A cozy holiday mahjong table with the Luxe Mahjong Polo Club mat and Oh My Mahjong Heritage tiles, no Christmas mat or tiles required.
No Christmas mat, no Christmas tiles, no problem. Here's how I style a holiday mahjong table with the tiles and mat you already own.
Here's a secret: you don't need a Christmas mat to have a Christmas mahjong table. Last year I played Oh My Mahjong Heritage on Oh My Mahjong's Dapper mat with walnut racks. I added a little burlap-wrapped evergreen, some brass coasters and a brass lamp that felt a little dressed up. It looked great, and I didn't buy a single holiday tile.
The trick is styling. Bring the Christmas in with what's around the mat, and pull your colors from things you already have.
The mat: Luxe Mahjong The Polo Club
This year I'd style it on Luxe Mahjong's The Polo Club mat. It's a green and navy tartan border with thin gold and red lines around a deep navy center. It reads holiday without a single ornament on it, and it plays all year.
The tiles: Oh My Mahjong Heritage
Heritage is a neutral set with traditional red, green and blue faces and warm tortoise backs. That's why it's such a great holiday set: the colors are already there. This is why you buy versatile tiles. Come holiday time, all you need is the styling.
The racks: warm wood and tortoise
Wood and tortoise racks keep it cozy, and they pick up the warm backs on Heritage.
- Bam Bird Boutique Walnut: closest to what I played with last year. Rich and dark against the tartan.
- Peace Love Mahjong Oak: lighter and a little more casual.
- Middle & Main Hawksbill Heritage Tortoise: the dressiest of the three.
Want to match the mat instead? Bird & Bamboo racks in Dark Navy, Evergreen or Wine pull straight from the tartan, and Sunday Mahjong's translucent Cola racks pick up its deep brown.
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Oh My Mahjong, Bam Bird Boutique, Peace Love Mahjong and Middle & Main · MAHJMATCH saves 10%
See all my Heritage matchesSetting the table
- Tablecloth: a 60x60 hunter green square tablecloth picks up the green in the tartan and lets the mat stand out. My card table is a little bigger than standard, so I like 60x60 for a nice drape.
- Coasters: cognac leather coasters with a holder. The warm brown plays off the walnut racks and stands out against the green cloth.
- Dice dish: a Christmas tree ring dish. A little holiday dish for the dice keeps the table festive no matter which centerpiece you pick.
Pick one for the center of the table
Keep it small, nothing crazy big. You still need room to play. Pick one of these three vibes:
- A little tree: one short burlap-sack tree, all on its own. They come in a set of four, so the extras can go on the bar cart.
- A candle wreath: set a 3x4 ivory pillar candle inside a little berry and pinecone candle wreath in the center of the table.
- A ribboned lamp: a gold cordless lamp with a forest green pleated shade, dimmable, with no cord across the table. Tie a length of burgundy velvet ribbon around the lamp to make it a little more festive. It comes as a pair, and some people put one lamp in each corner of the table. You get the light and keep the middle open for a little holiday spirit, like the tree or the candle wreath.
Other mats that can pull holiday duty
Mats that are mostly green, red or plaid make great holiday mats that also play year round:
- Oh My Mahjong Dapper, the one I used last year
- Sunday Mahjong Rattan
- Luxe Mahjong The Polo Club
Pair any of them with neutral tiles or a set you already own, then theme it out with a tablecloth, one small centerpiece and a holiday dice dish.
Want a holiday mat after all? Browse my Christmas mahjong mat gallery, see the Christmas mahjong sets guide, or shop the mats that match your tiles.
Holiday mahjong table FAQ
Do I need a Christmas mat for a holiday mahjong table?
No. A mat with a red, green or plaid colorway, like Luxe Mahjong's Polo Club or Oh My Mahjong's Dapper, can carry a holiday table. Add a little greenery, a tablecloth and some brass, and it feels like Christmas without buying a themed mat or tiles.
What mahjong tiles look good for the holidays?
Neutral tiles with traditional red, green and blue faces, like Oh My Mahjong Heritage, look right at home on a holiday table. They play year round, so come December all you need is the styling.
Which mats work for Christmas and year round?
Mats that are mostly green, red or plaid pull double duty. A few I love: Luxe Mahjong The Polo Club, Oh My Mahjong Dapper and Sunday Mahjong Rattan.
How do you decorate a mahjong table for Christmas?
Pull colors from your mat. Lay down a tablecloth in one of its shades, then pick one centerpiece: a little burlap tree, a candle wreath with an ivory pillar candle, or a cordless lamp with a velvet ribbon tied around it. The lamps come as a pair, so you can put one in each corner of the table and keep the middle open for the tree or the candle wreath. Add a Christmas tree ring dish for the dice and keep the rest of the table clear for play.
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