Every year conscientious homemakers wonder what sort of Christmas table decorations they will have. Every year it seems to be something blasé that’s been done before and not only done before but done by every other house in the neighborhood. There’s always the red tapers and the plastic holly and red plastic berries at their base or the centerpiece featuring the unfortunate ceramic Christmas tree stuck with plastic lights inherited from Grandma. But there are other, more inventive ways to decorate the home for the holidays that are easy to assemble and don’t even cost much.
They can be made of unusual materials such as tree bark, berries, fruit, and vegetables. The growing use of LEDs makes it possible to light up Christmas decorations in ways that would have been impractical or even dangerous before. This is because the coolness of LED lights is not a danger to fabrics, leaves or other materials that would burn if placed too close to a halogen or incandescent light. There are even new fabrics and materials to use well beyond the old-fashioned tinsel, cheap red felt and cotton batting.
Have a Berry Merry Christmas
The deep ruby red of cranberries contrasts beautifully with bunches of white or cream flowers that have just a touch of green in them such as hydrangeas. Just fill up clear glass containers with the cranberries, add water and arrange the flowers on top. A holiday table won’t need much more than this to bring the Christmas cheer.
Red, White and Glowing Candles
Pillar candles that are creamy white on top and sparkly red on the bottom can be placed in a long, white porcelain celery dish among glass or plastic balls of matching cream and red. The different heights of the candles keep everything from being too uniform. Just make sure to never leave lighted candles unattended.
The Beauty of Apples as Candleholders
One stellar idea for Christmas table decorations is to insert votive candles into cored apples. Apples can be green, red or a combination of colors. It’s best if they are on the round side so they can sit comfortably in a tray filled with moss. Lady apples are ideal to hold votives as are Novamacs, Granny Smiths and Fujis.
Frosted Milk Glass and Silvery Sparkles
Fill long-necked milk-glass bottles embellished with frost with sprays of lacy, glittery, silvery leaves, balls, stars, feathers or anything else. Place them on an old, polished silver tray decorated with votive candles and silver Christmas balls. This grouping brings the beauty of a winter’s day into the house without the cold.
A Simple Arrangement of Red and White
The white of snow and the red of holly berries are evoked when a segment of vine decorated with berries is used as a ring for a napkin made of the whitest linen. A white plate and charger and cheerful red placemat can complete the look. Don’t be afraid to use white and pops of red around the room.
Black and White Gingham Add to a Rustic Setting
Place big, generous napkins made of black and white gingham beneath plates, and let them hang attractively over the tablecloth. Add to these tankards of Christmas glogg wrapped with raffia and paper and rough-hewn wood decorated with pine needles, miniature evergreens, and candles. The fine china that holds the tankards makes a lovely contrast to the table’s rugged good looks.
A Simple Arrangement of Wreath and Candles
Recalling the plain beauty that might be found in a humble cottage somewhere in Scandinavia, all a homeowner needs to do is make a wreath of pine boughs collected from the forest and decorate them with tall, thin tapers. The runner of pure white linen even gives this arrangement a feeling of holiness.
Create Fun Placeholders for the Table
A red and black checked tablecloth is repeated in the napkins found on plates placed on wooden chargers on the dining table. Cardboard reindeer heads holding the first letter of the diner’s name lets everyone know where they sit. For a centerpiece, consider slices of tree bark decorated with tiny, frosted pinecones and arrangements of greenery and red berries.
Tiny Wreaths Adorn White Napkins
A beautifully decorated table has every element balance each other as is seen in the red and white striped ribbon twined through a spray of pine needles, pinecones, and berries that matches the red and white stripes of the table runners and the red candleholders and white candles. Wreaths small enough to be children’s bracelets add color to clean white napkins and plates.
Don’t Be Shy: Bring out the Christmas Plates
If a homeowner has some good old Christmas plates that have been in the family forever, they shouldn’t be shy about displaying them, corny as they may be. One arrangement is Christmas plates on folded napkins on trays or bowls on chargers, with runners between the plates that match the napkins.