Centre Stage: 3 Festive Centrepieces

Styling & Words by Undressed

Just like the tree, no Christmas table is complete without its star. A crown jewel amongst a medley of cracked bon-bons, discarded prawn shells and crumpled napkins. This year, we have crafted three Undressed centrepieces around our favourite festive fare: cheese, seafood & dessert, inspired by the colour & character of IN BED's new kitchen collection.

A pairing of earthy blue cheese, Swedish rye & IN BED's White tablecloth & Khaki napkin

For your cheese tower, choose a selection of dairy varying in colour, size & texture. We went for a semi-hard sheep’s milk, Agour Ossau-Iraty sandwiched between a base of Swedish Knäckebröd and the quintessential pairing of quince. Next, a vine covered Queso Valdeón blue, the pungent national treasure of Valdeón Valley - followed by flurry of pickles; salty & briny, to cut through all that creaminess. To finish, spirals of Tête de Moine, an alpine delicacy first conceived at a Swiss monastery.

Recreate this dairy queen at home by opting for cheese rounds instead of wedges, giving stature to one-dimensional cheese plate. Add personal flair with your accoutrements; muscatels might act as earrings, or adorn her with a collar of pickled onions. While imposing this one might be, a mini version is just as sweet - wrap tightly in the fridge and you can continue nibbling until the new year.

A slice of classic Christmas cake sits atop IN BED's Dove Grey tablecloth & Stone napkin

’Tis the season for sweets. Tables across the world are laden with Panettone, a sweet bread hailing from fashionable Milan, or Pandoro a star-shaped delight said to resemble snow-topped mountain tops. And then there’s the classic fruitcake: steeped in a heady concoction of booze & spices. Gather the goods and layer upon layer, build a mountain of your own creation. Stud with edible pearls, blanched almonds and glacé cherries. Should you have a lone cake at Christmas, don't fret: adorn it with a lace hat, or gingerbread beret!

An ode to seafood, set against a backdrop of IN BED's Lake tablecloth & Lilac napkin

Here in the Southern hemisphere, nothing tops fresh seafood in the summer-time. Lean hard into nostalgia with a prawn cocktail steeple to kick off festivities. Guests can pluck off their beady eyed friends and plunge into a trio of sauces; classic mayo, pink-hued Marie Rose or a fresh herby number with capers and plenty of lemon. A base layer of leaves; crunchy cos or bitter radicchio is required for this one, and add a little vibrancy with flowers (non toxic, of course!) and the Christmas classic: Brussels sprouts. Embellish with a quirky topper: a pineapple, a rosette of roses, or go all in with a lobster tail. The greatest gift when it comes to hosting - don’t take yourself too seriously.

To you and yours, wishing you a merry, safe & delicious Christmas.