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I start to think about the coming Christmas as soon as the sales start in the New Year. Come January, there are some wonderful bargains to be found in the stores, and with a bit of forward planning, you can save a lot of money buying stuff well in advance. And I don´t mean just picking up the odd gift for the kids.

Some of the best bargains I have been lucky enough to unearth throughout the year are the items used for seasonal table setting. And why not plan so far ahead? After all, whilst we start planning the menu, the guests, the tree and the presents in plenty of time, most of us are still guilty of simply adding a few fancy folded napkins and a bit of holly to the table on the “big day” itself.

This year, make and effort to choose a theme or a color scheme well in advance. Here are some tips for a simple but effective Christmas table.

• Don´t overdo it. Whilst some people like to go a little “over the top” with their enthusiasm for decorations at Christmas, a few simple and stylish adornments are all you need to create a festive atmosphere.
• Consider the number of guests that you have invited and plan accordingly. For a large family gathering,you will probably need more than one Christmas table centerpiece. A couple of pine or holly wreaths to surround large, church-style candles would be sufficient.
• Don´t use mistletoe unless you are having an intimate Christmas dinner, or else you will spend all your time fending off Christmas kisses from distant relatives!
• Christmas is not generally a very formal affair. Choose decor that is festive and  welcoming, creating a feeling of warmth and comfort in your home.

So exactly what items do you need to consider in your table setting?

1) The Cloth. Maybe you have a special table cloth for Christmas Day. If so, give it a check over. If it has become faded, tired or stained, it may be best to throw it out and start afresh with a new one. Generally, white cloths are not a very good idea, as they can get stained easily by the gravy, sauces and red wine that flows! Burgundy, gold and dark green are all colors with a festive feel, and the bonus is that they do not show up every little mark.

Remember that if you are lighting candles, wax may well fall onto the cloth, so protect your linens by standing the candles on a seasonal coaster.
If you have very young children at the table, consider a pretty, patterned Xmas table cloth made of plastic or paper. Food will invariably get spilt, but at least you can stop worrying about the stains. There are some really good quality ones around now, so no need to compromise on style.
Finally, if you are having a lot of table decoration, choose a plainer cloth so that the overall effect is not too overwhelming. If your cloth is a feature in itself, with embroidery, ribbons and a lot of detail, then go easy on the additional adornments.

2) The Christmas Table Centrepiece. You may only have one, or for a larger gathering you may need several centerpieces. But what do you choose? Well, you are only limited by your imagination! Floral arrangements are a popular choice, with either fresh or dried seasonal flowers arranged in a display, and work well if you only want one large item as a focal point. Just remember not to make the floral arrangement too big, or you may not be able to see each other across the table! Plants such as poinsettas can make an effective flower centerpiece, placed in gold pots tied with contrasting ribbons.
Other options are small dishes of artificial fruits, mingled with gold painted pine cones, or try making some “presents” by wrapping different sized boxes in co-ordinating wrapping paper and dressing with ribbons. Scatter along the table with a few candy canes.

Pot pourii with festive scents can also work well, but if I´m using this I open the packs a few days in advance, otherwise the smell can be overpowering and mask the wonderful aroma of the food itself.

One thing I remember from my childhood was the wonderful centerpiece we had. “Snowy” was a bit of an heirloom, a fabric snowman with a removable base, around 18 inches tall. Each year, he was filled with a mystery gift for all the guests, and at the end of the meal as we enjoyed coffee, we opened Snowy and passed around the small presents. We children loved it. Sadly, Snowy did not last for ever, but I made a similar snowman from a cone of card and decorated him myself, so the idea lives on. This makes an ideal centerpiece for a family with younger children.

3) The Crackers. Love them or hate them, crackers are an integral part of the Christmas day table setting process. These days, you can buy surprisingly stylish crackers to match just about any table or color scheme. From budget family crackers to luxury designer ones, there is something for every taste. And if you have older childern, there are also some good cracker making kits out there. Why not have a go at making your own? Al least that way you might even get a decent gift!

This year make sure you start to plan for your Christmas table well in advance. Get organized, plan ahead and have a festive table that will enhance the occasion, with an atmosphere of warmth and love to reflect the true spirit of Christmas.

 

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm and is filed under Garden nursery. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.