A plaid Christmas…

Traditional styling the Nicki Bamford-Bowes way with centre:mk

Setting the mood

Christmas is the one time of year where I lean fully into feeling rather than rules (not that I follow rules very closely anyway). The colours, the candlelight, the bows, the layers… all the ingredients that make a space feel welcoming and atmospheric. I didn’t grow up with tartan and I’m not Scottish, but I adore the warmth, depth and heritage charm it brings. So this year tartan became my starting point – reimagined in a way that feels elegant, inviting and unmistakably me.

Before I start sourcing, I always give myself a simple brief: how do I want the table to feel? For this one – warm, intimate, festive, traditional, cosy and special, without feeling formal or stuffy. Having this mood in mind is such a helpful way to stay focused when shopping. And at centre:mk, where there is inspiration in every direction, a clear brief really helps ground your choices.

I love styling Christmas so it feels full of personality – rich reds, proud patterns, classic shapes and that sense of being in a proper, joy-filled Christmas home. My aim is always the same… something that feels straight out of a Christmas card.

Shopping the look

With my mood set, I started with the foundation piece: a traditional tartan tablecloth I spotted in Primark Home for £15. It instantly set the tone – bold, warm and unmistakably festive. From there, every element either softened it, contrasted it or echoed the palette.

The vintage-inspired white plates were a favourite find, also from Primark Home. Clean and crisp against the tartan, with a lovely raised relief detail and modern scalloped edge. I loved them so much I plan to go back for the full serveware collection. (Large Plates £6, Side Plates £4.50)

The embroidered napkins from Flying Tiger felt incredibly sentimental, and only £4 for two. They reminded me of dinners at my nan’s, and with bows being such a big part of my Christmas decorating (and my family name Bowes), they felt especially meaningful. They bring tradition and comfort, with a touch of personal history.

Candy-stripe candles from Flying Tiger added contrast and pattern, tying everything together. The classic cut-glass wine glasses from M&S for £24 brought traditional sparkle and old-world charm that feels perfect at Christmas.

And then the silver. This year I have fully embraced silver tones in my interiors and festive styling – a fresh shift away from brass and gold that feels clean, modern and beautiful against the richness of the tartan. centre:mk was full of gorgeous silver vessels, candleholders and accents that elevated the whole look.

Shopping in person at Christmas is such a joy – the lights, the decorations, the music. Seeing products up close, comparing textures and colours, and discovering little unexpected treasures makes the process so much richer. Everything for this table came from @centremk, and gathering each piece from different stores made the whole scheme feel layered and thoughtful.

Styling the table

Once home, the styling came together naturally. With such a strong patterned base, I kept everything else considered and calm – white and silver allowing the tartan to shine.

For the centrepiece, I used a sculptural silver vase from H&M HOME for £19.99 and arranged three red calla lilies in soaked oasis. Simple, architectural and elegant, without overwhelming the table or taking up space needed for the trimmings.

One of my favourite touches was the delicate glass baubles, £8 from The White Company. They open up, which meant I could tuck handwritten notes inside each one. A tiny gesture, but one that makes every place setting feel personal.

The bow candle spinner from Oliver Bonas brought in a moment of joy, for £12.50. Technically it didn’t match (gold, when everything else was silver, but I did say I wasn’t a stickler for the rules), it made my heart ping – so it stayed. That’s my rule every Christmas: if it brings joy, it belongs.

I also added small sweet touches, like the mama and baby Bambi ornaments from Flying Tiger nestled among pine cones and next to the woodland tree candles from John Lewis & Partners, £10. A little moment I knew my daughter Bo would adore.

The green-handled cutlery from ProCook (only £39 for the set!) quietly picked up the tones in the tartan – slightly rugged, slightly Highland, and a subtle nod to the palette. And ProCook have the best serveware selection in every colour. I loved the mini casserole pots with lids – perfect for serving sides or mini portions of festive extras for £19.

Beyond the table

Christmas decorating never stops at the table. The whole room needs to connect. This year I dressed our pendant light with cascading red ribbons, styled the mantel with a big tartan bow from Primark Home £4, oversized pine cones, greenery and candles, and added festive touches to the rest of the room. If you don’t have a mantel, shelves and sideboards work beautifully. These echoes of colour and texture help the whole space feel immersive.

A season to savour

This table brings together everything I love about Christmas – colour, character, a little shimmer and lots of heart. It feels warm, welcoming and ready to be enjoyed by the people I love most. I had so much fun pulling it together, and I hope it inspires you to create your own version at home too.

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SIMPLE TIPS TO TRY AT HOME

• Start with one hero piece (a tablecloth, a set of plates or a colour palette) and let everything else support it.

• Shop in person when you can – colours, shine, scale and texture are always clearer in real life.

• Keep the centrepiece tall or narrow so it doesn’t steal space from serving dishes or obstruct seeing faces.

• Mix practical with pretty – cutlery, napkins and serveware can be decorative as well as functional.

• Add a personal moment – little handwritten notes inside place-setting baubles.

• Add one unexpected detail that makes you smile – that is the thing people remember.

• Don’t forget the rest of the room

Watch me source and shop my look at centre:mk and how it all came together here.