Dining Room Table Centerpiece

At Deen's house, Branch makes six centerpieces, each about 2 feet tall, from apples stacked in the shape of a Christmas tree. Then he puts a pineapple on top. "I know it sounds strange," says Branch, "but it's beautiful." There are other ways. Roy Good creates a teardrop swag (that hangs or can be made to sit on the table) that he covers with LED lights and ornaments and adds baby's breath flowers and poinsettias. Cost: about $150. Objects made from mercury glass are becoming increasingly popular in centerpieces, says Kathleen Neave. She adds flowers and decorations that match the room to the glass. (Amazon.com sells a 24-inch LED prelit teardrop swag for $50.)

$300: Centerpiece made from mercury glass and flowers -- Neave Outdoor Group