Christmas Table — Runners, Candles and Aprons

The table is the only decoration guests look at for three hours without moving. It is also the one you set up last, thirty minutes before everyone arrives, with the cooking still going and no time left to think.

The deciding factor is what survives a real meal. A wax candle has to be watched and drips on the cloth; an LED candle sits among children and stays lit through dessert. A runner washes and folds; a large patterned tablecloth has to be ironed, and stains with the first spilled glass.

Three things set a complete table: a runner for the length, a low light source in the centre, and something per place setting so each seat has its own detail. Cutlery pockets do the job of a place card in less time, and hold the napkin while they are at it.

Measure the table before choosing a runner: it should overhang by about twenty centimetres at each end to fall properly. Keep the centre line clear — anything over twenty-five centimetres tall blocks the view between two guests sitting opposite each other.