Free ways to make a beautiful Christmas table?

[annandale]

This is the first year I've really thought I would like my Christmas table to look really nice. I probably do have a bit of money for it but not more than £20 at most. I have a collection of chipped, motley china and a rag bag of cheap cutlery with not enough for everyone to have the same type. I do have a nice white linen tablecloth and some white-ish linen napkins. My feeling is I should keep it simple, but I would love to hear any ideas to make it look nice without spending anything much!

A cheap runner down the table from somewhere like b&m. Scatter some snowflake sprinkles from a card shop. A plant pot with greenery and a candle to light as a centrepiece. Do you have placemats? Mats to match the runner would be good. Perhaps a painted pine cone at each setting with a name tag on if you're a crafty type?

Have you got any spare baubles? I've filled a vase with spare ones for my centre piece and it looks very effective!

I use an old glass cake stand (charity shops often have them) with a couple of church candles in the middle and then some seasonal greenery from the garden piled around the outside. Cheap, quick to make but effective. The greenery can be replaced with fresh stuff every few days.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly .... find some pretty holly, maybe put up some mistletoe above the table? Get a few candles to mix in with this?

Upside down wine glasses with a candle on top and baubles underneath the bowl.

Like this

Can you get to IKEA at all (or know someone who's going there?)

You'll get glasses (tumblers or wine glasses) and cutlery for a few pounds.
And candles.

White table cover, runner, ivy ,holly, candles.

If you're brave enough to wait, the shops will have the sales stuff out before Christmas.

Very nice Gastons - clever!

Argos sell plain white 12 piece crockery sets(4 side plate,4 bowls,4 main plates)for under £7.

Cutlery they sell a 24 piece set(6 knifes,6 forks,6 big spoons,6 teaspoons)all for under £3.

For a nice inexpensive center piece you could use a large white pillar candle(you can pick them up for £1)place in the middle of a small cake board or charger plate(the charger plates you can pick up for £1 in silver,gold or red)add some Ivy,holly aranged around the plate/board,covering any gaps.

The Ivy and Holly you should be able to get for free from the garden/friends or familys garden or if there's any woods near you there's usually lots to be found.

Collect some ivy, give it a soak in cold water {leaves and all} before using.

Pile some in a shallow bowl with some strands trailing across the table.
Jugs filled with holly also look good, have a walk locally to spot a holly tree, poeople will often give you a small amount if you ask nicely.

Iron your napkins, fold in half and roll them up, not too tightly. Tie the rolls with bows of left over Christmas ribbon and place at each setting.

Do a large fruit bowl in a shallow dish, apples, oranges, some nuts in shells if you have got them, and scatter over them a pack or two of chocolate gold coins.

These are all fab ideas, many thanks 😊 if I'm not too drunk forgetful on the day I'll do a boastful instagram style update.

Sorry no idea where that weird emoticon came from

Put loads of food on it; no one will see anything else ;)

But yes to idea, if you can bare it...

Ooo! I love these ideas so marking my place.

Have a holly bush in the garden so could definitely do something with that.

Cover mismatched placemats up with wrapping paper to match your theme/colours.

One year I wrapped (new) magazines up and used them as placemats, did work out expensive though- but everyone loved the idea as they didn't realise till we had finished dinner that they all had a table gift.