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Tip Store: Christmas: Table Settings

​Classic Christmas Table Decorations

​Use a white table cloth, that you can buy any time of the year, and Christmas paper. We all have a stash of Christmas paper, so take a nice one and fold it in half and lay down the centre of the table. That is your runner. Then take nice glasses and place a tea light candle in them; place down the table. Run some Christmas beads along the table, around the glasses. I picked up some Christmas muffin papers, they were cardboard with no bottom, and they fitted over a wine glass. With the tea light lit they looked like small lamps on the table and were very pretty.
​Contributed by Karen Witek

​An Instant Centrepiece

​Create an instant table centrepiece with just baubles, a couple of candles and a glass bowl. Take a large glass bowl and place a cereal bowl upside down in the centre (don't worry no one will see it). Now fill the bowl with Christmas balls. Use different sizes and colours, making sure you pack them in so the cereal bowl is covered. Sit the bowl in the centre of the table and position a candle on either side. The light from the candles will give the balls a beautiful glimmer and gleam.

​Laminated Photo Placemats

​One year I asked the kids to design placemats with each guests name and a colourful picture that related to that guest or a Christmas themed picture. They decorated them with glitter and lovely bright colours on photocopy paper. Then once they were dry I put them through the laminator so they were spill proof. When the guests arrived they were overjoyed with the personal touch added to the Christmas table and they all took them home as a souvenir. You could also add place-cards as well.
Contributed by Linda, Upper Kedron

​A Recycled Christmas Table

​I'm having Christmas day at our place this year, and I'm using some simple, but pretty ideas for my table. I have a cream linen cloth (you can buy calico cheaply),and on top of that I am laying some gold wrapping paper (cellophane type is good) then a white, small lace cloth over the top of that, diagonally. This way you can see the three colours, white/gold/cream, which I'm using as my 'theme' colours for the day. I have been to op shops and found beautiful decorations in these colours for next to nothing! My whole Christmas array this year is recycled!
Contributed by Jenny, Croydon South

​Stuff the Christmas Tree and Sit it on the Table

Many years ago, I made a small (30-40cm high) stuffed cloth Christmas tree which we use on our table, sitting on a small terracotta pot. The one I made was a printed pattern, but it would be very easy to make from a green Christmas or patterned fabric too. It has 3 branches or points on each side, and has 4 sides that radiate out from the sewn together centre seam. You make two flat tree shaped cases, leaving the bottom open to stuff with polyester wadding (and sew up by hand) after you have sewn the two pieces together down the centre. When they are stuffed, they stick out at right angles to each other and the flat bottom sits on the table, or on a pot or similar. Once you have made the tree, you can use fabric paint to decorate it, or glue on small decorations, glitter, sequins etc. Then you have something that you bring out every Christmas. Getting children to help with the making or decorating can make it a special family tradition for continuing each year. I sewed a lovely stuffed fabric door wreath the same year, and just bring it out each year to hang it up.
​- Contributed by Vanessa, Alphington

​Crafting a Christmas to Remember

Try to obtain a plain dyed tablecloth, red if possible, or maybe dye an old white sheet - red! Buy white disposable plates, etc. If the budget doesn't stretch to Christmas serviettes, maybe plain green to offset the red and white? Spray paint some branches or twigs from trees, silver, and stand up in vases or tall glasses, with tinsel cascading around the arrangement, and along the centre of the table. Buy conical party hats made out of shiny cardboard (or make your own), then staple tinsel around the bottom, so the hats are Christmassy, and at least stay on with the elastic provided! If the children are little, make straw toppers, trace a Santa Clause, colour him in, and cut him out, with slits top and bottom, then slide it over the top of a drinking straw. By the time you do all this, plus the food as well, you will have a Christmas to remember!
​Contributed by Lyn, Morningside

​Have a BonBon Treasure Hunt

I have always made bonbons for Christmas with a small gift inside, then when the kids got to big for a matchbox car or barbie outfit we put a handwritten poem or treasure map in the bonbon. Each person gets given a small pressie for someone else and then gets to hide the present and write the poem, we have lots of laughs over the bad poems and hiding places but it is a lot of fun. You can buy the poppers at Spotlight and I just use crepe paper and toilet rolls. If your children are arty they can make place cards with the guests name on them. I covered a cone shaped polystyrene form with silver paper and pin wrapped lollies on it and then decorate with curling ribbon. You can decorate candy canes with plastic eyes(from spotlight) and red pompom for the nose and a red pipe cleaner for the antlers curled around a pencil.
​Contributed by Marina, Gisborne

