How to Create the Perfect Holiday Centerpiece
Enjoy a satisfied smile as your friends and family “Ooohh” and “Aaahh” over your perfect centerpiece. They don't have to know how easy it was for you, and these tips-and-tricks will make it especially simple to create a stunning centerpiece for your special holiday table this year. From a chic pumpkin vase to an all-out cornucopia, here are some holiday shortcuts to make that centerpiece pop.
Getting Started
The holidays are all about abundance, gathering with loved ones, and getting cozy by bringing the outdoors in. A great holiday centerpiece helps do all of the above—so don’t be afraid to incorporate natural elements or go big with the holiday decorations. Holiday decor is the backdrop of what will inevitably be wonderful memories, after all.
Color
One of the first things to consider is the color palette since a centerpiece should complement, and not clash, with the rest of the decor. For somebody who likes to implement a new holiday decor scheme every year, the entire color wheel can be a muse.
If the same decorations and linens come out year after year, this is a good starting place for thinking about the centerpiece. Should it blend in with existing pieces, or provide contrast? Is it an opportunity to add new color, or will the result be too busy? Here are some ideas for achieving different styles with color:
Classic: each holiday already has its own colors associated with it, and there is nothing wrong with sticking to the playbook—especially if the goal is to achieve a traditional centerpiece style. For Thanksgiving, think yellow, burnt orange, and plum. For Christmas, red, green, and gold. And for Hanukkah, blue and silver.
Classic with a Modern Twist: a fun way to play with traditional holiday colors is to adjust them so they are a shade adjacent to their classic version. For example, instead of bright red Christmas decor, try a muted red instead. You might also experiment with including a non-traditional color to offer contrast, like a blue accent for a Thanksgiving table.
Monochromatic: monochromatic decor is as elegant as it is understated. Go all out with a single color, or leverage a monochromatic table runner and place setting design to make the centerpiece the clear focal point.
Keep in mind that with all of these ideas, as long as the elements or decorations being used in your centerpiece are in season, they will help evoke whatever holiday is being celebrated. For end of the year holidays, this often means that anything dried or natural will fit right in, and earthy tones are a go.
Form & Function
Something else to consider is what does the centerpiece need to accomplish, besides looking beautiful. Is it a focal point for the table or the entryway, or does it need to be more subtle? Does it need to smell a certain way? Where will it be located, and is height something to plan for?
If the centerpiece is meant for a holiday table that guests will be seated at, it’s better to keep the design low enough so it doesn’t encumber or block conversation. If it will be sitting in a foyer, at a cafe table, or buffet instead, height is less of an issue and may even be desirable.
When creating a centerpiece that pulls double duty (think aromatic), try adding scented pinecones. Not only will they evoke those cozy, winter-time feelings of nostalgia, their aroma will instantly set the holiday mood. Fragrances are deeply tied to memories, so they are a great way to fast track feelings of love, laughter, and family.
Lighting
Nothing is cozier than a candlelit dinner, and this is true whether it’s a romantic date or a holiday meal with loved ones. Depending on the guests and how mature their motor skills are (hello, small children), it may make sense to opt for artificial candles instead of the real thing. Either way, here are some ideas to add a little mood lighting:
Tealights and Votives: these are a holiday staple, and for good reason. Low to the table and small, they are hard to knock over and easy to have in abundance (with small candles, the more the better). Any small glassware can work as a vase, including mason jars, short glasses, and jam jars.
Candelabras: for a more glamorous and dramatic effect, opt for the holiday candelabra. Nothing says “special occasion” like these tall and skinny candles, which will also add height to the tablescape without sacrificing views. Just be aware that this top-heavy decor could fall victim to a clumsy arm or table bump, so be mindful of where these are placed.
Twinkle Lights: perhaps because they are the staple of Christmas tree decor and the warm feelings trees communicate, these string lights seem like they’re everywhere now. Inexpensive and available in a wide range of sizes, styles, colors, they are the perfect accessory to incorporate into holiday decor and tablescapes. They are frequently sold with battery packs, instead of needing to be plugged in, which makes them even easier to use in a variety of decorative applications. Try them in a garland table runner, to accent the rim of a vase, or try placing them carefully throughout the centerpiece itself.
