Christmas table centrepiece ideas – 14 ways to create a festive focal point

A beautiful Christmas table centrepiece will set the scene for festive celebrations, making the dining table feel extra special. From fragrant foliage and baubles to pine cones and candles, there are plenty of ways to make a dining table showstopper. Aside from place settings, the centrepiece is one of the most important Christmas table decoration ideas, as it becomes the focal point.

So how do you make a stylish display without ending up with nowhere to put the Christmas dinner trimmings? We'd argue that more is more when it comes to the big day, but making a moveable centrepiece or one made up of smaller arrangements you can move (or give to guests) is a good way to make it more flexible.

1. Make a wreath your centrepiece

Wreaths aren't just for the front door – you can use one as a festive centrepiece by placing pillar candles of different heights in the centre. Add delicate string lights and extra foliage, ribbons, dried orange slices and berries to the wreath to add scent. Go faux and you can bring it out every year and simply add some real cuttings to bulk it out. 

Or get a basic real one to add to in keeping with your colour scheme. Whatever you got for some real foliage has the added benefit of bringing you lots of gorgeous Christmassy scent, which will invite guests to gather around the table.

Rhiannon Johns, interior designer at Piglet in Bedrecommends adding some orange and red leaves and sticks of berries to your wreath. 'This can be placed on the table surrounding some electric candles or perhaps a seasonal cake if you choose to serve one,' she says.

2. Go for a seriously statement candelabra

For a Christmas table centrepiece with an excellent effort-to-reward ratio, choose a statement candleholder. Nothing says Christmas like a Christmas tree, so this eye-catching design works particularly well in setting the scene.

A large, traditional Christmas candle arch in black or metallic would work well too, but it's the height that makes it look so striking. Look out for large candle holders at vintage stores and car boot sales and you might find just the thing.

3. Choose a dried floral display

Fancy going for something more modern and pared-back this year? Complement your existing colour scheme with a contemporary Christmas centrepiece, like this vase of eucalyptus. It requires minimal arranging, leaving you more time to focus on the food and company.

Rhiannon Johns says a simple and classic centrepiece made up of a vase of seasonal flowers will create a chic look this Christmas. 'This really is enough to impress your guests and won't overcrowd the rest of the table,' she says.

Any dining room colour scheme can be warmed up and made to feel more festive with some gold tones in the accessories. Choose table decorations in colours you already have in your space to blend them in seamlessly, especially if you feel like loud and overtly Christmassy decor will give you a headache.

4. Showcase spare baubles in crockery

If you're looking for ways to shop your home this festive season, then making use of Christmas decorations that typically go elsewhere on your table is a nifty hack.

On this tablescape, a chic green and white bowl from Henry Holland has been filled to the brim with baubles. The great thing about this idea is that even if you treat yourself to some new crockery to use as the centrepiece, you can get good use of it throughout the year too.

5. Create a snowy tree display

Finding budget Christmas decor ideas is key to making sure you don't overspend in the festive period, and this is easy with bottle-brush trees.

With a pack of 24 for £12.99 from Amazon you can easily create a showstopping Christmas table centrepiece. Pop on top of a table runner or add some foliage around for a forest-inspired look.

6. Create a candlelit runner

There's nothing quite like the glow of candles as you eat a cosy meal, or gather around the table to chat after dinner.

Make this atmospheric lighting element the star of the show by creating a runner using candle after candle. Keep things alight - without setting anything alight! - by using a selection of realistic artificial flames, rather than the real deal. The Chapel Candle Trio, £22.99, Lights4Fun are a great option.

Keep the theme fully set on Christmas by weaving in long sprigs of mistletoe or ivy to finish off.

7. Make a festive moss bowl

The moss bowl was a surprising home decor trend originally sparked by the Kardashians, used as a centrepiece on kitchen islands.

For a festive twist, fill a fruit bowl with moss, pine cones and candles, and surround it with foliage. Pick up a stoneware bowl with a wavy, organic form or see if you have anything hidden in the cupboard that might work.

8. Suspend homemade string garlands

'I personally love natural accessories and decorations,' says colour and paint expert Annie Sloan. 'Repurpose Christmas tree clippings – foliage throughout the home creates a big impact at a low cost, and the smell of pine is so nostalgic! 

'You can create a bespoke centre piece from found objects foraged for on a bracing December walk with your family. Start with a beautiful twig and gild the edges - or all over for more drama - using my Gilding Waxes. Combine with some ivy or glossy holly - adding a touch of paint to the leaves if so desired. Essentially free, wholesome and perfectly tailored to your space.'

9. Style a moveable centrepiece

Unless you live in a fully open-plan home, it can be a little annoying to spend ages working on making a beautiful Christmas centrepiece, but not get to show it off, or even look at it too much.

To get the most out of your creation when setting a Christmas table, design the centrepiece to be transportable. Find a solid, flat based wicker tray and fill this in to serve as your centrepiece. You can layer in baubles, moss, ivy, candles...whatever your heart - and scheme - desire.

