The Look for Less: Decorate a Christmas Dining Table for Kids for Under $100!

This post was sponsored by Oriental Trading with either payment and/or product to review. All opinions are my own as I only promote brands that I love and actually use.

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Happy Holidays party peeps! This year I’m getting a jump start on all my holiday planning. Last year, I waited until the last minute for lots of Christmas stuff and it was NO FUN! This year, I’m ready with a lot of ideas and best of all—getting all my shopping done so I can actually relax the week of Christmas instead of running around like a crazy woman trying to get it all done. Today I’m going to show you how to Decorate a Christmas Dining Table for Kids for Under $100 YES!!! I’m actually going to show you how to setup a fabulous looking kids table with all disposable items that looks like you spent a fortune but really only spent under $100! In my house, I host Christmas dinner with my family every year and each year, I LOVE to setup a fabulous table for the kids to eat at. Last year, I did a Grinch themed Kids’ Table. Remember those days when you were a kid and had to have your Christmas table at the dreaded “kids table”! Well, this is a kids’ table your kids will LOVE to eat at! I usually spend a bit more on decorating my adult dining table, so saving money on the kids table while still making it look amazing is a WIN-WIN in my book!

HOW DID SHE DO THAT?

Well, whenever budget is an issue, I like to go to Oriental Trading first to pickup a few items that I can use to create a high-end look for less. This year, Oriental Trading’s new “Enchanted Christmas” line of party supplies just what I was looking for. You guys already have seen my adult Christmas dining table which I’ve decorated in a mix of gold, silver, white and black. The Enchanted Christmas line with it’s silver, white and gold colors matched the look and feel PERFECTLY! TOTAL SCORE FOR ME! Plus the design is fancy enough for kids to feel grown up while sitting there and really isn’t that what kids at the “Kids’ Table” really want? To feel special and fancy at Christmas Dinner? I think so! For this shoot, I set up the kids’ table for 4, but the budget is for 8. Simply use a 6′ table instead of the square one I used here to get the same look.

“ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS” KIDS DINING TABLE!

For the table linen, I just used a square silver linen I already owned and topped it with all the gold, white and silver disposable party goods. WHAT?! I know…yes…all the party supplies on the table are made of paper or plastic so they can all be thrown away when you’re done. Talk about EASY clean up!

GIRLFRIEND TIP: When working with a budget, look for items that can do double-duty! For me, I like to look for items that I can use as party decor but can also double as a take-home favor for my guests. I use this tip all the time & save money! Check out the DIY white mini stockings that I placed on the table as a whimsical touch and also can substitute for a party activity as you can have the kids decorate them after dinner with fabric markers and other embellishments and then take them home. Another double-duty item on the table— the glass Christmas Tree ornaments are on the gold tinsel tree centerpiece but can also be given to each of the kids as a take home favor.

WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE TABLE!

This year, we’re going to do the White Elephant Gift Exchange! I’m so excited for this. I’ve played it before at other holiday parties, but have never done it with my family. As my own twist, I’m purchasing all the gifts for the exchange so no one but me, of course, has any idea of what gifts are there—be sure to put a layer of tissue paper inside the tops of each bag so guests can’t see what’s inside. I got these 12 pack of “Enchanted Christmas” gift bags that matched the theme perfectly to setup all the gifts on the gift table for the exchange after dinner.

GIRLFRIEND TIP: The great thing about this pack of gift bags is that they come in three different sizes so not only do they look amazing on the table in varying heights, but it gives me greater flexibility on the sizes of the gifts I get for the gift exchange. AND…setting up the table and decorating it adds another decor element to my holiday dinner and the gift bags’ colors matches all my other holiday decor and dining tables!

Want to do a White Elephant Gift Exchange?
Here’s how to play:
1. Each guest draws a number from a hat—I used a Santa Hat, of course—to see what order they will pick a gift.
2. Everyone sits around the gift table in the order that they drew from the hat.
3. First person chooses a gift from the table (without looking in the bag), then opens it and shows it to everyone.
4. The next person can either choose a gift from the table OR steal a gift from someone else.
5. This continues for each person’s turn. If you have a gift stolen from you, you get another turn once everyone has already had their turn.
6. If a gift gets stolen three times, that gift is no longer eligible for stealing and the person who stole it for the third time gets it for good.
7. After the second round, the game ends when the next person decides not to steal a gift and decides to keep what they have.
8. To keep the game from going on forever, we’re going to only allow three rounds.

Should be fun! Have you done a White Elephant Gift Exchange before? Any tips for me? Please leave a comment below.

YOUR SHOPPING LIST— GET IT ALL FOR UNDER $100!

To make it super easy to recreate this look, here is a full list of everything I used on this table and pricing. Be sure to click over to my Christmas Pinterest Board that has all these items with links so you can purchase everything online easily.

– Glass Christmas Tree Ornaments $12.99 for a pack of 12
– Gold Glitz Place Mats $8.99 for a pack of 8
– Winter Retreat Table Runner $10
– Enchanted Christmas Dinner Plates $4.10 for a pack of 12
– Stag Stir Sticks $4.15 for a pack of 25
– Enchanted Christmas Gift Bag Assortment $9.50 for a pack of 12
– Winter Retreat Mugs $10.98 for a pack of 6
– DIY Mini Stockings $6.50 for a pack of 12
– Metallic Gold Forks $4.50 for 50
– Metallic Gold Spoons $4.50 for 50
– Gold Tinsel Mini Trees $8 each (I used 2)

CLICK HERE to check out my Christmas Pinterest Board for lots more Christmas inspiration and links to everything used in this setup!

Follow Soiree Event Design’s board Christmas Inspiration on Pinterest.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Tonya

WHERE DID SHE GET THAT?

– Styling & photography: Soiree Event Design
– Ornaments, place mats, runner, plates, stir sticks, gift bags, mugs, mini stockings, utensils: Oriental Trading

WANT MORE CHRISTMAS INSPIRATION?

Click on each party below for more Christmas party inspiration:
Girls Night Out Holiday Party
OREO Cookie Ball Holiday Decorating Party
Winter White Sweets Table

Want to get more of my “Girlfriend Tips” and party inspiration?  Be sure to SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG HERE so you can get all my blog posts delivered right to your email’s inbox so you won’t miss a thing! Subscribing is easy! Just CLICK HERE and be sure to confirm your email address once you get our confirmation to your inbox! That’s it! AND…you’ll get a code for 10% off your next order in our shop.