Decorating your dining table for Christmas can be as elegant or as simple as you want, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it uplifting and eye-catching. If you’re a little strapped for cash, work on a budget then decide on your theme. The traditional red-and-green always works, or you can go along with your home’s color scheme and use your table decorations to complement it.

A wreath on the center of the table makes for a nice holiday centerpiece. You can decorate it with objects that you’d like to use as a theme, or put ribbons and bows if you have no theme in mind. Place candles inside the wreath, but make sure that the wax doesn’t come into contact with anything that could start a fire.

Continue to carry out the theme using table napkins. Get two napkins of different colors for each table setting; place one on top of the other or roll them together. Tie them with a colorful wired ribbon and arrange them artfully on the center of each plate.

You could also get dishes according to your table’s theme. For example, if your theme is poinsettias, purchase plates, cups, and saucers with poinsettia patterns. If you have printed plates, make sure that your table cloth and napkins come in plain colors so your dining table doesn’t get overwhelmed by too many patterns.

Repeating the color scheme or pattern is essential to giving your dining table a unified look. Happy decorating!