​Remembering the Real Decorations

​The real decorations are family who sit around the table and the food/ drink to be enjoyed. Christmas is gift giving - the children can make decorations for the parents and grandparents e.g.: a small gift box ($2 shop) with a child made present inside indicating seating is a great start.
​Contributed by John, East Fremantle

​The Christmas Basket

I purchased a cane basket, wrapped tinsel around the handle and filled it with Christmas decorations found at the Reject shop, you can also place a candle in the middle if you use the green oasis blocks, these items are all very cheap and you can use the basket & decorations year in and year out.
​Contributed by Jean, San Remo

​Two Nice Table Ideas

One idea for decorating the Christmas table I have used is to place 3 red fat candles, different heights, on a plastic plate in the centre of a Christmas wreath that is just the right size for the plate. Fresh ivy or other plants would work just as well. It could be any round plate. Another idea is to place fake or real ivy / pine branches / tinsel etc lengthways on the table. Place 3 candles in amongst it . All 3 candles can go together in the centre or spread out evenly looks great. Very cheap. You can buy red or green cheap material for a table cloth i.e. homespun or if you need a wider cloth craft shops sell quilt backing at very reasonable prices. Or even go for red or green sheets. You can certainly use them again. if they don't help then try this site it has many cheap useful ideas...interiordec.about.com...then go to Holiday Decor and Ideas then Merry Christmas then Christmas Centrepieces or where ever your heart tells you to go. Hope this helps. Merry Christmas To One And All.
​Contributed by Ruth, Orange

​Website: www.interiordec.about.com

​The Secret to a Designer Table

​Those fancy professionally decorated table settings always look so beautiful, but they need not be out of reach for the rest of us. The secret to the designer look is a very limited colour scheme - e.g. gold or silver plus one or two other colours ONLY. With a simple colour palette and found or made objects you can create a decorator look on a budget. Start with the tablecloth, plain white is perfect or if you have a colour, let that dictate your colour scheme e.g. royal blue cloth with all silver decorations. The colour doesn't have to be a traditional Christmas colour. Add paper doilies for placemats, plain white or sprayed gold or silver. Then add your chosen decorations: Idea 1: Natural theme. Send the kids to the backyard, park or nature reserve to find gumnuts, seed casings, pine cones etc. Lightly spray with your choice of gold or silver spray paint (from a cheap shop) and allow to dry. I think a light 'dusting' of the paint looks nice and lets the natural beauty of your found objects shine through, and when spraying anything paper make sure to use a number of very light coats of spray to build up the colour, rather than one thick coat which will make the paper wrinkle. Scatter gumnuts over the table top, glue to homemade napkin rings (cut from cardboard tube and also sprayed)or glue around the perimeter of a cardboard circle to make a wreath candle centrepiece. Idea 2: Miniature gifts - scout around the house to find as many little boxes or box shapes as possible - matchboxes, ring boxes, kids' building blocks, pieces of styrofoam etc. Have the kids wrap them up in Christmas paper and ribbons as though they are presents - great for using up little scraps of paper and ribbon leftovers. Use a theme colour and scatter over the table, use to fill a pretty glass bowl etc. Don't forget to retrieve your objects when Christmas is over, or you could store them to be used again next year! These also make great tree ornaments, hung by their ribbons. Idea 3: Mix up a batch of air-drying modelling dough, roll it out like biscuit dough and use your Christmas cookie cutters to cut designs. Have the kids paint them and use to scatter over the table, glue to homemade napkin rings or bonbons (crepe paper wrapped around toilet rolls and tied at each end with ribbon), glue to candles etc. A theme works well with this, e.g. stars in various sizes. All of these ideas are minimal in cost - a can of spray paint at the cheap shop, paper doilies from the paper plate aisle at the supermarket, crepe paper from the newsagents. They are also fantastic fun, and great boredom busters for the kids in the days leading up to Christmas when mum is so busy and the kids need entertaining. Air Drying Modelling Dough Recipe: 2 cups salt 1/2 cup water 1 cup cornflour Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and gently heat, stirring continuously, until a smooth dough forms. Use as soon as cool enough to handle. Will harden at room temperature in 2 days. Can be painted or varnished. (Recipe provided by my child health centre, as provided by the Play and Learning Program, WA Department of Health) Have a wonderful Christmas with your new family!
​- Contributed by Margaret, Brisbane

