Crafty + Classic Christmas Table Setting

For most of us, the holidays equal hustle and bustle — make time to relax, enjoy a lazy meal and catch up with friends and family. Setting a guest-impressing holiday table (without cutting into your Christmas gift fund) is easier than you may think — read on to learn how.

Red, green and white is a Christmas color combo that never goes out of style. Keep it classic by choosing dishes, linens and decor in these three colors, then make it interesting by mixing patterns.

Place setting 101: Start with a charger (check your local dollar or craft store for inexpensive options), followed by the dinner plate. Top it with a smaller salad plate, followed by a place card or favor. To the left, place the napkin and fork, to the right: the knife (blade turned in) and spoon. Voila, a beautiful place setting in a snap.

When planning your place settings, ditch matchy-matchy and mix different patterns for a designer look. For ours, we mixed a Scandinavian-inspired embroidered napkin with a porcelain plaid dinner plate topped by an inexpensive melamine striped salad plate.