Gathering with family and friends for the holidays somehow turns every meal into a special event to celebrate the season. We transform our homes into winter wonderlands with trees, lights and decorations.

Now what about the table? Serving a festive meal requires creative ideas for tablescaping your dining room! Here we share some of our favourite accents and materials to create a simple but memorable design. The table can reflect your own home decor style as well as carry on the seasonal accents you've put up this time of year. If your home is all done up in silver and gold, then create a tablescape that also uses those accent colours. Of course we love to use natural materials in our designs, such as greenery, pinecones and other finds for the season. We've created a minimalist design in this white centric home, using fresh cedar and pine branches which pop with a bright green colour on the tablecloth. We added in eucalyptus stems for a lighter blue-green shade and juniper cuts for their beautiful berries. Pinecones are the finishing touch and add texture.

Even though this winter greenery lights up the room with its fresh colour and seasonal feeling, candles are added to the table to create some mood lighting and height. There are different coloured candles, and the gold candle holders are all different heights, creating interest throughout the design rather than perfect symmetry.

An advantage to using boughs of greenery is that they can be laid lengthwise across tables without taking up too much space. Keeping them in the middle of the table allows room for plate settings, glasses and elbows! For added drama, take the tablescaping off the table! A gorgeous long train of winter greenery continues off this table edge and falls gracefully to the floor, adorned with pale ribbons. Not only does this look fantastic, but it also creates the illusion of a longer table. Just make sure it's out of the way of guest's feet so you don't have any accidents during the event. You want each guest to feel special and putting individual accents on each plate can add an extra warm feeling to their meal. We used pine and juniper cuts, highlighted on white napkins, which ties into our main design theme. Other ideas for plate decor this season include:

• Eucalyptus
• Red ilex berries
• Holly leaves
• Herbs like rosemary or lavender
• Magnolia leaves
• Little Christmas baubles
• Skimmia berries
• Tillandsia air plants

Get creative and make each plate setting individual and beautiful for your guests. Create a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds with beautiful winter accents on your table. Poinsettias, succulents, orchids and other seasonal plants can be incorporated (potted or cut) as well as finds from your garden or nursery centre. If candles aren't suitable, then try battery powered strings of twinkle lights to make an enchanting evening!

Most of all, have fun, and  enjoy spending time with your friends and family. Merry Christmas! (credit for these photos goes to Monika Hibbs)