​Christmas Bush

​We use Christmas bush to decorate our table and the kids love collecting all sorts of seed pods from the bush. We then spray them gold and together they make it a real Aussie Christmas. Just add a few red napkins and it looks fantastic. Happy Christmas.
​Contributed by Jaci Hawes

​Decorate the Christmas Table as a Gift

This is the Christmas table that I decorated for my mother last year, it was a bit more expensive as it also doubled as her present but you could definitely do it for cheaper. Tablecloth - Red and white check (This table is a bit of a odd size so it was more expensive but still only $20 from Target) Table runner - Bamboo runner with silver thread - also from Target for approximately $10 dollars Centrepiece - Vase filled with red and silver baubles and candy canes (all from the local $2 shop. Approx $10) Water Jugs - Red tinted from local $2 shop ($4 for both) Lolly baskets - Silver basket lined with red crepe paper (also from the $2 shop) Then for extra decoration I have placed a silver napkin, bonbon, paper cup and place card for each person and wrapped with red ribbon. I used gift tags that were about $2 for 20, Ribbon $2 a roll, napkins $2 a packet and the bon bons were about $5. All up cost about $60 which was also a gift that mum has used again and again To make this cheaper, use decorations you already have, a vase you already have and a plain Christmas coloured (red white, green etc) tablecloth.
​ Contributed by Steph T.

​Repeat Ideas for a Great Festive Look

I think the people who write the magazine articles on decorating at Christmas time should talk to a wider cross-section of budget conscious families!! Where does all that money come from...especially in December!! Anyway, if you look up "homemade Christmas decorations" on Google and you will find a veritable treasure chest of ideas that are made predominantly from natural materials or things you can find around your house or in the supermarket for a minimum price. These might include things such as pine cone wreaths which you can paint with gold, silver, green or red paint and add glitter if the mood takes you or perhaps invest in 1 can of spray paint as your themed colour. If you have kids helping, painting is a great festive activity to get everyone singing carols as you paint away! Just bind it with a roll of wire from the hardware store ($7). Also, you could create tissue paper centre pieces from stencils cut out from pictures on the Internet. Last year, I Googled words such as "nativity stencil" or "Christmas bell silhouette", then bought a small jar of white paint (from any toy store or Target etc) and we dabbed the white paint over the stencils on all our windows (do this on the outside, not inside as it gets a little messy cleaning it off)...very festive plus the mandatory Christmas carol singing!! Also, buy a small packet (worth a couple of dollars) of scrapbooking stars or Christmas motifs from the local $2 shop and sprinkle them over the table. Perhaps you could also buy a roll of wire from the hardware shop, as well as some PVA glue, wrap the wire around a variety of cylindrical things found in your kitchen to create a number of different sized Christmas trees made of silver wire. Don't be too fussy about wrapping the wire perfectly, it looks better if it's a bit wonky!! Then just use some of the stars you sprinkled the table with and glue them onto the "Christmas trees". Also, candy canes are really cheap and look really cute on the table just placed haphazardly. And lastly, little name cards to go on plates to show people where they are seated is also adorable. Just do a Christmassy type border and swirly writing and it would look quite elegant. The key to all of this is use a few ideas only and just repeat them. Also , choose 1 or 2 colours and stick with these as your "colour theme". Regardless of what your table looks like, I'm sure every one knows that a close knit and loving family who appreciate the efforts of everyone on Christmas day is the most important thing! Good luck and Merry Christmas to all cheapskates!!!!
​Contributed by Dee, Culgoa

​Take a White Tablecloth and a Glass Bowl....

​I would use a plain white table cloth (or large white doona), and for the table centre I would use a clear glass bowl, depending on the look I wanted I would do one of the following: 1. fill with brightly coloured marbles a little water and a small amount of flowers (stems trimmed to sit on just above the marbles) in a complimentary colour. 2. fill with baubles 3. make it an edible table centre, fill the bowl with fruits, lemons, oranges, apples etc. or lollies but you could fill it with whatever takes your fancy.
​Contributed by Ramona, Brunswick

