Christmas day table decoration ideas.... please

[desperatelyseekingamovingdate]

I am hosting christmas dinner for the first time ever and i am very excited.

I have always gone home for christmas day and my stepmum always does us proud - amazing food, beautifully decorated house etc.

I would love to have a fabulous looking dinner table. There will be 5 adults and 2 DC. I plan on moving the kitchen table into the family room so we have more space. We have a small kids crafting table in there - i plan on using this to put all the food on ( our main table isnt massive). How can i make our table look lovely? On the cheap as the budget is tight!

My christmas theme is red and white decorations with greenery and pine cones.

Many thanks

I get lots of ideas from Pinterest. Have a look. I would say plain white cloth then a coloured runner.
Use jam jars and fill with candles and or greenery from the garden etc
Spray paint fruit in rich colours ie gold or red.
Get some cheap napkins and tie up nicely with ribbon etc.

I have just re-watched the instructables video on folding napkins into christmas trees.If you were having napkins anyway its no added cost and I really love it!

www.instructables.com/id/Christmas-Tree-Napkin-Fold/

White or red bowl - small but deep is best. Get a small bit of oasis from the florist, cut to size so it fits in the bowl. Chunky white candle - cut a hole in the centre of the oasis to put this in. Cut greenery from the garden - small sprigs of holly, ivy etc and poke into the oasis - could also add the odd Christmas dec or pine cone etc as you wish.

Pour water into the bottom of the bowl so the oasis soaks it all up.

Obviously be careful with the candle and make sure it fully clears the greenery. This won't last for too long so best done a couple of days before Christmas.

Using tinsel to wrap round napkins looks nice (and cheap!) Table confetti also helps to make the table pretty (as long as you don't mind all the extra vacuuming afterwards..). DH does our table. He usually puts something along the middle (top to bottom) One year it was a length of little silver bells. Last year it was a fake pine branch. Around this he puts baubles to match that years theme. Then quite a few little glass tea light holders. Think there are also a couple of taller candles in the middle of the table. By the time he's done that then added the table confetti, napkins with tinsel, crackers and all the glasses and cutlery it looks really pretty & festive.

Thanks everyone, great ideas. I love the christmas tree napkins, will have to have a rummage in the attic to see what i have.