Deck the halls *and* your table this year with these cheery centerpieces and table runners.
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O come, all ye faithful Christmas decorators, to the list of our favorite (and easy-to-accomplish) Christmas table decorations. There’s so much to do during the holiday season–from planning Christmas dinner menu to wrapping all the presents (try these tips to wrap like a pro)–that setting the table shouldn’t be stressful. Just like all of the other Christmas decorating ideas, these centerpieces, place settings, floral arrangements, and runners are easy to throw together. Most can be done while guests are snacking away on their favorite Christmas appetizers. You can even get the kids involved by having them make a festive gingerbread house to serve as the centerpiece of your Christmas tablescape. (Or, you can get them out of your hair by distracting them with your latest Elf of the Shelf scheme.)
So, spruce up the holiday flowers and blast your favorite Christmas tunes: It’s time to decorate! From classic red-and-green themes, to a subdued Scandinavian-inspired evening, to all the Shiny Brite colors we promise that there is a Christmas table decoration idea on our list that will surely liven up even the Grinchiest of guests.
1
Ornament Trees
Make a slew of these festive and colorful trees to arrange down the center of a table.
To make: Cover Styrofoam cones (we used 12- and 15-inch cones) with ornaments, attaching them with hot-glue. Start with larger ornaments at the bottom, transitioning to smaller ones as you work your way up. Fill in any gaps with mini ornament balls. If desired, wrap the finished trees with vintage tinsel and beaded garland.
2
Cupcake Tree Placecard
These festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes make great place card decorations. And, who doesn't love dessert before dinner at the holidays. These are made with strong coffee, which gives them both a deeper, richer flavor, as well as a little boost for Santa—or anyone—staying up late to fill the tree with presents.
Find the Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe here.
3
Movie-Watching Party
Think outside the dining room! From a ticket garland to theater-candy brownies, this cozy flick-themed gathering (complete with downloadable bingo cards) makes movie viewing more memorable. Vintage cookie tins make festive individual popcorn “bowls.” Set out a selection of comfy pillows and warm blankets for snuggling up while viewing.
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4
Shiny Brite Candlesticks
Decorate the mantel or holiday table with a few of these easy to create festive candlesticks.
To make: Hot-glue ornaments in assorted sizes to silver or glass candlesticks.
5
Candy Cane-Coded Centerpiece
This color-coordinated Christmas craft can be added to your table long before Christmas Day—you'll just need to switch out the flowers every week or so. Begin by placing a small pillar vessel inside a larger vase, and fill the gaps between the two with red and white marbles. Next, fill the inner container with a mix of anemones, garden roses, and evergreen sprigs (or whatever white flowers are available in your area).
6
Winterberry Farm Table
Make guests feel cozy with this easy setup—no holiday china required! Just layer on the plaid napkins and blankets as seat cushions for a little holiday pizzazz. Add red or green tapers and snip greens from outside to bring this look together.
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7
Shiny Brite Centerpiece
No time? This centerpiece comes together in seconds. Just create a two-tiered table arrangement by placing a footed tureen on a platter and then fill both dishes with your favorite vintage ornaments.
8
Winter Wonderland Christmas Table
Textured neutrals and snowy motifs evoke a Scandinavian spirit on this dining table.
To make: Start with the stars. Draw a five-point loop in one end of a piece of silver craft wire. Thread beads on wire, bending wire per drawing as you go. Feed loose end of wire through loop, crimp, and cut. As for the acorn tree centerpiece, paint nuts with white craft paint, leaving caps natural. Attach a loop of twine with hot glue. Hang from a spray-painted branch set inside a spool of twine.
9
Classic Holiday Color Palette
Use spiny leaves and bold berries to create a holly-jolly Christmas table!
To male: Cut holly leaves from dark and light green card stock. Use a bone folder or wooden skewer to indent veins in leave, then trace indents with a green colored pencil. Run down the center of the table and lay red jingle bells throughout. For the straws, attach small die-cut holly leaves and berries to a red-and-white paper straw with a dab of hot glue.
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10
Craft A Baker's Twine Christmas Tree Collection
A group of Styrofoam cones wrapped in red-and-white baker’s twine and topped with star-shaped cookie cutters make the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas crafting table.
11
Back to Nature
Who says holiday tables have to be decorated with holiday themes? Pinecones, fresh greens and found feathers play off the vintage china in a woodland motif. Set your scene off with natural rattan chargers and twig-inspired silverware. (If you go with faux greenery, you can easily transition this centerpiece from Thanksgiving to Christmas with ease).
12
Flower Frog Christmas Tree
Stack up old and new green flower frogs in the shape of a tree and decorate with mini ornaments for an unexpected twist on a Christmas centerpiece.
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13
Christmas Table Bouquets
Lean into the simple life and embrace no-fuss greenery. Add understated holiday flair with simple arrangements of silver dollar eucalyptus and blue thistle in vintage vessels.
14
Retro Bulb-Themed Bash
This tablescape gets its inspiration from those vintage ceramic trees from Christmases past.
To make: Cut off the bottom of a small round Styrofoam ball and attach vintage Christmas lights to the top and sides with hot glue. For the napkin rings, attach a loop of red-and-white baker's twine to the base of a bulb with hot glue; wrap base completely with twine and around rolled napkins.
15
Tart Tin Tree
Create a needle-free Christmas tree by stacking a collection of tart tins ranging in size from 2 to 12 inches.
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16
Fabric Peppermints
Scatter a few of these faux peppermints around the holiday table or make a bunch and set them in a bowl on the buffet. Let's just hope no one things they are actually a sweet treat!
To make: Cut a piece of red and white ticking striped fabric into a 6.5-inch by 4-inch rectangle. Use pinking shears to cut a decorative edge on the short ends. Glue two 2.2-inch wood craft rings together with hot glue (you can cut pieces of cardboard into rounds and glue them together). Wrap fabric around rings and tie ends tight with red rickrack.
17
Vintage Wonderland
With this reclaimed centerpiece, a 1960s Holly Beverage Co. soda crate filled with bottle brush trees adds a touch of festive cheer to the dining nook. The area is furnished with an antique table—which was actually bought at the Country Living Fair!
18
Peppermint Party
A candy cane-inspired display makes for the sweetest setup.
To make: Start with the place cards. Bend 7-inch-long pieces of 18-gauge gold wire into a candy cane shape. Attach lengths of rosemary with fishing wire. Cut card stock to size and use a red brush-tip pen to stain edges, then write names with a gold pen. Punch a hole in one corner, thread thin red ribbon through hole, and tie around "candy cane." To make the ribbon runner, secure differing widths of red, white, and pink grosgrain ribbon on the diagonal to a burlap runner with strips of thin fusible webbing.
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19
Mason Jar Christmas Tree Centerpiece
Stack mason jars filled with colorful ornaments to create a glimmering Christmas tree-inspired centerpiece.
20
DIY Christmas Light Napkin Ring
Vintage-style bulbs make for inventive napkin rings! We love the colorful, happy look of this easy DIY.
To make: Attach a loop of red-and-white baker’s twine to the base of a bulb with hot glue; wrap base completely with twine and tie around rolled napkins.
Erynn Hassinger
Erynn Hassinger is the Design Director of Country Living Magazine.