​Simple Steps to a Beautiful Christmas Table

Setting the Christmas table is easy. First pick a colour theme. Everyone usually has a white table cloth, if not, a white sheet does the trick for table. So this is the base. Go to any Reject/cheap shop and buy a beautiful roll of Christmas paper...use this as the table runner. Advantage of this, besides looking gorgeous...it just has to be thrown out of the meal! No soaking out gravy stains or ironing the good table cloth. Prior to the day get the kids involved by making the place-cards. You can just buy a piece of coloured cardboard and let the kids use their imagination. Red or green glitter, Christmas stickers and write names in gold/silver pen or any colour that suits. These become treasured keepsakes and can be re-used or replaced each year. Napkins, if you don't like the lovely paper ones that are at the Reject/cheap shop...go to Spotlight and buy a piece of Christmas material and make your own...again these can be used each year. Even if you aren't a sewer...squares are usually achievable or the 15 year old may love to do this! If you are not using your best crystal glasses for drinking, put them in the middle of the table and fill with cheap coloured balls or candles from the cheap shops. Check your cupboards for ideas. Christmas ribbon also is great around the napkins. Gold stars, glitter or Christmas sprinkles also look great on the table. There is so much good stuff at the Reject/cheap shops...just make time to go and check out what they have on the shelves. The kids will love helping you. Don't forget as an added touch...all your guests will love the Christmas toilet paper ($2 @ reject shop)its a great talking point.
​Contributed by Karen Bright

​Decorating for a Big Family Christmas

I know what you mean about big family Christmas, my grandma and I used to throw Christmas for not just our family (15) but also everyone in town who had nowhere else to go! She always though, with no help, managed to feed everyone and decorate with style. We would collect pine cones (open preferably). If they weren't we would put them on a rack over hot coals (no flame) and they should start to open. Then go to Spotlight and look through their scrap material, around this time of year their should be heaps of Christmas scraps so you pick those (a bag used to cost about $1) either buy some wadding or if you have old pillows take the wadding/filling out of that. cut your scraps into 4cm squares stuff them with a bit of wadding twist them closed (should look like a ball with a twisted tail) then with a crochet hook or something similar stick them into the open bits of the pine cone, so in the end you end up with a Christmas ball filled pine cone decoration to put on the table in a bowl or something similar. Also if you have a grape vine (we used to use passionfruit or jasmine any type of vine will do) cut some long pieces, take the leaves off and find a plate (normal dinner plate). using twist ties wrap the vines on top of the plate (like a wreath) leaving an open space in the middle. keep them on the plate and let dry till Christmas day. Buy some candles (thick ones) and cut them down to 3 different sizes for Christmas day and buy some white pebbles from the $2 shop (like in you put in fish tank). on Christmas day spread the pebbles on the plate take the ties off the vine and place it on top of the plate, put your candles in the middle. also a bowl of nuts (shells on) in a bowl is great, and if you can be bothered sorting out red and green jelly beans, fill two either martini or some other big wide glasses with them and you have Christmas table decorations for less than $20 (jellybeans and nuts included!!) sorry for it being so long but hope it helps.
​Contributed by Jen, Caramut

​Adapt Ideas to Suit Your Table

We were invited to a very 'posh' Christmas Dinner and the table was divine. However, I've adapted the ideas to be just as spectacular but on a budget. Cover the table in white paper, bought on rolls for this very purpose(or you could use an old sheet, etc.) Add lengths of crepe paper in various themed colours (no worries about staining the 'tablecloth' - it's throwaway). Stack dinner, desert and bread plates (or plastic or disposable), one on top of the other at each place setting to make an attractive 'tower', and top with a glass (or plastic cup) which is filled with lollies and tinsel - very festive. Wind inexpensive tinsel around the place setting (when you sit to eat, decorate yourself with this tinsel) and set the centre of the table with candles (in suitable holders so that you don't have a fire with all the paper) and tinsel and other inexpensive Christmas decorations picked up at budget outlets. Choose colours that are themed (e.g. red and green and gold), bright and sparkly, and you have a inexpensive and easily cleaned up festive table to delight young and old.
​Contributed by Wendy, Leopold

​Take Some Curling Ribbon, a Vase and Some Baubles

​At any $2 shop or Reject Shop you can buy Christmas baubles in all kinds of different colours; large packets are $2-$5 each, you could get a large glass vase and fill it with these, and place in the middle of your table, and then put a few extra scattered up the table. Get some curling ribbon in a matching colour and twist it around each place setting and down the middle of the table. I did this a few years ago and it looked great, especially on a white table cloth. Also another idea, which I did for a dinner party last week, is to make place mats, but try something different, but a cheap roll of Christmas themed paper, or a plain colour, and cut it into strips the width of a place mat, but make it long enough to go over your dining table- so that the people sitting opposite each other share a place mat- if you repeat this all the way up you table it will look amazing- You can also write each person's name on the paper above their place setting.
​Contributed by Shea, Croydon