Then, following the meal, you can move the tray to your coffee table for everyone to continue enjoying. Just make sure to blow out candles a few minutes before you want to move the display.

10. Keep things fresh

With little sunlight, so many heavy, soporific foods and - let's face - exhaustion from all the planning, you can feel pretty tired come Christmas dinner. Revive yourself by choosing a fresh and invigorating centrepiece.

Bringing in a growing potted plant, perhaps green ivy, a small pot of bright red-berried wintergreen, or a pretty container of the blooming cyclamen, will add life and energy to your table.

11. Start with the tableware

'Tableware should take centre stage at Christmas,' says Alison Howell, Design and Development Manager at Burleigh. 'Mix and match patterns within a colour theme. I like to layer up the bowls and flatware to form an architectural temple to the main event- the food! All the bowls and plates will allow the guests to share the different dishes with ease.'

Choose a white and green colour scheme for your tableware so you have a fresh jumping off point for creating the centrepiece. Weave in long, soft lengths of fresh fir and eucalyptus throughout serving platters, echoing patterns on the flatware.

12. Switch out your florals

Flowers aren't the only thing which works well in a vase.

As an alternative Christmas table centrepiece, make like Oka and set aside your poinsettia blooms and replace with a full and bushy bough of fir. Make sure it's got a relatively sturdy branch, to prevent it from drooping over too quickly and spoiling the effect.

Think about how to fold napkins for Christmas so that you can add in tiny sprigs of fir to the individual place settings, too

13. Create an edible arrangement

'Nature is an endless inspiration: a striking centrepiece can be created using simple stems in a bud vase placed in the middle of the table,' says Judith Harris, Head of House & Home at TOAST. 'Scatter walnuts, hazelnuts, and pinecones to add texture and depth before placing big bowls of vegetables and salads carefully among the table foliage.'

For the ultimate Christmas dinner hack, make your centrepiece work even harder by using fruit that then becomes part of your dessert - oranges and berries can be added to chocolate-based puddings, while grapes, pears and figs can be plucked out as the perfect accompaniment to the cheese course.

14. Think about height

An easy but effective way to make a Christmas table centrepiece with depth and dimension is to play around with height.

Set up several candles or small posies at varying heights along the table. As you arrange these, sit down in a dining chair and ensure that the tallest pieces don't block the person opposite and that the smallest aren't getting lost in and among the glasses and any extra decorations you're using.

FAQs

How do you make a simple Christmas centrepiece?

Making a Christmas centrepiece can be as simple or as involved as you wish. For a very relaxed approach, you might just want to gently drape long lengths of eucalyptus running centrally down the table. From there, you can layer with holly, ivy, dried oranges and star anise… anything you can forage (or find in your kitchen!) which will add depth and interest.

Small sprigs of fresh rosemary are a clever addition as they will add a lovely aromatic touch to the display. This type of look is best created fresh, but you can stretch it out for a week or so (New Year’s party, perhaps?) by keeping the room cool, spritzing occasionally and simply replacing dried-out items.

One practical yet beautiful option is to create a centrepiece made up of small oasis blocks, at Amazon, which you can use to arrange foliage, and they make lovely gifts for people visiting over the festive season. It means you can move the arrangement around more easily, rather than having one huge arrangement.

How can I make a Christmas centrepiece on a budget?

David Denyer from Eflorist recommends using fresh flowers like amaryllis, poinsettia and red roses to create a centrepiece that's more affordable and pre-arranged pieces. 'You first need to have a great base. This could be a wide vase, wreathe, or floral foam – even a simple bowl can work really well. 

'Next you simply arrange foliage, flowers and any other adornments. My biggest piece of advice would be to cut the stems on your flowers so that everything in your arrangement sits quite low in the base. When you’re enjoying a conversation at the table with your loved ones this Christmas, the last thing you want is an overly tall centrepiece getting in the way!'

 Other ways to save money is including decorations and bowls you already have, and taking cuttings from the garden. This will also give you a one-of-a-kind design.

What should I put on my Christmas table?

Your Christmas table should be made up of a few key elements – once you have these in place you can go wild adding extra decorations and touches of personality. A tablecloth or runner is great for adding a sense of occasion, along with, of course, your Christmas table centrepiece! Water jugs, salt and pepper, and mats for hot side dishes are useful to lay out centrally, too.

For the place settings, consider adding a charger in addition to the mat, in order to add more interest. Side plates aren’t always used at home, but if you can’t go overboard at Christmas then when can you?!

How do you make a table look Christmassy?

Setting any table for a big occasion should be a fun and creative experience, so the key is to really lean into the theme. You want to be able to glance at the table and tell if it’s for Christmas, Easter, a birthday… For a Christmas table simply include key Yuletide signposts, like holly, ivy, oranges studded with cloves.

If it’s a family or child-friendly event, add a couple of mini reindeer and dishes filled with novelty chocs. Finally, remember that colour is incredibly evocative - reds, greens and metallics all direct your thoughts towards Christmas.