use a red or dark green table cloth. once you've have the essentials out scatter a few pine cones, red or gold sequins, gold chocolate coins and fake fir garlands down the middle of the table and wrapped around the candle sticks. You can then nestle the salt and pepper etc inside...really looks festive and people can nibble the gold coins afterwards!
forget a fancy flower centrepiece (they don't last in centrally-heated rooms), just pile clementines (with leaves attached preferably), fir cones and shiny baubles on dish or plate.
I have friends who are farmers and I can get my hands on dried field corn- off the cob. I put it in a glass vase with a candle. I don't light the candle but it makes a nice centrepiece. It is a beautiful golden colour and costs nothing for a few handfuls. Easy to clean up and can even be kept for the following year.
I saw this at a friend's house: they took terra cotta planters, put pillar candles in them, along with some spanish moss. Then, they tied a festive bow around the outside near the top. They had a couple of those on the table surrounded by some pine cones.