Naturally BRILLIANT

Seasonal foliage, gathered from your garden or local florist, will pair well with natural tones of wood and linen in a rustic setting such as a barn or conservatory. A miniature garden centrepiece, or an overhead bower, adds drama.

(Opposite) RUSTIC REPAST A simple wooden farmhouse table is brought to life with candles and brush trees, while rustic serving boards make inventive placemats. Jars of spruce cut from the base of a Christmas tree are positioned at one end and a homemade wreath and bower of arching larch twigs adds a stylish touch.

1 AVANT GARDEN Use a low zinc tray (sold as saucers for windowboxes – try worm.co.uk) filled with water and scrunched chicken wire to create a miniature garden. Plant it up with moss, succulents, hydrangea heads and dried seed heads. Finally, spear dinner candles into the wire to secure.

2 STRINGS ATTACHED Old-fashioned twine and a luggage label with an evergreen sprig is a stylish way to demark a place setting.

3 IVY TRAIL A quick and easy way to dress your table is with classic trailing ivy and fir branches woven in and out of place settings. Add some sparkle with candles or battery-operated fairy lights.

4 PRICKLY PEARS A row of pears studded with cardamom and finished with a tiny twig sit between vases of snowberries. Papier-mâché versions are quick to make with foil, newspaper, glue and paper (look for demos on Youtube). Or find readymade Styrofoam pears to decorate from The Little Crafty Bugs Company (littlecraftybugs.co.uk).

5 PICK OF THE BUNCH A posy of berried ivy, cypress with cones and mistletoe makes a pretty place setting that guests will be delighted to take home with them.