A beautiful Christmas centerpiece pulls the whole table together, and you can make one in minutes. Here are 24 easy DIY ideas, from elegant and rustic to mason jar and tall centerpieces, plus options for round tables, coffee tables and kitchen islands.
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Tips for Choosing a Christmas Centerpiece
- Mind the height: keep dining centerpieces under about 12 inches, or go tall and thin so guests can see past them.
- Match the table shape: long tables suit runners or a row of small pieces; round tables suit one compact cluster.
- Go easy on scent near food, and keep strongly scented candles for the coffee table.
- Candle safety: keep flames away from greenery and paper, or use flameless candles.
Easy DIY Christmas Centerpiece Ideas
These easy DIY Christmas centerpiece ideas take 20 minutes or less.
1. Lantern With Greenery
Place a lantern with a flameless candle in the center of the table and wrap greenery and berries around its base. Add a bow to the handle. It’s simple, safe and works on any table.
2. Candle and Ornament Tray
Arrange three pillar candles on a round tray and fill the gaps with ornaments, pinecones and greenery. Use a mirror or wood tray. It looks full with very few pieces.
3. Bowl of Ornaments
Fill a glass or wooden bowl with shatterproof ornaments in two or three colors and tuck a few greenery sprigs in. It’s the fastest centerpiece there is. Use ornaments left over after decorating the tree.
4. Cranberry Floating Candles
Fill a glass vase or bowl with water, add fresh cranberries and a few evergreen sprigs, then float tea lights on top. The red berries look stunning lit up. Make it the day of the party.
5. Pinecones in a Hurricane
Fill the base of a glass hurricane with pinecones and set a pillar candle in the middle. Add a ring of greenery around the outside. Snow-tip the pinecones with white paint for a frosty look.
6. Potted Rosemary Trees
Group two or three small potted rosemary plants, often sold shaped like mini Christmas trees, and wrap the pots in burlap or kraft paper with a bow. They smell wonderful. Guests can take them home after.
Elegant Christmas Centerpieces
Elegant Christmas centerpieces rely on a calm palette and a few luxurious textures.
7. White Roses and Greenery
Arrange white roses or carnations low in a bowl with cedar and eucalyptus. Grocery-store flowers work well. Keep the arrangement low and wide for dinner conversation.
8. Gold Candlesticks and Magnolia
Lay a magnolia garland down the center and add gold candlesticks with cream tapers. The glossy leaves look luxurious. Use flameless tapers if the garland is dried.
9. Mercury Glass Votives
Cluster mercury glass votive holders in different heights with tea lights. They sparkle beautifully at night. Mix silver and gold for a warmer look.
10. Potted Amaryllis
Set a blooming amaryllis in a decorative pot and cover the soil with moss. Its big red or white blooms make a natural centerpiece. Amaryllis bulbs can rebloom next year with care.
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Mason Jar Christmas Centerpieces
Mason jar Christmas centerpieces are cheap, quick and easy to make in sets.
11. Greenery and Berry Jars
Fill mason jars with evergreen sprigs and red berries and tie twine around each neck. Line three or five down the table. It’s an easy look for a long table.
12. Snow-Filled Candle Jars
Pour faux snow or Epsom salt into jars and nestle a battery candle on top. Add a sprig of greenery around the rim. It glows softly and looks wintry.
13. Cranberry Jar Candles
Fill jars with fresh cranberries and water, then add a floating candle. The red color is festive and bright. Change the water if the party lasts more than a day.
Rustic and Farmhouse Christmas Centerpieces
Rustic and farmhouse Christmas centerpieces use wood, metal and natural greenery.
14. Wood Slice With Candles
Set a large wood slice in the middle of the table and arrange candles, pinecones and greenery on top. It adds natural texture. Look for wood slices at craft stores.
15. Galvanized Tray With Trees
Fill a galvanized tray with mini bottle brush trees and a little faux snow. Add a tiny lantern. It’s a farmhouse favorite.
16. Crate With Greenery
Fill a small wood crate with greenery, pinecones and a couple of lanterns or candles in glass. It’s sturdy and easy to move. It works on a kitchen island too.
17. Birch Log Candle Holders
Drill shallow holes in a birch log to hold tea lights, or set votives on top of short birch rounds. Add greenery around the base. Never leave real candles unattended near wood.
Tall Christmas Centerpiece Ideas
Tall Christmas centerpiece ideas suit buffets, entry tables and large rooms.
18. Branches With Ornaments
Arrange bare branches or birch twigs in a tall vase and hang small ornaments from them. Add a few lights. It’s dramatic but airy, so it doesn’t block views.
19. Tall Cylinder With Ornaments
Fill a tall glass cylinder with ornaments and water, then float a candle on top. The ornaments look magical under water. Use shatterproof plastic ornaments.
20. Candelabra With Greenery
Wrap greenery and berries around the base and arms of a candelabra with flameless candles. It’s perfect for a buffet or sideboard. Thrift stores often have candelabras.
Christmas Centerpieces for Dining, Coffee and Kitchen Tables
Choose a Christmas centerpiece for the dining table, coffee table or kitchen island with these ideas.
21. Round Table Cake Stand
On a round table, build a compact centerpiece on a cake stand: ornaments, a candle and greenery. The stand adds height without blocking views. It keeps the middle of a small table tidy.
22. Coffee Table Tray
Style a tray with a candle, a small tree, a stack of holiday books and a bowl of ornaments. Keep it lower than a dining centerpiece. Use scented candles here, away from food.
23. Kitchen Island Dough Bowl
Fill a long dough bowl with greenery, pinecones and candles for a kitchen island. See our dough bowl centerpiece ideas for more. It suits the long, narrow shape of an island.
24. Dining Table Greenery Runner
Run a faux or fresh garland down a long dining table and add candles and ornaments along it. It covers the length of the table beautifully. Leave gaps for serving dishes.
Christmas Centerpiece FAQ
How do I make an easy Christmas centerpiece?
Fill a bowl or tray with ornaments, candles, pinecones and greenery. A lantern with greenery around the base is another five-minute option.
How tall should a Christmas centerpiece be?
For a dining table, keep it under about 12 inches, or choose a tall, thin design like branches so guests can see past it.
What do you put in a Christmas centerpiece?
Common elements are greenery, candles, ornaments, pinecones, berries and fresh flowers like roses or amaryllis.
What is a good Christmas centerpiece for a round table?
A compact centerpiece on a cake stand or round tray works best, since it adds height without crowding the table.
More ideas: our dough bowl centerpieces, Christmas mantel decor, and all Christmas crafts and decor.
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Want more? Browse all Christmas Crafts & Decor ideas →
Photos are illustrative stock images from Pixabay. Prices are approximate and were checked at the time of writing.
