Dining table help (pic included)

[FatPatricia]

Need some help to accessorise my very plain dining table (not just for Christmas, for all year round) I feel like we need a centrepiece of some sort but what else.. Thought I could use all of your stylish wisdom for inspiration

Napkins in a strong colour would help and maybe a matching mat with the salt and pepper on etc. I'd put both plates straight too, but that's just me!

A candle centerpiece

Flowers! I have lots of smallish gases vases and put a variety of fresh flowers in each. Lots of colour and freshness. This weekend I had 11 for lunch and put deep pink 'pinks' with a bit of pussy willow in each....lovely.
Instant colour. X

For starters lose the mugs. No place on the christmas table. You need another glass for water, if the one you have is for white/red wine.
Definitely a centerpiece is needed, and since it's Christmas go all out. a few small vases/nice jars will hold some holly or broken Christmas tree branches with some candles and a few bobbles. I use a very tall vase with dropping fir and decoration, that sits above eye level and some very low deco that's a couple of inches tall.
Also a nice ribbon, in festive colours wrapped around fabric napkins and a piece of holly or a candy cane or both on each plate will complete the look. and don't forget to put Xmas crackers!

When I lay the table I have wine and water glasses to the right of the place setting. Larger glasses for red wine and smaller for white, but that's just fine detail if you're serving both. Definitely no mugs or cups on the dinner table.

Side plates to the left with napkin and a small knife for butter or the cheese course later. The spoon goes above the fork for the pudding course.

You've got great basics there and just need to pretty it up to get rid of the stark feeling. Add some colour.

For a Christmas table I'd add a narrow runner across the cloth and colour coordinate napkins and crackers (on the side plate) then put either a centre piece with a pillar candle and something around it, or, what I do, is a group of candles either end of the table well out of the way of passing food around.

My table decorations usually involve a lot of natural garden greenery and sometimes a tall glass vase filled with garden things like fir cones, stones, nuts and the like.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions