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Decorating your Christmas Table can be as expensive or as inexpensive as you want. If you are going to shop for items to use on your dinner table, be sure to set a budget. Even better, if you want to find bargains, either shop early or shop after Christmas for clearance sales.

1) To begin with, unless you have a really beautiful table top, you are going to want to find a table cloth. You can either purchase one already made to fit your table, or you can purchase fabric and make your own. It really is quite simple.

Measure the length of your table and add the amount you want for an overhang plus 1″ for seam allowance. Also measure width. Most fabrics come in widths of anywhere from 32″ to 60″.

2) The next items you will want are dinnerware, flatware (silverware), and stemware.

Dinnerware: There are tons of choices for holiday dinnerware on the market. You could choose a holiday pattern like these from Lenox:

Be careful though if you choose to use a pattern that you don't make the table too busy or gaudy. With patterned dinnerware, you could keep the table cloth and napkins plain and keep the decorations to a minimum. You could also choose a plane pattern in a color that match your table.

Flatware or silverware: Flatware will also be an important part of your dinner table. Again, there are many choices on the market for flatware.

Napkins and Napkin Rings: There is a great website called storybookwoods that teaches you how to make napkins into recipes that your dinner guests can keep. Also BHG on You Tube has some great videos on how to fold napkins.

Search for a napkin folding guide that gives you step by step picture instructions for many different ways to fold napkins.

Stemware: Stemware comes in as many shapes and sizes as you could possibly imagine. Listed below are just a few of the thousands of choices out there.

Something that intriques me greatly is the use of recycled glass for stemware. In a world where “Going Green” is a household word, using 100% recycled glass stemware just makes sense.

Of course using what you have is always an option. Just be sure to match your table cloth, napkins and decorations to your dishes if they are patterned or a certain color. Now days it is easy to find Christmas decorations in every color.

3) Now we get down to the fun part… adding decorations… Ribbon and Bows are a beautiful way to add warmth, color and sparkle to your holiday table. Bows are easy to make once you know how.

Bows can be added to the back of each of your chairs.

If you are using folding chairs, you can also add some fabric and cushions to the chairs to add comfort and beauty. This can also be done if you are using unmatched chairs at your table.

Or you could just leave your chairs unmatched for a little country charm

Jars of all shapes and sizes are beautiful when filled with your favorite Christmas decorations in colors to match your table.

Real pine centerpieces are beautiful to use on your Christmas Dinner table.

Though the real pine centerpieces are beautiful, there are a couple of words of warning:

  • Be sure that your guests do not have allergies to pine as pine can have a strong scent, especially when it has become warm.
  • Be sure that you keep water in your centerpiece. There is floral foam in the center which absorbs water to keep each stem wet.
  • It is a good idea, if you purchase your real pine center pieces early in the season, that you try to keep them in a cool place, at least part of the time.
  • The idea is that you have a fresh, beautiful, decoration on your table the day of your dinner party.

Candles are a great way to add warmth and sparkle to you table. Place candles on mirrors for extra brilliance.

Add metallic garland around the table or use the packaged metallic icicles to create even more shimmer.

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Source by Diane Fisher