​Give Your Table Class

Using two colours only in your theme always makes it look professional and classy. Try wrapping three different size boxes with nice wrapping paper (last year I used black and silver) Sit them on top of each other with smallest at top and then use nice ribbon to wrap all 3 up together. A grand bow on top to finish and then use it as the centrepiece on your table. If you then match the colour scheme with paper napkins and other understated items, it should look like the posh settings in the magazines!!!
​Contributed by Mandy, Hornsby

​A Cracker of an Idea

Make your own personalised bon bon's. Write out some funny jokes to put inside and some little trinkets or lollies.
​Contributed by Joanna, Huntly

​Choose Frugal Options for Table Decorations

When planning a Christmas decorating theme I would go the Reject Shop to get everything. Get some large red or green table cloths. Buy some silver spray paint and decorate pinecones, sticks whatever you feel like to decorate. Then buy a couple of cheap vases and put thick white candles inside (for kids safety) the table will look amazing once the candles are lit.
​Contributed by Laura, Boronia

​Stick With This Table Decoration

I picked up sticks from my back garden, bought a can of white spray paint from the $2 shop, and sprayed the sticks white. I also bought small baubles, $2 for 20! Put the sticks in a large vase or a few small ones (even plain drinking glasses do the job) along the middle of your dining table, and decorate with small baubles or other decorations you already have. Keep it simple and it looks fabulous. Merry Christmas!
​Contributed by Sanja, Baxter

​The Lolly Ball

Buy a large polystyrene ball and hot glue on wrapped sweets or chocolates and use as a table centrepiece for Christmas or give them to children for gifts. Looks fantastic and very original.
​Contributed by Derryn, KeriKeri

Scatter Decorations on the Table

​Try a $2 dollar shop they have lots of stuff around Christmas time. Buy some artificial flowers, like poinsettias, for table decorations , these can then be put away till next year or when ever you want to use them again. For the kids use table scatters, they come in small packets in all sorts of shapes, letters, happy birthday etc and cost around $2.50 a packet. Make sure they are out of reach of the younger kids just in case they put them in their mouths or ears (or anywhere else!). We had hearts and stars on the table at a recent wedding and they looked quite nice.
Contributed by Wendy, Cabramatta

​Let Your Guests Decorate the Tablecloth

A white paper tablecloth is a great start. I have a relative who is a printer and they can't use the last few hundred metres on a roll, so they give it away and it's just the right width. When the kids have finished their Christmas dinner, you can keep them busy by having them draw on the table! I have seen large clear glass vases filled with baubles look fantastic (if you don't have any, they aren't too much at a $2 shop). Cardboard place cards (I keep cardboard from everywhere from shirts to cereal boxes, so there's always some when I need it), cut in bauble shapes with a strip of wrapping paper at the top and bottom with a space for the name in the middle looks great.
​Contributed by Kathryn, Belgrave

​Make Your Own Tablecloth and Napkins

​Instead of paying a great deal for tablecloths, napkins etc go to a material store and buy some material. Everyone will be having too much fun to realise things aren't hemmed!! Also, using food such as fruit in a glass dish is a great centrepiece that will get eaten!!
​Contributed by Carrie, Mount Isa

​Take a Glass Vase and Some Coloured Baubles

​We hosted Christmas at our house last year and for table decorations I used a nice clear glass vase we were given as an engagement present and filled it with 3 different sized Christmas tree balls in 2 colours. The balls were left over from when I decorated the tree, but to start with they were only about $6 for 12 from Big W. The vase, like I said, was a gift, but anywhere from Hot Dollar, Go-Lo, Reject Shop etc to Target, K-Mart, Big W to Myer have nice glass vases. I recently purchased eight from Hot Dollar for table decorations for our wedding for $8 each. You can put a nice cloth napkin under them, or place them on a table runner. Get a many as you need for the size of your table and fill them with balls in colours to suit your house. Each year you can re-use them, change the colours if you like and through the year they can be used as vases or as decorations for any event. Vinnies/Salvos stores might even have some old unique pieces.
​Contributed by Erika, Greta

​Christmas Crackers

Approximate $ Savings: $10.00

This Christmas I looked around for Christmas Crackers for the lunch time table, but I could not find any crackers with a decent little gift inside for a reasonable price. I decided to use up all those little bits and pieces I have gathered during the year i.e. little notepads I have been given, small items I may have purchased on special for a "just in case gift" and put away in the cupboard. I wrapped these items up in the style of a cracker and just when everyone was starting to feel the effect of too much to eat after lunch I produced the "Lucky Dip Box". I took a box with all the gifts in it around the table as a lucky dip. It certainly woke everyone up and all commented on what a great idea it was. Nobody missed the silly hat and inane joke from the cracker but appreciated the little gift. I felt much better spending the money I would have spent on useless Christmas Crackers on a decent little gift. I did the same thing about ten years ago but had forgotten about it until this year, when money is very tight again. This little gesture seemed to make everyone feel special too!
​Contributed by Janet, Geraldton

