One of my favorite occasions to dress-up the dining table is during the Christmas holidays. Today there's so much to choose from for decorating, so many options and color choices. Nothing says 'Christmas' to me more than some red and green, add in some sparkle, some gold or silver, and all of that adds to making a beautiful tablescape.
I pulled this look together with what I had on hand already, except for the purchase of some new pretty red cloth napkins. I purchased the table-runner last year from the after-Christmas sale at Bed Bath and Beyond. I also purchased the matching tablecloth on sale at the same time, and I use it in the other room on our breakfast table.
I love my cut-glass plates and how they go so well with the crystal sconces that I've had for years. I like to change-up the sconces by using them in different ways. The two end pieces usually sit on top of the piece they are next to, making them taller, but, I decided I liked them this way for this setting.
I've used the acrylic napkin holders before, each one has a little bud vase area in it where I added some holiday floral picks of holly leaves, pine, and gold painted pine cones. My gold tableware always looks beautiful to me and is especially perfect for using at the holidays. I've had the tableware for years and it's also one of my favorite things.
I think the little gold ornament place-card holders add that little extra touch to each place setting, and they're just adorable! I found those at Pier 1 Imports a couple years ago. So cute to use at the holidays too. I found the gold placemats some years ago at a Homegoods store that had been near by, it was one of my favorite stores and it was disappointing when it closed. I layered each gold placemat with a white paper placemat, and then added a sparkly green felt sheet, I got the felt sheets from the craft store last year. Both were low cost additions for just a few cents each.
My pretty holiday tablescape was easy to put together and it was fun and festive too. I enjoy decorating using mostly what I already have on hand, and I'll also mix in a few new things for an overall low cost, high satisfaction result. It's not that I can't go out and buy new things, I just prefer not to. I love doing low cost decorating with the bargain items I've found, or made. All of that adds to my decorating pleasure. And I enjoy sharing the results and idea inspirations for budget decorating, and showing that it is possible to do so!
