Preparing your Christmas table

• How to lay the perfect Christmas table
• Preparing your Christmas table
• Choosing your Christmas table decorations

Think about table size
If your dining room isn't long enough for an extended table, moving it to a long hallway could be the answer. Or use the living room, with the Christmas tree and present on display, it's a festive and informal place to eat.

Extend your table
Create an extension with a garden table placed at one end. Picnic and trestle tables are also good makeshift extensions. Really stuck? Use a sheet of MDF placed on top of a smaller table, with batons screwed onto the bottom to stop it from sliding. Don't forget to check that you're table cloth is long enough!

Seat everyone in comfort
Comfortable seating during Christmas dinner is a must, so make sure you've got enough suitable chairs. If it's a squeeze, benches or stools are ideal as they take up less space.

Organise the seating plan
Think about the table plan in advance. Christmas lunch can last for several hours, so you could suggest that a few guests move places after the main course so everyone has the chance to talk to someone different at pudding. Hand-written place cards add a personal touch.

Protect your table
Most tables need protecting from hot dishes and spills. Rubberised protectors, available on the highstreet, can be slipped under the tablecloth. If you aren't using a tablecloth, place heatproof mats along the table for hot serving dishes.

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