Pretty Paint

• Items spray painted red and gold will work well on tables.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  If you’re decorating on a budget, much can be done with inexpensive cans of spray paint. One low-cost option is simply spray painting a few tree branches red and a few gold. Stand them up in vases of various sizes, tie red ribbons and gold ribbons around the vases, and you have an economical and also eye-catching centerpiece. You can also use this technique with other free or cheap materials such as pine cones, Styrofoam balls or pebbles.
  
  

Much Miscellany

• Arrange red-and-gold wrapped gifts on the table.PhotoObjects.net/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
  
  Use random red and gold items in your table designs. Shop in hobby and dollar stores to see what you can find. Buy gift wrap in these colors, wrap empty boxes with it and artfully place them on the table. Twist together red crepe streamers and gold crepe streamers and lay them down the center of the table as a table runner; add yellow and red Christmas lights for some sparkle. Other options include red and gold candles, bows and photo frames.
  
  

Fabulous Flora

• A red and a gold flower make a simple centerpiece.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Try some flower power. If you have the budget, order beautiful bouquets of red and gold flowers for the table or tables. If not, shop in craft stores for fake red and gold flowers and some accentuating greenery and skillfully arrange them in vases to create table centerpieces. A third and even cheaper option is getting crafty and making the flowers yourself, using such items as glue, cardboard, pipe cleaners and red and gold construction or tissue paper.
  
  

Colored Cuisine

• Serve a red and gold fruit salad.Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
  
  A delicious and eye-catching idea for the refreshment table is using red and gold foods as décor. For red foods, set out stuffed red peppers, carpaccio, roasted red potatoes and bowls of tomato soup. For gold foods, set out stuffed spaghetti squash, corn bread fritters, sautéed wax beans and bowls of corn chowder. Sprinkle a bit of gold turmeric powder onto a white meat such as chicken, fish or pork, skewer and grill, and serve over golden curried rice. For dessert, have a big cake made decorated with red and gold fondant, or make a fruit salad with mango, red cherries, yellow cherries, raspberries, pineapple, strawberries and banana.