The best Christmas tables are laid the day before and left alone. Everything is simple, a little uneven and lit by candles.
Start with a cloth
A plain linen cloth or a runner in a quiet colour. Save pattern for the napkins.
Greenery from the garden
Holly, ivy, a few sprigs of rosemary, some pine cones. Lay it down the middle of the table in a loose line rather than building a centrepiece.
Candles at different heights
Brass holders, short and tall, with plain candles. Light them before people sit down and the room does the rest. See our lighting collection.
Glass and plates
White or cream plates, simple glassware. A set of sturdy tumblers does for water and for whatever else is poured.
One small thing at every place
A name on a luggage label, a sprig of rosemary, a small present. It is the detail people remember.
More ideas in The Christmas Edit.