Looking for ways to decorate your table for the holidays? Wait until you see these clever Christmas dinner easy table decor ideas.

I love dressing up my table for guests.

Do you?

It can be a little intimidating if you don’t entertain often, but this post is going to break it down and provide simple ways to up your table decorating game in a few easy steps that you can replicate again and again in a matter of minutes.

And the best part?

This post is part of my monthly virtual supper club where my friends and I gather to share some entertaining, table decor and menu ideas.

Last month, we celebrated Thanksgiving.

And this month’s theme is all about Christmas where you’ll get incredible Christmas dinner easy table decor ideas and a delicious holiday menu.

I’m in charge of the main course this month!

(Posts on stacyling.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure.)

Christmas Supper Club Dinner Party

Speaking of supper club, have you been following along?

We’ve been having SO MUCH fun!

If you are not familiar with what a supper club is, CLICK HERE.

Dinner groups are a ton of fun and if you want to learn how to organize one, you’ll want to check that post out.

So far, the group and I have celebrated:

If you are coming from Rachel’s at the Ponds Farmhouse welcome to my home!

farmhouse dining table with large neutral centerpiece of greenery, pine cones, and gift boxes in front of black hutch with beautifully displayed china

Christmas Dinner Easy Table Decor Ideas

For this month’s supper club, I’m sharing some table decor and centerpiece ideas for the Christmas table.

I know decorating a table might seem a bit scary to some, but tables are not hard to design once you understand the basics and have a few key pieces that you can reuse anytime.

So with that…let’s decorate the Christmas table.

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

Centerpiece Ideas for Dining Table

For starters, find your decorating inspiration.

Are you decorating with neutrals, red and white, green and white, blue and white, etc.?

Or draw maybe you are drawing inspiration from the Christmas decor trends in 2021.

If you love a cottagecore house like me, you’ll want to bring the outdoor elements inside to the table.

And to do that?

Fresh or faux winter greens are the way to go!

Now I don’t know about you, but I am so not a fan of needle drop or the care required to keep fresh greens going from Thanksgiving through the holidays.

So I go with faux winter greens and florals.

If I’m feeling like I want to use fresh greens on my table for an event, then I’ll make one using fresh cuts from the yard within a day or two of the party.

But in general, I find it easier to decorate and work with faux for the holidays.

It’s a lot less stressful.

And allows me to work on all the other things associated with entertaining.

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

How to Make a Christmas Dining Table Centerpiece

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love a good centerpiece.

Because to me, the centerpiece is the hub of the table.

And drives the direction of table decor for any given theme.

You can do nothing else but have a fabulous centerpiece, and the dining room (or kitchen) will feel like it’s totally decorated for the season.

Because I gravitate to set-and-forget faux arrangements for the holidays, most of my centerpiece ideas are made using the same materials but different ways.

christmas table settings
A centerpiece idea from Christmas past.

And if you want to use a set-and-forget approach with faux, start collecting seasonal faux greens and flowers using these tips.

When making a centerpiece, start with a vessel you love.

For me, I am obsessed with my vintage toolbox.

It looks incredible on my farmhouse dining table and I love the vintage rustic vibe.

I found it for like $15 when thrifting in Vermont!

Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Table Decor Ideas
A Christmas centerpiece from Christmas past.

This vintage toolbox has gone through so many different looks throughout the seasons using the same same faux greens and florals.

Here are some examples of the seasonal evolution of my vintage toolbox!

Did you notice any repeats in the design?

It’s amazing how different it looks when you swap a few things out for the seasons.

For Thanksgiving this year, I decorated my centerpiece with this gorgeous warm autumn color palette.

And for my Christmas dinner table this year, I am drawing inspiration from THIS winter centerpiece idea from Christmas past.

I really wanted to use THESE small tabletop Christmas trees again in the design.

Budget-Friendly Winter Centerpiece Ideas
Winter centerpiece idea for dining table.

Now that I’ve shown you some different types of centerpieces, here are some tips to designing one.

  • Keep centerpieces 12″ and under or 24″ above so guests can see one another across the table. If you plan to remove the centerpiece for the meal to accommodate Christmas food ideas, then by all means do what you want!
  • When using a vessel like a toolbox, planter, crate, etc., start with floral foam or thick greenery to anchor the florals.
  • Follow the thriller, filler and spiller method of design for containers.
  • The base is typically the spiller (hangs over the edges to soften the lines).
  • Thriller is what gives the centerpiece height and drama. In this centerpiece idea, it’s my small trees.
  • Filler is what we fill in with like florals, more greens and other organic elements.
  • Stuff it until you can’t stuff if anymore.
  • Step back a few times to see what it needs.
  • Since greens are…well green, make sure you use different sizes, textures and color to add dimension to the centerpiece.
  • Add organic touches like pinecones, rustic Christmas ornaments, faux berries, etc.
christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

Christmas Dinner Easy Table Setting Idea

Now that we have the centerpiece designed it’s time to set the table.

And what I said earlier about collecting a few staple pieces will help make table decorating SO MUCH EASIER.

