HE Christmas table is the place where the whole spirit of Christmas is contained. It's where we come together as families, spare a thought for the real meaning of Christmas, enjoy the big day and, of course, enjoy all those wicked excesses we've been promising ourselves for so long.
And there is no end to the ways of making that place as welcoming and special as can be.
There are tablecloths in all designs, more beautiful crackers than you can shake a stick at, napkins galore and, for those with a little more cash to spare, even special Christmas tableware sets which can be saved just for the big day.
Some sparkling confetti shapes can add to the display and there are all kinds of candle holders and candles in the shops for a wide range of prices which can combine to make the look just right.
One thing to make the table complete is a centrepiece and Evesham High Street florist Louise Jeynes has designed one for us which can grace any table yet is simple enough for anyone to make at home.
It can suit any style of decoration, creative ability and most importantly, that runaway Christmas budget.
All you need is a round "posy pad" of flower arranging foam, which costs around £4.50 from a florist, some wire, a candle and some mixed evergreen foliage either bought or gathered in your garden.
For extra decoration, Louise also made three gold bows and added gold-sprayed cones and walnuts.
For full instructions see below.
Once made, keep the pad watered and the display could last a few weeks.
There is so much to offer in the way of Christmas decorations for all over the house but fresh flowers and foliage provide not just the looks but also the smells of Yuletide.
Louise says traditional red, green and gold is all the thing again this year, after last year's white and blue millennium themes and she encourages people to have a go with natural decoration.
She and her colleagues, Trisha Popple and Pat Anderson, have offered us a few tips for those who really do want to deck the halls with boughs of holly.
Get out in the garden with the secateurs, they say, and get among the conifers and any other evergreens in your path.
All can be used with a bit of wire and imagination to deck whatever you like.
Wreaths, garlands and swags for fireplaces are popular with customers and all kinds of bows, fruits, nuts or anything you fancy sprayed silver or gold could be combined with the greenery to make an original design.
They have a few tips for other living decorations too:
f Never keep a poinsettia in a draught or buy one which has been in the cold as, needing a warm and even temperature, they can die quickly in the wrong place.
f When you buy a cut Christmas tree, treat it like a cut flower and saw a bit off the bottom and then keep it in water, not soil or sand, watering it regularly.
f Holly should be picked and brought indoors at the last minute or it loses its shine.
So, if you fancy giving it a go yourself this year, pop to your nearest florist or get into the garden and raid those bushes for decorations which will give you a warm glow of Christmas cheer and a little self-satisfaction to boot.
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