Do you have special holiday dishes? A collection that brings you extra joy when you set your Christmas table? My Christmas tablescape is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season!

My collection only started three years ago. For years, I’d admired Williams Sonoma’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas collection from afar. But for me, the cost was prohibitive. It still is!

There is something magical about this set for me. I find it a beautiful balance between the elegance and the childlike wonder the holiday. I especially adore all the whimsical details on all the different designs, tied together with the gold swirls and stars in the background.

However, I figured out that the prices of this popular set plummet after Christmas, when pieces go on clearance. I bought my first piece, a single coffee mug, for pennies on the dollar. And my new obsession was born!

I soon learned to watch the Williams Sonoma website off season, as well. As a result, I have slowly built my collection through clearance prices and several gleefully generous gifts from loved ones (many of which were also purchased on sale or clearance). I got everything in the below photo for 80% off through a sale mid-February!

Bottom line: if you have admired a pricey collection from afar, don’t forget about clearance sales! Set price drop alerts and be willing to buy off-season. It’s possible to build a beautiful collection on a budget!

Also, don’t be afraid to pull in similar pieces from other collections for interest. For more casual December meals, I love using my set of melamine nutcracker plates from FAO Schwartz and matching embroidered nutcracker napkins from Cost Plus World Market, against the backdrop of my formal linens.

Do you have a holiday dinnerware collection? Tell us which one(s) and why you love it the comments below!