​Bauble Tree

My 10 year old came up with the solution to our table decorating dilemma. He bought some boxes of baubles from the discount shop ($2-$3 each) and got his cousins around (aged 9 and 6) and they glued the baubles into Christmas tree shapes. They made four for the Christmas table and they not only look gorgeous but are special because the kids made them.
​Contributed by Larissa Guy

​Get the Kids to Help Set and Decorate

​The older ones could do the printing of name place cards on the computer or by free hand. The little ones could decorate paper cones (you will have to make them) or pine cones with glitter and tinsel. How about the topiary bush from this week's tips as the centre piece. then it will be remembered as the special 1st "family" Christmas.
​Contributed by Janine Benson

​Nature Themed Table

I say go with a nature theme - put on a nice, crisp white table cloth, then down the centre of the table, pile things like pine cones, gum nuts/small gum branches, sea-shells, whatever you can scrounge (but stick with one theme). Then stand an odd number of tall candles at even distance down the table, among your scattered nature finds and light them. Simple is chic!!
​Contributed by Anita Morgan

​How to Make Your Own Place Cards

Some ideas are to make your own place cards. You can even make them from last years Christmas cards and with a gold or silver pen, print the persons name. To make the place cards you only need to use the front of the card. 1. From 1/2 way up, you cut out the shape on the card, e.g. a bell, and leave the edges attached. 2. Then fold down the part you don't want so that the card can then stand up and the cut out is then left like a pop up. On this you can write the persons name. Table decorations can be made by placing a candle in the middle of a plate and painting pinecones, gum nuts, spray painting leaves, twigs. Spraying some long twigs or branches, (leaves or no leaves) from trees and then twining fairy lights around them are a lovely side table decoration. If you have some interesting looking twigs you can paint them and tie them together with ribbon and place them around the table. You may have some wide short glasses which you can stick gold stars on the outside and then put a tealight candle on the inside. These placed around the table are effective. Paper chains made from magazines can be very colourful when hung. And any of these the kids will love to help paint or make. And of course don't forget the quiet Christmas music playing in the background. Its all about people and atmosphere.
​Contributed by Delena Graham

​Achieve a Great Look for Less

There are lots of ways to achieve a great looking table, mix and match the ideas to suit your decor, your taste and of course your budget. Buy some inexpensive candles (cheap store), in different sizes, but the same colour (or just a couple of different colours - e.g. green and gold). Squat ones look best. Buy (or check FreeCycle for) some inexpensive baubles (keeping to the same or similar colour scheme e.g. red and gold). I once picked up a huge box of about 50 red and gold ones for about $10 in a cheap store. Buy some greenery "picks" - these are bits of greenery with pretend holly, ivy, fruits etc on them (cheap shops, Woolies, Target etc). I've actually used scraggy bits from an old Christmas tree (pick up an old one, or a wreath from FreeCycle or friends who are upgrading). As a base, use either a tray, glass platter, mirror, or even a normal plate (you could cover in foil if it isn't a compatible colour). Set the platter in the middle of the table and arrange the candles fairly randomly. Arrange the "picks" in a couple of spots around the edges. Add some perfect green and red apples for extra colour, or bits of ribbon tied around the candles. If you have a big glass bowl or vase you could put all the baubles into the vase and put a couple of candles either side. Use anything you have around the house that fits the colour scheme. You can do a couple of smaller versions - one at each end of the table. If you don't have enough of anything this year buy up just before Christmas Day, some stores start selling their decorations very cheaply. For the table itself buy some inexpensive red or green PLAIN coloured cloth (cotton) a few metres long (about 2 metres longer than the table so it hangs over a bit). Use that as a base cloth. Top with a piece of "Christmas cloth" or gold cloth just a metre long. Centre it on the table diagonally. If you have time and you can sew, hem the ends. I actually use an old white sheet for my base, top with some red or green and put a much smaller gold piece on. I've built up a small collection of fabrics now and just change them about. I keep saying I'll make hems but haven't.
​Contributed by Gillian Milburn

