Table decorations

[AdoringDavidAttenborough]

I've decided this is the year my Christmas table looks beautiful. I've bought a dark crimson tablecloth and dark blue runner with stars from JL, plus some gold placemats. I love the idea of everything being jewel-coloured and gold. We'll have a homemade wreath in the middle for some green, and our plates are dark blue. But what else would make it look lavish and gorgeous? I don't necessarily want to spend a fortune. Any suggestions for pretty and ideally sustainable decorations which won't make too much of a dent in the wallet?

Have you tried putting it together and see how it looks? I would probably add candles and possibly something like dried alliums or seed heads sprayed gold and added to your wreath.

I think Kirsty allsopp did gold plated pears as place markers one year if you wanted to go all out!

Gold-sprayed fruit sounds excellent! 😁

I bought large vintage candelabra for my table and, of course candles.

I bought ‘silver’ but you could by some fabulous brass ones, probably fairly reasonably.

Great as you can reuse year on year.

Something like this, , but look in charity shops too.

These are £10 each but you could spend more for larger. I think mine were £45 for a pair.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235071446197?hash=item36bb599cb5:g:et8AAOSw7T5kpFYg&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0PU86MYiFh%2Br4vaBfKDE7gJQJMsoBPwFSH5PUIbJZmYB0HKlvr7Fba9wYvP6RMUXpvs%2Bf9omo0dbra8H30gGXMcwcWiplxIvQONDQDdxkXjh3ApOc7M4Li7VpZr%2FLOkdeXw9wT%2Fbm62bXiZuaomrJLhg2lBqtPvThP%2BopGj1M1cubXIl8xjS5uFW78pzsCRE%2Fps34barXW5PdS%2F0tCTsDWreyAmiOFKWqLa1qCnFwJzESFf9QpSh9oaBo4kJ7YdLKT3%2BgF%2B3nsdyCftfRjG7wys%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9ighvSFYw

Napkins add another layer to the plates, placemats - and you could experiment with different folds and some kind of napkin rings - you could do a twist of rosemary to echo the wreath centrepiece.

Twisty candles are back again, and I think that extra bit of detail is lovely.

@Nonplusultra Thank you - I like the idea of twisty candles.

I have just covered some walnuts with gold leaf sheets and glued velvet ribbon to them as napkin rings. They look very effective and were easy to do. I also think wide velvet ribbon looks very luxurious. I have wired burgundy ribbon (from amazon) that can be twisted across the table around candle sticks and other decor.

@Candlesonthetable thank you, that sounds lovely!

I love traditional candles sticks & candelabra. You need to be careful where you place them though as there's nothing worse than having to peer round candles to see the person opposite you. An alternative would be several low gold tea light holders. Gold napkin rings or fancily folded cloth napkins or classy paper napkins.

Add a string of old antique gold beads to your table centre arrangement. It will catch the light and twinkle.

I do beautiful (even if I do say so myself) name places for our table. Using foliage / ribbon and some mini gold baubles. I'll try to attach a photo

Honeycomb paper decorations from the ceiling above the table?

@FusionChefGeoff I really like that idea. A photo would be great!

You are mildly buggered by the 'napkin rings', as historically they were used to retain one's mildly grotty or stained napkin for the week, & as such did not feature on the tables of those who could afford fresh table linen regularly.

Having said that, I'd just do loads of miss matched candles & some greenery.

Here you go