YOU may choose to slave over a hot stove this Christmas to create the perfect feast, but there's no need to toil over the table. We've done the prep for you and asked the experts to dish up top tips for four fancy festive themes. So whether budget or luxury, traditional or bold, there's no excuse for not serving up in style...

MIDAS TOUCH

Gold's synonymous with glamour and this setting could make you glow with pride... "Gold's a seasonal favourite and looks beautiful contrasted with white, but you could ring the changes this year and use a dark grey or even a black tablecloth for a dramatic, glamorous effect, which will also make table decorations star," says Clare Harris, managing director, Talking Tables.

"Texture and tonal variation are key to creating an interesting table, so add glittering table scatter and maybe a mixture of pieces of your own vintage glassware. Fill glasses or tiny vases these with posies of evergreen foliage, or sweet treats wrapped in metallic papers, and the display will look even more striking set with tea lights on a mirrored tray. This could make an easy-peasy centrepiece.

"For more table dressing inspiration, browse Pinterest or Instagram, as party planners often post pictures of fabulous wedding tables. These are often more creative than Christmas tables and you can steal ideas!"

TOP TABLE: Talking Tables Party Porcelain range offers all the gold ingredients for a setting: A 12-pack of paper Gold Bowls, £4; Gold Cutlery, £7 for a pack of six plastic knives, forks or spoons; Gold Embossed Napkins, £3.50 for a pack of 20, and plastic Champagne Flutes, £2 each.

Marks & Spencer's super stylish tableware includes a gilded set of four Swan Head Forks, £19.50, and a pair of Twig Leaf Salad Servers, £19.50.

For a final flourish, add Gold Contemporary Christmas Tea Light Holders, bearing a multitude of 'Merry Christmas' messages, £9 each from The Contemporary Home. For simplicity and style, Black by Design's Karen Blixen for Rosendahl Copenhagen Gold Plated Advent Candle Holder, £78, wins hands down.

RED-Y, SET, GO

Red and white's a classic choice that's cheery and truly traditional... "This year, we have a beautiful 'deck the halls' Christmas theme. It's a vibrant and contemporary palette, with vivid reds, shades of soft grey and accents of tartan. Supported by shades of warm teal and green, the range pays a nod to festive foliage and Christmas pines," says Clare Stevens, senior buyer at Poundland.

"Add atmosphere by hanging a Christmas stocking and a red wooden gift tag on the back of each chair. That most traditional icon of the season, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, runs through the decorative theme."

TOP TABLE: Poundland's bursting with red table treats: Christmas Beaded Charger Plates, Dinner Plates and Bowl, £1 each, and Christmas Wine Glasses, in spotted or stripe design, also £1 each. Their gift tag selection includes sweet 'Made by Santa's elves' Wooden Gift Tags, £1 for pack of six.

An easy centrepiece is a clear glass bowl filled with red baubles: Red Glass Acorn Baubles, £1 each. You could also pop tea lights in three or four Christmas Plants Pots, £1 each, proclaiming the encouraging message 'Keep calm, it's Christmas', and don't forget the crackers: Nordic Crackers Six Pack, £1.

The Contemporary Home has charming white or red Reindeer Tea Light Holders, £5 each.

SILVER SHIMMER

Celebrate silver and metallics for a sophisticated and elegant 'frosty' setting... "For a truly luxurious dining experience on Christmas Day, you need a spectacular table with glistening accessories, glassware and linen," says The White Company founder Chrissie Rucker. "I love a pure white linen cloth, and then use a pre-lit beaded garland laid down the centre of the table as a centrepiece. I then simply pair it with a scattering of our mercury tea light holders for added sparkle.

"On the wall behind the table, I like to hang a net of cascading fairy lights, which looks even more effective hung over a mirror, and for a focal point, an evergreen wreath suspended above the table. On shelves nearby, I have silver baubles displayed in clear glass vases, which catch the light and add to the atmosphere."

TOP TABLE: The White Company makes it easy to conjure a magical setting with its irresistible range: a Beaded Pre-lit Silver Garland, £60, and net of Cascading Fairy Lights - 300 Bulbs, currently reduced to £48 from £60. Set each place with Silver Beaded Placemats, £30 for set of two, and matching Coasters, £16 for set of four. Ramp up effect with Sparkle Snowflake Table Scatters, currently reduced to £10.50 from £15 for a pack of 20, along with Silver Mercury Pillar Candle Holders, £25 each, and Mercury Dome Tealight Holders, £6 each.

Creative Tops' Beaded Silver Napkin Rings, £8 for set of four, suit this look. Make guests feel even more special by setting a Ginger Ray Snowflake Bauble Place Name Card Holder, £5.99 for pack of six, beside each plate.

I love the Embellished Tea Light Holder - Antiqued Silver, £4, from Sophie Allport's collection. Filling vases and bowls to overflowing with baubles needn't dent the budget: Poundland has eight-packs of Shatterproof Medium Textured Silver Baubles, £1.

WICKED WOODLAND

"Off-white or grey china and table linen are perfect for a subtle country or woodland feel for a table setting, which is so on trend in interiors, and this look suits both sophisticated soirees and Christmas banquets," says Emma Sims-Hilditch, creative director at Neptune.

"My biggest tip for decorating is to adorn the entire room with the same motifs you use on the table. So if I'm using leafy garlands and lots of candlelight as my centrepiece, I'll repeat that effect on window ledges and other surfaces, and even group candlesticks in a cluster to illuminate a corner of the room. It helps to bring the whole room to life and will make the dining table look even more spectacular.

"Don't ignore chairs and benches - simply draping a chunky throw or sheepskin rug on seats or chair backs adds to the comfort and ramps up the feeling of cosseting luxury."

TOP TABLE: Set the scene with Emily grey table linen, a Linen Tablecloth, from £81, and Linen Napkins, £33 for set of six, Neptune. Its Fenton bone china dinnerware range is made for this look, with its soft grey filigree design and shimmering band of platinum; Dinner Plates are £132 for a set of six. Introduce soft lighting with a line of Blyton Candles in charcoal, from £5 each, down the centre of the table, and a birch wood Ennis Star Tealight Holder, from £5.

I've just discovered online interiors brand Pasx, whose desirable range includes a set of two Xmas Sparkle Tea Light Holders - Rose Pink, £9. Crystal glasses give a real lift to a setting, and Gurasu's Pure Luxe Pineapple Crystal Wine Goblets in Smoke, £46 each, are stunning.

Play up a woodland theme with Silver Plate Napkin Rings With Stag's Heads, £34 for set of four, At Home In The Country.