Love hosting and want to elevate your dining table? From the unusual to the awe-inspiring, we’re here to help you nail the brief.

With so much of the festivities centred around food and entertaining, you want your dining table to be a source of inspiration and admiration. From candles to place settings, crockery to crackers, Interior Designer and Stylist Jo, founder of Joanna Nash Design has revealed her go-to tips and tricks to take your table to the next level. And the best bit is, you don’t have to be an artist or spend a fortune to create a five-star experience for your guests.

1. Foliage is your friend

Pinecones, branches, holly sprigs – not only are they free, they bring an element of the outdoors in and can look beautiful laid down the centre of your table. “If you buy a real tree, ask them for a few spare branches which are always lying around at tree farms or ask them to chop a couple of branches off the bottom of your tree when they trim it. Use secateurs at home to cut these branches into pieces with three or so sprigs on each and place them down your table,” says Jo. “They look great with pinecones and you could always dust them with fake snow or gold spray paint. The pinecones could also double up as lovely stands for card name settings.”

2. Mismatching crockery and glassware can be magical

Not having perfect sets of crockery and glassware isn’t an issue and can actually form the theme for your tablescaping. Embrace the various shapes and the cacophony of colours it provides. “Candles of different heights placed around the table can make glasses of different heights feel ‘meant’ and napkins in different colours combined with serving bowls that mix and match can make a table look super interesting. Large glass baubles in different colours dotted along the table or through the foliage in the centre of the table adds to the multicoloured theme too,” recommends Jo.

3. Consider a table runner

Table runners can look super classy and don’t have to be expensive to give a ‘put together’ aesthetic. “I always make one for my clients if they have any curtain fabric left over but any remnant shop or outlet factory will have gorgeous fabrics for next to nothing which can be transformed into a beautiful table runner,” says Jo.

4. Or wrap up your table

If you have different height or shaped tables to accommodate all of your guests, Jo suggests dressing them the same with a simple white table cloth and then a thick red ribbon around the middle with a bow in the centre. “You’ll basically turn the tables into a present and turn odd tables into a cohesive festive dining room.”

5. Seek out cracker alternatives

Consider replacing paper crackers (that can create unnecessary waste) with a folding name card that includes a riddle, joke or general knowledge question printed inside – these can be personalised for different ages too so even the younger generations can get involved. And rather than a throwaway trinket, why not make keepsake friendship bracelets for each of your guests with their names or initial threaded onto the cord and placed on their plate. “If you have children, you could always get them to do this as a task in the lead up to the festivities to keep them occupied and your guests will love the thought and effort that’s gone into it,” says Jo.

6. Easy extras with wow factor

There are plenty of inventive ways to add an element of interest to your table. Try oranges with candles or cloves embedded into them; jam jars filled with battery powered fairly lights or tealights wrapped with a red or green velvet ribbon around the rim; mini pots of Poinsettias. Dot them along the centre if you have a long table or if you have a circular or oval shape, style them in clusters - odd numbers always work well so aim for groups of three to five. You could also use the same thin ribbon to wrap your cutlery to tie it all together.