​Simple Things Are the Best

​Last year I had the dilemma of blended family for Christmas dinner and was also wondering how to make the Christmas dinner table look more festive without the high price tag or making it look too over the top. I found that simple things are the best. I bought a cane basket for $2, 3 small packets of Christmas baubles for only $2 each and some red and green tissue paper for $1 a packet (all from the Reject Shop). I then put the red and green tissue paper into the cane basket and then filled the basket with the Christmas baubles and put it in the middle of the table. I also bought 2 small decorative tins for $2 each (also from the Reject Shop) and lined them with red and green serviettes and put some Christmas shaped shortbread biscuits in them (these can be brought for about $5 a packet or made yourself). It made the table look more festive than it has been other years and all for a fraction of the cost that you see in magazines. You can also make your own Christmas bon bons if you feel even more creative.
​Contributed by Sheree Beattie

​Create a Basic Table Setting for Easy Variation

​Buy a cheap white sheet and use as a tablecloth. Buy some silver (or gold) tinsel and lay down the middle of the cloth. Buy cheap Christmas baubles in silver and gold from discount store and scatter these amongst the tinsel. Buy some cheap plain white candles ( the thick ones) and place these amongst the tinsel and baubles. A good colour scheme is silver and turquoise or gold, red and green. I use a variation of this basic table setting every year and it always looks lovely. Sometimes I add some foil covered chocolate coins and candy canes for scattering on the table too. Contributed by June Gregg

​My Favourite Part of Christmas

Decorating the table is my favourite part of Christmas. I usually start with a plain white table cloth, if you already have a table cloth at home use that if not I just went to the $2 shop and bought the plastic party table cloth in white, which was cheaper than buying a linen one and did the job. Then I use wrapping paper as a table runner down the middle of the table in a colour that suits the theme. That is also heaps cheaper than buying linen and looks really good. I have also made my own Christmas crackers really cheaply by buying the basic parts which includes the hats, the snaps and jokes from Lincraft or Spotlight and then getting lollies or party favours from a $2 shop for the filling. Then I buy paper napkins in a colour that matches the theme to and when you put it all together it looks great. For centrepieces use existing vases and baubles from the Christmas tree, any candles that you may already have at home would work well to, with 14 people at the table you wouldn't need a big centrepiece any way it would get in the way.
​Contributed by Jessie Z.

​Photo Placemats

​For a memorable Christmas dinner table make your own Christmas themed placemats with photos of each family member on them. The kids can help, they can be made easily with left over cardboard. Choose a colour scheme to tie them all in together. Glue on photos of each person, decorate and covered with contact.
​Contributed by Ruth Avery

​The Christmas Table Challenge

Challenging but not impossible!! I'm using a long stick-on mirror on a white table runner, we'll be putting silver decorations on top of the mirror with glass jars filled with lollies or shortbread biscuits with white sugar covering the bottom of the inside of the jar. The mirror will be used later for my daughter's bedroom. Our colour theme is silver and white. Also I've bought noodle boxes from the cheap store and filling them with lollies and putting stickers on the outside for decoration. That is in place of bonbons. We'll be having 19 for Christmas Day. You could do personalised place cards with the person's name and the meaning of their name on it. You could even do a kids table covered in white paper and have a basket of textas and they can write Christmas messages on their "tablecloth". You could even do that with the adults as a memory tablecloth with permanent laundry marker! All the best!
​Contributed by Teresa Haigh

​Crisscross Ribbons and Scattered Lollies Decorate This Table

To decorate the Christmas dinner table I used a sheet as the tablecloth (mine was green) I then bought two rolls of ribbon with Santa on it and then one roll of gold ribbon. The gold one was laid across the middle of the table and the other Santa ribbons were placed next to it, at the ribbons width apart in opposite directions so the Santa's faces could be seen from both directions. I then had some beads on a cord that were decorations for the tree that I draped them the top of the ribbons and scattered wrapped lollies over the lot. in the very middle as a centrepiece I used a little wooden Christmas tree. Any tree decoration would do in the centre. Our family thought this was the best one that they had seen. Season Greetings.
​Contributed by Ad, Dubbo

​Golden Gum Branches and a Clear Glass Vase

Last year I decorated our Christmas tables by collecting small gum tree branches from our local streets and spraying them with gold paint. I decorated them with some inexpensive gold baubles from an op shop. I placed the branches in tall clear glass vases (which I already had at home) and filled the base of the vases with red and green tinsel for extra colour. They looked fabulous and very Australian!
​Contributed by Sharee, Woodville Park

