| You'll be slaving over a hot stove for hours, | | | | wherever possible. |
| preparing a feast fit for kings this Christmas. | | | | Napkins |
| From the turkey to the desserts, you put love | | | | You don't have to limit yourself to simple linen |
| into every recipe, and your family digs in with | | | | napkins, although these work perfectly well. Use |
| gusto. Why not add some festive touches to the | | | | facecloths, small hand towels, or handkerchiefs |
| table as well, and make the presentation as | | | | instead if you prefer. Roll your napkins and fold |
| breathtaking as the dishes you'll be serving? It | | | | the roll in half, securing with a pretty bow, or fold |
| doesn't take much time or money to transform | | | | them origami style into an interesting shape. |
| your table from humbug to very merry. | | | | Napkin rings can be made from pipe cleaners, mini |
| Choosing a Theme | | | | wreaths, licorice strings, ribbons, artificial flower |
| The easiest way to coordinate your decor is to | | | | stems, or anything else you can think of that will |
| choose a theme. Your theme can be as specific | | | | look festive and do the job. Tie bells, small |
| as a single Christmas carol, or as broad as a | | | | ornaments, pinecones, silk flowers, or even small |
| certain style or colors. For example, you could | | | | toys onto each napkin ring for added decoration. |
| choose "Jingle Bells" as your theme, making the | | | | Serving Dishes and Platters |
| centerpiece a miniature one-horse open sleigh, and | | | | Your serving dishes don't need to match each |
| attaching bells to everything that doesn't | | | | other to look pretty. A mixture of different styles |
| voluntarily move. Or, choose a "Country | | | | and colors add whimsy and a country feel to your |
| Christmas" theme and add lots of country | | | | presentation. If you don't have enough trivets for |
| touches to your table, like felt cut-outs and | | | | all of your dishes, cover pre-cut pieces of thick |
| cross-stitched napkins. | | | | cardboard with aluminum foil and use these as |
| If you're planning on selecting colors for your | | | | shiny mats that will protect your table and still |
| table, stick with one main color and a maximum | | | | look nice. |
| of two accent colors. Holiday colors of green, red, | | | | Place Cards |
| and white look very festive, or accent with silver | | | | If you want to use place cards to prearrange the |
| or gold for a more elegant touch. Blue and white | | | | seating at your table, use your theme to come |
| work nicely together for a winter theme. | | | | up with imaginative ways to create or display |
| Table Coverings | | | | them. Gift tags are an easy idea, and they can be |
| You may have your great-great-grandmother's | | | | attached to each napkin or wine glass with ribbon |
| handmade lace tablecloth stowed away, ready to | | | | or pipe cleaners. Miniature artificial poinsettia pots |
| use for your Christmas dinner. There's nothing | | | | are available at many dollar stores, and they |
| wrong with this, of course, but if spillage and | | | | make gorgeous place card holders. Simply fashion |
| possible staining are a major worry for you, save | | | | your cards and attach them to straws or |
| the lace for accenting your decorative holiday | | | | toothpicks, then secure them into the pots. |
| displays instead and pick up some inexpensive | | | | Pinecones can hold name cards as well, if you |
| cotton or other fabric to cover your table with, | | | | maneuver the cards so that the 'teeth' of the |
| or use clean sheets in various colors. You can | | | | cones hold them in place. Create shapes out of |
| even use two contrasting colors of fabric, and | | | | clay or dough, thread the cards through candy |
| use the second, smaller piece to hang at an angle | | | | cane sticks, or simply place your cards on the top |
| over the larger one. Christmas prints are cute and | | | | of each dinner plate. The possibilities here are |
| charming, but try to steer clear of anything too | | | | endless. |
| busy or bright, as the fabric will overshadow any | | | | Extras and Finishing Touches |
| other accents you add. | | | | Adding candles of varying heights and colors will |
| For a children's table, cover the surface with | | | | add warmth to your table setting. Scatter tea |
| butcher paper or inverted wrapping paper and | | | | lights, votives, pillars, and tapers around the |
| provide crayons at each setting. Christmas | | | | center of the table, making sure that they are |
| crackers are also great fun for kids, and look cute | | | | secure and not interfering with anything that could |
| sitting on each dinner plate. | | | | be flammable. |
| Centerpieces | | | | You can also decorate the stems on wine glasses |
| Centerpieces can be as simple as a small grouping | | | | with purchased wine charms or pipe cleaners, or |
| of different sized candles. You needn't go | | | | tie small bells to each one with ribbon. Tie cutlery |
| overboard and spend hundreds of dollars on fresh | | | | together in a similar fashion if you wish, or tuck |
| flowers and a beautiful decorator's vase to hold | | | | utensils securely inside rolled napkins. |
| them in. Potted Poinsettias make a pretty | | | | For an added touch, decorate each chair with |
| centerpiece, as do small baskets filled with pine | | | | bows, bits of garland, or pretty fabric. Anything |
| sprigs and pinecones, or clear glass bowls full of | | | | goes as long as it doesn't scratch or otherwise |
| bright Christmas tree balls. | | | | interfere with your guests' enjoyment of your |
| Keeping your chosen theme in mind, choose a | | | | wonderful meal. |
| centerpiece that will stand out among your dishes | | | | With a bit of extra effort, you can take a plain |
| of food, and become a conversation piece for | | | | and boring table and create a stunning |
| guests. If you plan to use lit candles, never leave | | | | masterpiece that will impress your guests even |
| them unattended, and choose unscented candles | | | | before the first course is served. |