How to Decorate a Formal Christmas Table

Put on the glitz at Christmas with a formal dinner table. Here are some tips for doing it up in style. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Dress the table with an elegant solid-color cloth, made out of an elegant material such as damask.

2

Layer a piece of metallic fabric, such as silver lam, over the main tablecloth. You can scrunch it up around the centerpiece and tuck under the cut edges, or hem the ends and let it lie flat.

3

Enhance the linens with two lengths of tassel-tipped satin cord (one on either side of the centerpiece) that hang over the edges of the table. The cord can be a contrasting color such as red - the perfect foil for a silver runner and white tablecloth.

4

Purchase a glittery centerpiece or make your own. One easy version is to heap various sizes of glass ornaments, perhaps silver in keeping with the table runner, in a large crystal bowl and mix in some garland glass beads or faux rubies and emeralds.

5

Add white candles. You can use traditional tapers in silver candlesticks or nestle crystal votive candleholders into the scrunched fabric.

6

Set the table with your best china and crystal.

7

Place elegant metallic napkin rings (silver if that's your signature color) around the napkins that match your tablecloth, or fanfold the starched napkins and perch them in a glass at each place.

8

Use dressy place card holders. An alternative is to use a metallic paint pen to embellish the edges of plain cards with squiggles, and then set each place card above the plate on the table.