Festival of Brights: Jewel-Tone Christmas Decorations

A bed of fresh-snipped greens is way more modern than a fabric runner. Lay clippings neatly down the center of the table, then line up a dozen or so glass and ceramic candlesticks. Use both tapers and pillars in colors of your choice—we like purple, green, and gold, but any combination of three shades will work. The idea is to mix up napkin, plate, and place mat shades, keeping the tones compatible. A glass ornament with a name tag at each place setting lends a finishing touch.