Setting a pretty holiday table

Anyone can set a beautiful and creative holiday table. Some might say: ”I just can’t have a pretty table, I only have six matched place settings and there are 11 of us eating!” Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay. There is nothing wrong with mis-matched dishes. Mix and match any holiday dishes you may have with your everyday dishes and maybe even your good china, if you don't have enough of one set to go around. Or start calling now to see if family members will loan you extra dishes when they come to eat. Or, just plan for a casual buffet and plan to use paper or foam plates. You can also set up a “kids” table and put sturdy everyday dishes or paper there and leave the nice china for the adults on the main table. (More on kids’ tables later.)

Or swing by a discount store such as Target. Target and Wal-Mart both carry boxes of cheap ($10-20 for up to six place settings) glass dishes. You can build an entire theme around these dishes. For example: Have a crystal theme! Compliment the glass dishes with tons of clear, gel candles scattered around the table, use iridescent clear ribbon to tie your napkins and serve all the dishes in various clear Pyrex or crystal bowls. You can also pick up some pretty netting or iridescent material and use it as a table runner – bunch it up randomly with white lights underneath and you have a pretty “snow scene” in which to add your crystal snowmen or reindeer. Toss in a few white flowers in a pretty cut-glass vase and you are done. Or you could have a bright Santa theme! Buy a large quantity of colorful, Santa napkins and then cut out enough Santas to have one for each place setting. Next, tape each Santa to the bottom of a plate. Viola! You now have Christmas dinnerware! If you would like to make permanent Santa plates, just use some decoupage glue and then seal them. See www.HGTV.com for good decoupage directions. (Make sure you always handwash your ‘new’ Christmas china!) Continue the Jolly Old Elf theme with a large, colorful Santa candle or decorative resin North Pole scene surrounded by red flowers and evergreen pieces for the centerpiece. Get the idea? Just get creative and have some fun.

And don't forget there is nothing wrong with paper plates, plastic plates, paper napkins and other disposable items – especially if you are having a large group. Grab some festive dinnerware at the discount store and set the table! I keep an eye out all year for high-quality plastic ware or holiday-colored plates on sale. It is not written in stone that you have to set out the good china for the holidays -- besides, you will have enough pots and pans to wash after the meal, why add in the extra tableware?

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