Seasonal Stand-Bys
There is a reason fresh flowers denote spring time, and dried flowers are seen more in the autumn and winter seasons, and that’s seasonal growth patterns. Historically, dried flowers are what have been available at the end of the year, and because evergreens do not lose their needles in the winter, they are a common element of Christmas decor, rather than fresh blooms. With the exception of poinsettias, of course!
Here are some recommendations for seasonal items to use with each holiday:
Thanksgiving: pumpkins and gourds (mini for the table, regular for everywhere else), cinnamon sticks, dried pomegranates, pinecones, dried corn, dried wheat stalks, cinnamon broom sticks, and dried oak leaves
Hanukkah: dried pomegranates, evergreen wreaths and garlands, dried eucalyptus, dried lotus pods, and pinecones (natural or painted silver)
Christmas: pinecones, dried berries (especially cranberries), evergreen wreaths and garlands, dried eucalyptus, cinnamon sticks, and brooms
Flower Arrangements
Flower arrangements are a classic choice for a show-stopping centerpiece. They are not only festive, seasonal, and beautiful, they also relieve stress. It is easy to create professional-looking arrangements at home, a feat which will truly amaze dinner party guests.
A great way to put a seasonal spin on a floral centerpiece is to switch out the container for something undeniably seasonal, like this pumpkin vase centerpiece.
To recreate the look, first find a pumpkin that matches the decor scheme. This one is white (and faux for convenience) but it’s easy to opt for a different breed or even paint one to your liking. Then, cut the top the same as if carving a jack-o-lantern and scoop out all of the seeds inside.
If the plan is to only use dried elements, as seen in this arrangement, go ahead and stick a floral foam block or flower frog directly into the pumpkin and start arranging! If opting for fresh flowers, fill an appropriately sized vase with water and insert it into the pumpkin first, in place of the foam.
Cornucopias
Often associated with a goat-horn shaped basket, cornucopias are containers overflowing with good things—whether they be fruit, vegetables, or even dried flowers. While you may not have the appropriately shaped vessel to call it a “cornucopia,” it is possible to use other woven baskets, wooden bowls, cakes stands, or tree rounds to create similar-feeling centerpieces focused on abundance. These types of arrangements are an easy alternative to flower arrangements, since they require little to put together and even less to maintain. Depending on the materials you use, they can all be saved and used year-after-year.
One advantage to these types of centerpieces is that they are easy to customize as little or as much as desired. Keep it simple and switch out holiday-specific elements as needed. As fall is the season of cornucopias, think pumpkins and gourds, pinecones, persimmons, pomegranates, and corn, but don’t hesitate to swap out these items in preparation for the next holiday. There is no need to start from scratch every season, or even every year, if you don’t want to!
In this beautiful winter-inspired “cornucopia,” both whitewashed and natural (yet scented!) pinecones are used along with lotus pods and eucalyptus branches in an understated wooden bowl to create the perfect Christmas table centerpiece. The candlesticks and mini evergreen wreaths complete the look and add an element of cheer to the tablescape.
Making Memories Through Craft & Decor
For the decorator who is feeling extravagant, go all out with a different container and different natural details for every holiday dinner. Either way, these centerpieces will add to the good feelings of the season and guests are sure to appreciate the small thoughtful touches.
Whatever your holidays looks like this year, we hope these tips will help you create a centerpiece that is as beautiful as it is calming—goodness knows we could all use a bit of peace right about now. Homes are a place of comfort, love, and respite from our busy days, and this year more than ever we encourage you to embrace this spirit and invite some holiday magic into your interiors. Whether it’s just you, your family, or a whole gang of loved ones, a well-crafted centerpiece can be a wonderful reminder of how important it is to gather and celebrate life’s moments together.
