FOOD and style writer Anna Barnett shares her favourite tips for conjuring up beautiful Christmas table settings.

IF READYING the table for dinner on December 25 is one final frazzled festive step too far, don't worry, writes Gabrielle Fagan.

Thanks to her career in magazines and television, stylist Anna Barnett knows a thing or two about glamorous effects and glittering occasions.

She has turned the tables on traditional settings by putting her own spin on three festively fabulous looks, and she promises they are all easy to achieve.

"I love doing a Christmas table setting as it's a chance to be super-creative and let your personality shine through," said Anna, whose second book, How to be Gluten Free and Keep your Friends (Quadrille, £12.99), is published in January.

"It honestly doesn't need many ingredients to give a setting the wow factor. Just be inspired by your bauble collection and add a few more details, like foliage," said the author and blogger.

"Make it eye-catching and engaging - and a little bit different - and people will enjoy your feast even more."

- Serve nature with an Aussie flavour

"This is my favourite," said Anna. "It's a refreshing, Australian-inspired scheme using eucalyptus stems. Their subtle, muted colour is so in tune with the fashionable country look. Fruits and metallics give it visual punch but this is still a lovely easy-on-the eye, tranquil effect."

Step 1: A hanging display

Use a small bunch of willow branches attached to two leather straps or ribbon. Hang from a ceiling centrally above the table or kitchen counter, or alternatively on a wall or from a pendant light or chandelier. Suspend lightweight baubles at different heights onto branches using invisible thread (fishing line is ideal).

A palette of two to three colours works well; gold and orange is a classic combination. "I've included miniature Christingles - oranges spiked with cloves," said Anna.

Her colourful hanging display features Habitat accessories such as Cosmos gold star tree decorations, Roca multi-coloured faceted baubles, Anngarsk metallic baubles and Neal glitter-dipped baubles.

Step 2: The centrepiece

"Lay a line of eucalyptus stems the length of the table and intersperse with gold, copper or bronze baubles, which will reflect candlelight. These shades look incredible together and eucalyptus has a relaxing aroma," said Anna.

"Bring the effect to life with pomegranates, artichokes, oranges and walnuts - I've spray-painted some of them gold too. A selection of candlesticks - marble or metallic - of different heights creates atmospheric lighting."

Enhance with interesting texture such as a linen tablecloth and napkins, and creamy white hand-thrown pottery contrasting with sleek china dinnerware.

- Decorate on the dark side

"Black isn't normally a colour people think to decorate with at Christmas, but this is a really different dramatic scheme, with a cool, contemporary vibe," said Anna.

"This really suits pared-back Scandi-style decor, which is so on-trend, and I love the idea of dressing the table to match the room's decor. Ramp up the drama and go really moody with all-black dinnerware, or keep that lovely sharp contrast of monochrome. For me, this is a winning combination of playful and quirky."

Step 1: The centrepiece

"Black's a great base to accentuate colour and texture, and I've layered gold and pine on the top," said Anna. Place fir tree branches down the middle of the table to fill the room with pine scent, and entwine with battery-operated fairy lights.

Pine fronds and pom-poms give warmth to this look and stop it being too stark.

Step 2: Bespoke place settings

Baubles and gift tags with every guest's name written on each make a lovely gift and souvenir of the meal for each person to take away.

- Create a fiesta feast

"If you love colour, this one's for you," said Anna. "I've used a traditionally seasonal palette of red and gold as a base but then thrown in a fiesta vibe with over-the-top patterned baubles, sequins and glitter. Lots of glitter!"

Step 1: The centrepiece

Any foliage will work - maybe a mix of eucalyptus stems and dark green ivy - with lots of fairy twinkling lights. For added zing, weave in strands of red and gold ribbon or glitter string.

"Plunder your bauble collection and maybe add some new ones to the mix. And feel free to go OTT. The bigger the display, the more impressive it'll be.

"If you're worried about overwhelming a table and not leaving enough space for platters and plates, arrange the effects in clusters spaced at intervals."

Step 2: Place settings

"Attach gift tags to small cocktail crackers for each setting. I've used wool-tassel tree decorations (Habitat) here as a cutlery tie, or you could use them as a napkin ring. These are nice takeaway favours for guests.

"If you want to cool down the look, substitute white or even silver china for the red plates. It'll give the same vibe but not quite as bold."