table from chic into excess. It’s impressive rather than cosy, and more about impact than intimacy
Verdict: Overwhelming
Ruth Langsford
British broadcaster Ruth Langsford picked traditional and classic design elements for her table
Mistletoe napkins, red accents, and a runner that can only be used once a year, Ruth Langsford put down everything you’d imagine on a Christmas table – but was it enough?
Jordana: Ruth Langsford’s Christmas table sticks closely to the festive rulebook, with a bold red runner, matching crackers and neatly folded napkins doing most of the heavy lifting. It’s tidy, traditional and unmistakably Christmassy, but also a little predictable – the kind of table you could recreate straight from a high-street seasonal aisle. There’s nothing wrong with it, but there’s nothing particularly surprising either, feeling more practical than inspired.
Ryan: This is classic Christmas done properly – crisp white cloth, red runner, fizz on ice and lots of small, well-considered details like the napkin rings and crackers. It feels like a real family table that’s had some thought put into it.
Verdict: Predictable/Classic
Lizzie Cundy’s table included Santa Claus napkins and snowflake placemats
She also shared a closer look at the chocolate-covered pudding that was served during the meal
Lizzie Cundy’s snowflake placemats and Santa Claus napkins certainly fit the brief as the TV personality opted for whimsical accents this festive season.
Jordana: Lizzie Cundy’s Christmas table has festive intentions, but very little pulling it together beyond a heavy reliance on the colour red. There are clear nods to Christmas – crackers, candles and seasonal motifs – yet the mix of glassware, placemats and centrepieces makes the table feel busy rather than cohesive. It’s lively and well-meaning, but visually cluttered, with no clear focal point to give it polish.
Verdict: Chaotic
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton’s Christmas table was big on food – but lacked thoughtful, festive decor elements
Fearne Cotton’s Christmas spread was impressive – especially considering it was her first time cooking the festive feast by herself. However, her table divided our judges – Jordana felt it wasn’t nearly festive enough, while Ryan gave the TV star extra marks for what looked like a sumptuous meal.
Jordana: Fearne Cotton’s Christmas table barely registers as festive at all. The plates don’t match, the serving dishes clash, and there’s little sense of colour, theme or occasion. It looks more like a hurried Sunday roast than Christmas Day. Aside from the crackers dotted along the table, there’s almost nothing to signal it’s meant to be festive, with no decorations, no centrepiece and no real attempt at seasonal styling. It may be relaxed, but it’s also strangely joyless for the biggest meal of the year.
Ryan: A brilliant first solo Christmas roast – the plates are heaving, and nobody’s going hungry. The table is a little bare, but now that the food’s sorted, next year a bit more gravy, some tinsel and a couple of extra candles will turn this into a properly festive treat.
Verdict: Drab/Feel-Good
Stacey Dooley photographed her partner Kevin Clifton in a sweet moment with their daughter Minnie on Christmas
Stacey Dooley’s table didn’t feature crackers or a centrepiece, barring a couple of candles and a bowl of clementines, this year. However, the TV presenter’s post was praised as the photo captured her partner Kevin Clifton giving their daughter Minnie a heartfelt hug.
Ryan: A calm, grown-up Christmas table, simple plates, one candle and a bowl of clementines instead of piles of novelty clutter. Stylish and elegant but warmed with sweet family moment in the background. If you wanted to dial up the festive feel, a few baubles or some fresh pine branches on the table would do it without losing the elegance.
Verdict: Understated chic
Chloe only shared brief snippets from the festivities at her home
Former TOWIE star Chloe Sims shared snippets from her family’s Christmas celebration on Instagram – including a video of their meal comprising pigs in a blanket, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing and turkey.
Ryan: I literally want to put my face in this. Everything looks delicious. A little shimmer of Christmas detailing on the table, but regardless of the tablescape this dinner steals the show! Yum!
Verdict: Festive feast
