PROJECT : Secrets of a Well Dressed Table

Elegance doesn’t have to be expensive. This incredibly rich-looking holiday centerpiece was put together for less than $30, plus some stuff most people have in their closets and backyards.

First, keep the colors simple--here, for instance, we use gold and white. Start with a plain white tablecloth; down the center lay an Abaca tulle runner spun with gold thread from Ikea ($9.98).

Arrange some extra wine, water and Champagne glasses on the runner to form the frame of your centerpiece, staggering the heights. Cut long stems of ivy from your backyard and wind them through the glasses. A stem of orchids--the only flowers you’ll need to buy, and much cheaper than a full arrangement--goes at each end. Leave the water vials attached to the orchid stems so the flowers will last longer, just keep them covered with more ivy leaves.

Add a few drops of coffee or tea to a pitcher of water to give the liquid a slight gold cast, then fill the glasses--again making sure that the water levels are different. In each glass, put a floating candle from Pier 1 ($9 a dozen).

To carry the theme through, stay with basic white plates and white napkins. Tie each napkin with ribbon and insert a small stem of ivy. Use a single ivy leaf as a place card, writing the names on them with a metallic pen.