Bring out the cards, cones and candles

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round...as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem, by one consent, to open their shut-up hearts freely." So said Charles Dickens.

Whilst giving and sharing are the two pillars on which Christmas stands, it can also be a very stressful time whilst you rush about making sure everything is perfect for family and friends.

Decorating the perfect Christmas table to bring in that festive mood is the all-important ingredient and who better than Rima Dardenne, an expert on decorating for Christmas, to tell us how:

- Make sure you plan your table around a seasonal colour scheme or theme. This will make the finished product look a lot more complete. For example if you have silver chargers, why not do silver and white for a more elegant Christmas look?

- White China is a great way to start because they can be dressed up or down, depending on the event. You can add a series of colours to these plates by changing the napkin colour.

For example, you can use a deep red napkin ring with a silver napkin which will create a feel of simple elegance. For the evening and for more formality, use a silver charger. If it is a more casual evening then leave it on a classic placemat.

- If you are serving buffet style, do not forget to add décor to the table. Litter the table with candles of different heights or if you want to be more creative, cover the table in pine branches that can be purchased at any flower store. This will give it an interesting and artistic touch.

- The centre-piece is an important aspect of any table decoration. It can either be a simple floral vase or a cluster of candles, but make sure what ever it is, it ties in with the theme of your evening.

Make sure you do not limit yourself to flowers though, because Christmas gives you a lot more creative freedom. For example, you could do a lovely bowl filled with exquisite ornaments.

-Candles add a wonderful ambience to any dining table. If you use candles they should be placed at varying heights, break away from symmetry, it keeps things more interesting.

- Music is an important part of a successful Christmas atmosphere. Make sure you set the mood with the right music; it could be a Frank Sinatra,s Christmas CD or something else, but it needs to support the atmosphere you want to create.

Last but not the least, you must always bear in mind that you should not limit your decorations to the tree. There are many other ways to fill your home with the seasonal spirit such as festive platters, candle holders and even Santa Clauses and sleigh knick-knacks.

- Other ways to instill Christmas cheer without breaking the bank: buy inexpensive tall glass vases and fill with Christmas baubles sticking to the colour scheme you have chosen. These glass containers can also be filled with mandarins, cranberries or green apples.

- Poinsettias are always the great Christmas standby, however traditional, and scattering them around the home always spells Christmas. You can even wrap your front door like a giant package if you want to push the point further. This is the only time you will be forgiven for going over the top, so throw caution to the winds and have fun.

- Place bowls of potpourri around the place to inject some fragrance into your surroundings.

- Your usual cushions can be swapped for ones which are just plain silly, with pictures of Christmas trees and reindeer or for a more glamourous look, go for gold and silver. Black and silver is a more modern look and looks stunning for a slightly Gothic touch to your Christmas ambience.

- To break away from tradition, find an old, tall branch and place it in a pot and weight it down with sand. Then spray paint the entire thing in gold or silver or better still, leave it plain and hang your Christmas cards from the branches.

- For a buffet table, you can place a large pine branch draped from end to end of the table, then fix your favourite ornaments with wire tying them to the branches.

Tree decorating: Twinkiling lights and pretty trinkets...

The very first Christmas trees were a far cry from the ones we know today. Paper roses, apples, Communion wafers, gold, foil, sweets and dolls decorated the trees of yore and today, as our own trees stand, some fake, some real, wrapped in twinkling lights, the connotations remain the same.

In the olden days, say some theorists, they signified life through harsh Western winters, symbolising hope for the arrival of spring. Whilst the origins remain shrouded in hearsay and mysticism, they continue to wield their own special brand of magic and have become synonymous with the occasion.

Whilst some of us have no problem in turning that old Christmas tree in the box under the stairs into a glittering success, many of us have trouble in making them look even passable.

Rima Dardenne, who has decorated some of the biggest and best Christmas trees in major outlets around Dubai, offers some great tree decorating basics.

Step 1: It can,t be stressed enough but make sure your tree has enough lights. Many people string Christmas tree lights around the tree like garlands. The truth is you should wind the lights into each individual branch and then tie the the garland around the tree weaving the garlands into the tree rather than hanging them like garlands. The more lights you have, the more your tree will sparkle.

Step 2: Once you have ensured you have placed the lights, only then should you think of placing your ornaments.

Step 3: To add depth, use a wide variety of sizes of ornaments; you can place larger ones within the branches of the tree, while leaving the smaller ones to hang on the tips of branches. Also make sure you don't hang all your ornaments on the tips of the branches. Placing ornaments and other decorations ‘inside, your tree working right out to the tips, adds depth and interest.

Step 4: Sometimes, it's great to mix different garlands because it adds personality to any tree. The truth is you still want to prevent a busy, cluttered look and this can be done by mixing several plain garlands with a larger, fancier one. When draping garlands, there are no hard and fast rules, just work your way through them, one by one and experiment till you get it right.

Step 5: Whether you are adding handmade ornaments or delicate glass ornaments, these memorable trinkets are the best part. When choosing how many ornaments to place on a tree, always remember a full tree is beautiful. Start by placing the ornaments you like the best to be right at the front and the centre, and then fill around them with other ornaments from your stash. This will ensure your favourite pieces claim the most attention.