Whether your planning a holiday party or hosting Christmas dinner this year, your table setting is the pretty packaging around your delicious dinner. Play with festive linens and place settings for the occasion, and top it off with a centerpiece that brings the whole look together.

Is there a formula for creating your centerpiece perfectly? Well, sort of. Before you begin designing, consider the shape of your table. Round tables look great with one showstopper in the center. Square tables are more flexible: they can look great with one, but also have room for two depending on the number of guests your seating at the table. Rectangular tables look best with three centerpieces, one in the middle and one on each end so that all your guests have a centerpiece nearby to admire.

Tip: Centerpieces help start conversations—so make sure your centerpieces aren’t too tall so that your guests can see over them.

You don’t need a ton of flowers to make an impact either. These clever and creative ideas use old items in new ways to give your centerpiece some wow factor. It’s budget-friendly, and frankly, more fun! Take a look at our ideas below and let us spark your imagination.