Five tips to set the trend at your New Year table

We all work hard on our festive food, so why not provide the setting to match? Caterer Charlotte Singer has some tips and simple ideas to create a celebration table with the wow factor:

Flower Power

Fill hurricane jars or vases with pomegranates, apples and water then top with seasonal flower heads such a hydrangeas to create a striking centrepiece to your dining table to welcome guests when they arrive. (Pictured in the header, top right)

Go for Gold

Spray paint apples gold for each place setting and write your guests names on them in white writing. Or to keep it even more simple, just attach cute personalised paper leaves to the top.

Light Fantastic

To create an atmospheric table centre, transform your apples into mini tealight holders - as in the left hand heading picture. Soak apples in an apple cider vinegar bath to keep them fresh, then use a melon baller to remove the top and place a tea light inside. Position them onto artificial wood slices (available from Hobbycraft or other craft stores) arranging the apple candles by colour, in an ombre style down the centre of the table. Simple but effective and it will certainly wow your guests!

Bee my Honey

As we welcome in a sweet new year, why not incorporate a honey theme into your table display. You could either create a clever hexagon-shaped beehive centrepiece (as pictured, above centre) from lollipop sticks or just simply give each guest their own individual honey jar and dipper on their place setting as a going home present.

Pile 'em High

Finally use height in your display to create a strong, visual impact. Place a hessian runner down the centre of the table and if you have any tiered cake stands in your cupboards, dot a few down the middle and fill with pomegranates and oranges. You could also cut some pomegranate and oranges in half and place directly onto the hessian runner. I would also add some fresh greenery such as eucalyptus leaves to add a further pop of colour.