What does this mean?

  • Neutral dinnerware that can be used with any theme.
  • Neutral table setting pieces (linens, runners, placemats and chargers) that can do double duty throughout the seasons.

Let me show you how I’m making a few small changes from my Thanksgiving table to Christmas this year.

It took minutes to create because the design concept was already there!

Simple Fall Table Decor and Thanksgiving Food Ideas

For this Thanksgiving table, I designed a cozy, rustic vibe using a warm autumn color palette.

Notice all the details that I used with the table decor because I’m going to show you how I’m reusing most of it for my Christmas table but getting a whole new look.

For starters, the best way to make a table feel cozy and inviting is to decorate with layers.

From a tablecloth to a tablerunner, to the placemats, chargers and dinnerware, layer it!

5 Christmas Decorating Trends for 2021

Since I love to leave my wood farmhouse table exposed, I used THIS as a table runner beneath my centerpiece.

Doesn’t it look so cool on the table?

I love all the texture and dimension it adds.

And how fun that it’s not ACTUALLY a table runner.

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

For each table setting, I started with my favorite cedar branch placemats from Pier 1.

Many of you ask about these so I’ve been searching for them online to share a link with you guys but I can’t find them anywhere!

As an alternative, I suggest using a small boxwood wreath or something similar similar layered in the table setting.

Depending on the size wreath you find, that would drive which layer it is in each place setting.

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

The next table setting layer is THESE gorgeous chargers.

I know I use them a lot in my table designs, but I love them!

And that’s what I mean about collecting table decor staples that you’ll use over and over again.

To add some casual elegance, I used my Lenox.

I have two sets, one from my wedding and the other was passed down from my grandmother after she passed.

Both patterns or neutral so I can dress them up or down and use them all the time.

Not just holiday gatherings.

I topped each dish off with gorgeous napkin rings like THESE and my pretty green hemstitch napkin linens.

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

Instead of going with stemware like my Thanksgiving table, I pulled the copper color from the gift ornaments and went with THESE moscow mule mugs.

Don’t they look so good with the centerpiece?

I love how it draws that color down to the table from the centerpiece.

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

Then I used THESE cute little cutlery pouches to hold each place setting.

Aren’t they adorable?

I love how my Christmas table looks.

Pretty neat how you can use so many of the same things but get a totally different seasonal look!

christmas dinner easy table decor ideas

Thanks for stopping by my home today!

Next up on the supper club tour is my good friend Jen from Midwest Life and Style.

close up of candles and christmas trees centerpiece

More Christmas Inspiration

And if these ideas aren’t enough to get the creative juices flowing, check out these posts for more ideas!

Follow the Rest of the Christmas Supper Club Tour

My friends have some amazing tips, tricks and fall harvest dinner party ideas that you’ve got to see!

So be sure to check each one out by clicking on the photo with blog name below.

Pin and Save It For Later

christmas table decoration ideas wording with pics of centerpieces and place settings

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

Stacy Ling
A luxurious chandelier hangs over a festive holiday display with greenery, poinsettias, and candles. A sign in the background adds to the cozy atmosphere. Text reads: "2024 Holiday Shop - My Top Finds to Deck Your Halls This Season.
The bricks \'n Blooms guide to a beautiful and easy-care flower garden book by stacy ling
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  • Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
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Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

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26 Comments

  1. Pingback: Simple Blue And Green Christmas Tablescape With Tartan Plaid - Midwest Life and Style Blog
  2. Pingback: Simple Ideas to Create a Beautiful Farmhouse Christmas Tablescape
    1. I’m with you Stacy, I’m not a fan if using real indoors. Too much upkeep.

      Your table is so pretty and always love your tool box

  3. Pingback: 5 Creative Christmas Table Decor & Farmhouse Style Table Setting Ideas
  4. Such a beautiful table Stacy! I love the touches of copper and the cute packages in your centerpiece arrangement!

  5. Pingback: A Beautiful Holiday Tablescape with Fresh Greenery - Vintage Home Designs
  6. Hi Stacy. Everything is so beautiful. Anxious to see your new home as that was a big surprise. You make wonderful memories.

  7. Your table is so pretty, Stacy. I love all the details you added. Especially those cute little presents in the centerpiece!

  8. Another beautiful tablescape Stacy! Love the pop of color the copper mugs provide. And I’m obsessed with your vintage tool box too! I need one! Pinned!

  9. Such a beautiful tablescape Stacy. I always love to see how you’ll incorporate your pretty toolbox!

  10. So many great ideas!! Where are your green napkins from?? I looked everywhere online this morning for green…not lime green, not pea green, not neon green napkins!!

  11. Stacy this post if full of so much inspiration! I think that toolbox has become your signature piece! I love it and thank you for letting me join you all this month!

  12. I know you’re probably all packed up but I wanted to hop over and see this beautiful tablescape. I love that tool caddy and will be on the lookout for one. You’ve given us sooooo many great ideas. Looking forward to seeing what you do in your new home. Love it all! Merry Christmas