Homes expert Angela Macfarlane finds 4 perfect settings for your

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 18, 2005 | by Angela Macfarlane

FESTIVE FOLK

THE LOOK: This is a classic and the red- and-white theme always looks good at Christmas. Keep it simple by placing your plates straight on to the table. Tie a gingham bow around your cutlery. Then write or print each guests name on a piece of paper before wedging a name tag into the top of a pinecone.

WHAT TO BUY Merry napkins, pounds 2.50 each from Habitat (0870 411 5501 www.habitat.net). Zanzibar red glasses, pounds 3.99 each, Cargo HomeShop (0870 011 2119,www. cargohomeshop.com). Fall china, from pounds 5 per piece, Debenhams (0844 561 6161,www.debenhams.com). Wooden-handle 16-piece cutlery set, pounds 12, Matalan (01695 552 400, www.matalan.co.uk). Gingham ribbon, 55p per m, John Lewis (08456 049 049, www.johnlewis. com). Fill-your- own white crackers, pounds 10, Paperchase (0161 839 1500, www.paperchase.co.uk).

MAKE THE RUNNER Place your fabric runner down the length of the table. Then simply put the funky individual mirrors on top down the centre of the table. Finish off each mirror with a cheerful red pillar candle to add to the festive colour scheme. Merry runner from Habitat (see above), Malma mirrors, 99p each; Julen red pillar candles, 90p each, both Ikea (0845 355 1144 www.ikea.co.uk).

MAKE THE CENTREPIECE Buy some potted winter heather and cut a square of hessian to wrap around each pot. Secure with an elastic band then tie a gingham bow around each one. Finish off with a red taper candle. Heather, pounds 1.99 per pot, Homebase (0845 077 8888, www.homebase.co.uk); Hessian, pounds 3.95 per m, John Lewis; Julen candles, pounds 2.50 per pack of 20, Ikea (0845 355 1144).

GOLDEN GLOW

THE LOOK Use wrapping paper to cover hardboard tablemats to match your colour scheme and tie mini-baubles in groups of three with ribbon to the base of each glass. Take a napkin and fold it in half, concertina it, pinch the centre of the pleat and secure with a feather butterfly. Pull into a circle and secure your guests name tags.

WHAT TO BUY Swirl fabric, pounds 6 per m, John Lewis (08456 049 049, www.johnlewis.com). Swirl wrap, pounds 2.99 for four metres; Gold embossed glasses, pounds 5.99 each, all Cargo HomeShop (0870 011 2119, www.cargohomeshop.com); Tsarina plate, pounds 5.95; 12 crackers, pounds 16.95, all The Pier (0845 609 1234, www.pier.co.uk); Organza napkin, pounds 6 for four; Mini baubles, pounds 3 for 24, both Bhs (0845 196 0000, www.bhs.co.uk); Feather butterfly, pounds 14.99 for 24, Confetti (0870 840 6060, www.confetti.co.uk); 16-piece cutlery set, pounds 8.97, Tesco (0800 505 555, www.tesco.com).

MAKE THE RUNNER Cut three lengths of ribbon long enough to run along the centre of your table. Tie a single bauble to each end, securing with a knot. Adjust the ribbon to create different heights at the end of the table. Gold swirl fabric as above; Copper and gold baubles, pounds 3.99 pack of four, Woolworths (0845 608 1100, www.woolworths.co.uk); Copper wired ribbon, pounds 1.50 per metre, John Lewis.

MAKE THE CENTREPIECE Cover four pears with PVA glue and roll them in gold glitter. Place them in wine glasses when dry, then put the glasses on a large gold platter. Cover the dish with mini baubles. Gold platter, pounds 9.99 for four, Woolworths (0845 608 1100); Lustre gold glasses, pounds 12 for four, Marks & Spencer (0845 603 1603, www.marksandspencer.com); Mini baubles, pounds 3 for 24, Bhs (0845 196 0000).

SPACE-AGE PINK

THE LOOK Use silver cakeboards as placemats. Cut a silver bubble envelope into three pockets and secure with double-sided tape your cutlery should fit inside. Use foil takeaway cartons to wrap small gifts at the table or for after-dinner mints. Make up your tin and tie with pink ribbon, before securing a name tag with a bauble.

WHAT TO BUY Pink tablecloth, from pounds 20; napkins, pounds 2.50 each; polka- dot martini glasses, pounds 10 each, all John Lewis; Cakeboards pounds 1.49 each, takeaway tins, 89p for 10, both Wilkinson (01909 505 505, www.wilko.co.uk); White plates from a 20- piece dinner set, pounds 79, Maxwell & Williams (020 8200 5100, www.maxwellandwilliams.co.uk); Baubles, pounds 3.50 for 25; Embossed crackers, pounds 5 for nine, Paperchase; Seville 24-piece cutlery, pounds 16.99, Argos (0870 600 3030, www.argos.co.uk); Silver padded envelopes, 75p, WHSmith (0870 444 6444, www.whsmith.co.uk)

MAKE THE RUNNER Fold or cut a piece of metallic wrapping paper to a runner width before placing it down the length of your table. You may have to join two pieces together if you are using individual sheets and not a roll of paper. Tablecloth as above; pink metallic squares wrapping paper, pounds 2.50 per sheet, Paperchase (0161 839 1500 www.paperchase.co.uk).

MAKE THE CENTREPIECE Take three gift boxes of various sizes and fill with baubles. Finish off with some ribbon cascading out. Tablecloth as before; Gift boxes, from pounds 1 each, Clintons (020 8502 3711, www.clintoncards. co.uk); Various baubles from Tesco (0800 505555, www.tesco.com) or The Pier (0845 609 1234 www.pier.co.uk); silver ribbon, pounds 3.75 per roll, John Lewis.