​Personalized Baubles Place Cards Become Keepsakes

​You could get some glitter paint or puff paint and paint the persons name and the year on a bauble then put them on the place mat were you want them to sit, then after the meal every one can put there bauble on the tree, then you can keep this going as a new tradition for your new family. If you use a single colour table cloth (red, green, white etc) then you are not limited to using it just for this time of year and you could purchase a strip of Christmas material for a table runner.
​Contributed by Kellie Van Dongen

​Homemade Napkins and Beaded Napkin Rings Look Fantastic

Some fabric shops have fifty percent off Christmas stock at the moment - I've bought 3 metres of fabric to cover our joined together tables for $15, all I need to do is hem each end. If you were really good you could make matching napkins. I've made beaded napkin rings by crocheting beads onto wire and plaiting 3 strips together. A quick way is to thread beads onto chenille sticks and loop them around. I've noticed op-shops have Christmas ornaments - a pretty glass bowl or vase filled with baubles looks pretty. Home-made Christmas crackers fill up space too, fun for kids to decorate as well. Get corny jokes from websites and pop in some small chocolates or toys for the kids - one year I put in little bottles of bubbles and everyone (adults included) had a ball blowing bubbles after lunch. Have fun making it look pretty, but the most important thing is the people who are around the table!! Have a lovely Christmas.
​Contributed by Debbie Reynolds

​Decorate Around Your Colour Scheme

The first thing is pick a colour scheme - I find red, green and gold OR silver, blue and purple look great and then plan your decorations around your colour scheme. Pine cones look lovely on your Christmas table. Get out walking (exercise is a bonus) and collect some pine cones, paint with colours in your chosen scheme. Also collect some pine branches or some cheep greenery (such as ivy,) or coloured tinsel from the $2 shop. If you don't already have one, a nice fat candle in the $2 shop too. Dig through your kitchen cupboards for a nice glass plate, arrange the cones and greenery/tinsel on the plate with the candle in the centre. If you can't find pine cones, grab some foam balls at the $2 shop and paint in your chosen colour scheme instead, roll in glitter before the paint dries and they look great. Mix them on the platter with some glass stones (again $1 bag at $2 shop), they will look pretty and even better something unusual. Make your own place cards on the computer & print on some cardboard. I used a Santa head and printed the name of each person on the white band of his hat. If you want something a little more special find a nice border, write a personal Christmas wish and print the persons name & jazz up with fine tinsel around the edge, some rick rack or glitter or cut with fancy scissors. Buy some white napkins at the $2 shop and make your own napkin rings. Our local $2 shop has oodles of fancy Christmas ribbon on rolls for $1-$2/roll. Take the folded napkin out of the packet and fold once more to a triangle, then roll so it looks like an ice-cream cone. Cut a length of ribbon tie in a bow around the napkin. You can add a sprig of Christmas bush to the inside of the cone before tying the bow. Even a large vase filled with glass stones and some Christmas Bush or Poinsettias (fake ones are great - again $2 shop) will look stunning with some nice tinsel wrapped up the length of the vase or around the base. Buy a couple of rolls of gold or silver ribbon about 3cm wide ($2 roll in Go-Lo or $1-$2 at the $2 shop) tie the ribbon around the back of your chairs in a big bow. Simple often looks fabulous. Enjoy the day with your family.
​Contributed by Tracy New

​Beautiful Table Decorations Using Free Things

​Stores like Lincraft and Spotlight have nice ribbon and craft items, you can make some of your own decorations and have fun at the same time. Things like red or green candles can be jazzed up with some ribbon or tinsel tied around them, twist different coloured tinsels together for a nice Christmas accent. Don't forget the free things like pine cones or even nice gumnuts which can be tied with ribbon or sprayed with a little gold, white or glitter paint for a nice effect. Some Asian-type stores, the ones that sell lots of Indian clothing, have lovely tablecloths, placemats and runners which are generally much cheaper than elsewhere. Even colourful sarongs can be used for decoration. Lastly, visit the post-Christmas sales and stock up for next year! Also garage sales and op shops as everyone offloads their decorations in January.
​Contributed by Toni, Alice Springs

Stunningly Simple Table Centrepiece

​One year I placed a few sticks in a vase, securing them with blu tac, placed 3 large bon bons in the bottom of the vase, and hot glued lengths of the small balls on a string you decorate your tree with. They looked great and were within my MIL's budget. You can make as many as you need, I borrowed some of the vases from family members, but you could try Op shops also.
Contributed by Teresa, Moree