Looking for christmas luncheon ideas that bring the food and table together? Think little sandwiches, red ribbon bows and savory bites arranged like a wreath.
There’s plenty to choose from here, whether you’re setting a few places or planning a help-yourself spread.
You can keep things simple or go all out. Pick a table detail you love, then build your menu around the way you want to serve lunch.
I especially love the festive little touches that don’t need a whole room makeover.
Festive food and table ideas for your Christmas lunch
burgundy bows and red roses
We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous red-and-cream table. I love the long burgundy bows on the napkins and the red roses tucked into greenery.
Try tying matching ribbons around your folded napkins for the same look. If you’re adding candles, keep the bows and greenery well away from the flames.
a tiered sandwich stand
How cute is this lunch spread? The stand holds little round sandwiches, triangles and green pinwheels, with filled pastry shells on top.
Those pink floral plates are so pretty beside the turquoise teapot.
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Mix a few sandwich shapes on your own stand instead of making every piece look the same.
greenery and pillar candles
Don’t want to go overboard with the table decor? No problem!
This gold-colored bowl holds cascading greenery around three ivory pillar candles.
Choose flameless candles for your version so you can keep that tucked-in arrangement without an open flame near the branches.
a platter of mini croissants
If you’re looking for a sandwich idea that feels a little dressier, go with mini croissants. These are piled onto an ornate silver-colored tray with a little mound of greens in the middle.
Choose your favorite sandwich filling for your own platter. I’d keep the serving tray as the main decoration here.
red napkins and gold plates
This is such a pretty way to set a long table. The red napkins stand up in the glasses, with a matching runner stretching between the gold-colored plates.
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Try a few small flower arrangements along the middle rather than one large bouquet. Leave gaps for the serving pieces, just like this setup.
brie and cranberry bites
These little brie and cranberry bites look so festive! The golden pastry squares have pale centers topped with deep red cranberry.
Save this idea if you want a small savory bite alongside your sandwiches. I’d serve them on a plain white platter so those pretty red centers stay in view.
a playful elf place marker
How funny is this little elf? A photo face sits above a green elf outfit with striped stockings, all perched over a clear ornament.
For a playful seating idea, use a photo of each guest on your own elf cutouts. Keep the rest of the place setting simple so the little characters get their moment.
nutcrackers on the buffet
If you are looking for an all-out Christmas buffet, then this one is for you. There’s so much to choose from, including sliders, little sandwiches and a tree-shaped vegetable arrangement.
I love the nutcrackers standing between the platters. Try raised serving stands for a few dishes to follow this setup, keeping the food within easy reach.
a hot chocolate station
Who doesn’t love choosing their own toppings? This hot chocolate station has labeled jars of marshmallows, chocolate chips and peppermint candies, plus candy canes at the side.
Set your cups beside the toppings and give each jar its own scoop. The little handwritten-style labels are worth borrowing too.
a cheese board with a little tree
This may just be my favorite detail on a holiday cheese board. The white cheese wheel has a tree-shaped opening filled with rosemary, plus a nut for the trunk.
Surround your centerpiece with rows of crackers, sliced salami and little piles of cheese. You don’t need every part of the board to be Christmas-shaped.
plaid and Christmas tea
I am obsessed with this Christmas tea setup. The plaid runner, holly plates and gold-dotted teapot look so cute together.
The tiered stand mixes sandwiches with little sweets, including snowflake cookies and chocolate-topped pastries. Try this approach if you’d rather serve a selection of small bites than one main dish.
a full holiday lunch spread
Want to serve something more substantial than finger sandwiches? This spread has sliced roasts, pineapple-topped ham and bowls of vegetables, with cookies and other sweets tucked around the edges.
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You don’t have to copy the whole display. Choose a main dish and a few sides for your own version, then add a small dessert platter.
ribbon-tied cookie favors
How adorable are these cookie stacks? The clear bags show off white-dipped cookies with colorful sprinkles, while gingerbread-shaped tags read “OH SNAP!”
Tie your own cookie bags with red-and-white ribbon and set them on a separate table for guests to take home.
a colorful Christmas salad
The red pomegranate seeds and green avocado are so pretty in this salad. There are cucumber slices, orange segments, pecans and crumbled white cheese too.
Serve your dressing in a little bowl to one side, like this setup. I’d use a wide platter so all those colorful toppings stay in view.
white branches and snowflakes
Don’t want to stick to red and green? This white-and-silver setup gives you a completely different direction.
I love the hanging snowflakes and clear drops on the tall white branches.
For a daytime luncheon, you could borrow the silver-colored chargers and white napkins without recreating the blue room lighting.
a fruit wreath with stars
This fruit wreath is just too cute. Kiwi rounds, strawberry halves and red berries sit over yellow pineapple pieces, with little yellow stars scattered on top.
Try arranging your fruit on a large round serving platter with the center left open. Keep the star shapes if you want that extra Christmas detail.
a peppermint-patterned bowl
I love the red-and-white swirls on this peppermint bowl. The wavy edge makes it look a little different from a regular serving dish.
Use this as inspiration for a candy-themed corner of your table. A food-safe bowl with a similar peppermint pattern would be a pretty place for wrapped sweets.
candy cane place cards
If you are looking for a small personal touch, this one is for you. A wrapped candy cane and green sprig sit beneath a red bow, with a handwritten name tag attached.
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Place one on each plate and match the ribbon to your napkins. I especially love the tiny snowflake decoration on the tag.
a savory wreath board
This is another pretty wreath idea, but it swaps fruit for savory bites. I love the large salami roses between the olives, little white cheese balls and red tomatoes.
Leave the middle of your board empty to keep the wreath shape clear. Rosemary sprigs around the edges finish the look.
Santa hats and Christmas cookies
Last but definitely not least, we have this festive countertop spread. The strawberry Santa hats are so cute beside the gingerbread-shaped cookies and little tree designs.
There are crackers, cheese and fruit farther along the counter too. Try grouping your sweets at one end and savory bites at the other if you’re borrowing this layout.
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Alessandra