A simple Christmas table decoration you can make in 15 minutes
Christmas can be busy, and table decorations are often the last thing anyone has time for. This is a simple, inexpensive Christmas table decoration you can put together in minutes, using things you likely already have at home. It works just as well for everyday meals as it does when guests stop by, and it fits almost any style without taking over the table.
As a bonus, this decoration is easy to move if you want to clean the table or would like to move it somewhere else. There’s very little effort involved in making it. It just takes a few minutes outside to collect the greenery and a little rummage around the house for a tray and some tealight holders.
Why simple works best at Christmas
When the children were young we used to go all-in with our decorations. These days, I know that December already is more than full enough. And any decorating activity should be fun and easy, instead of adding to the stress.
To make this easy table decoration, I usually just go to the nearest pine tree and collect some greenery. And then I look around to see what else looks good enough to be used.
This has the added advantage of getting me out of the house for some fresh air and a little exercise!
Beti, our Welsh terrier, is keeping an eye on the proceedings. (Click on the picture to learn more about this not so common dog breed.)
What you need
Please remember: the whole point here is to reuse what you already have, and what you can easily find outside. This simple Christmas table decoration will work with practically anything you can find in and around the house.
- One tray, board or shallow bowl. Use whatever you have. It will be covered by greenery anyway, so it’s not a problem if the color is not perfect, for example.
- Tealight holders or candlesticks. Here we used 4 tealight holders, to achieve an advent-wreath style. But any number of lights work, as long as they fit on the tray or board.
- Tealights or candles to put in the holders. Since this is a table decoration, I would recommend unscented ones (so you can fully enjoy all the delicious Christmas food smells).
- If the tealight holders might get warm, consider using something under them to protect the tray (and the table, of course). Such as coasters, small tiles, little bowls or saucers.
- Some greenery (pine branches, spruce branches, fir branches, some holly – whatever you can find).
- Some decorative natural elements: pinecones, some heather branches, dried berries or flowers, small apples, dried orange slices, some cinnamon sticks (tied together with twine), etc.
If you like, you can also add any other kind of Christmas decoration. Small Christmas tree balls or baubles, little bells, fresh fruit or flowers, and so on.
A tray, some greenery, tealight holders and a few pine cones. That’s all you need to make this simple Christmas table decoration.
How to put it together
Part of why this simple Christmas table decoration is so quick and easy (and affordable) is that the different elements are not fixated in any way. No fiddly wires, just put it in place.
- Put the tray on the table.
- Put the tealight holders/candlesticks on the tray and adjust to how you like them.
- Put the larger branches loosely around the holders. If the branches are too stiff, you can break them a little.
Tip: putting them all in the same direction creates a nice flow. - Tuck in the other greenery in any open places, sparse spots and such. Try also here to keep the same direction of the branches.
- Take the other decorative elements you have and distribute them on and between the greenery.
- Finish by putting the tealights or candles in the holders.
That’s it – you are done! Now you can celebrate by lighting the candles and enjoying a nice cup of coffee or tea at your decorated table. Maybe even with a piece of our Cranberry Cake?
Arrange the tealights (or candlesticks) on the tray or board. If necessary, use coasters under the tealight holders so the tray doesn’t get too warm.
Start by laying the largest pieces of greenery around the tealight holders. It’s fine to break the twigs to get the desired shape.
Arranging all greenery in the same direction gives a nice flow.
After the larger pieces of greenery are in place, start filling the gaps with the smaller pieces.
All kinds of twigs, cones and leaves can be used as decorative elements.
Nestle the other elements on top of and between the greenery. Add fresh tealights to the tealight holders and you are done!
Remember to keep it safe
Every decoration that uses tealights, votive lights or candles is a fire hazard!! There are a few ways you can reduce the risk:
- Make sure to use tealight holders that will stay cool enough to not heat up the greenery and decorations.
- If using candles, do not let them burn down so low they might touch the greenery.
- In many cases it might be better to use battery-operated tealights or candles, instead of real ones.
- When using real lights: do not leave this decoration unattended at any time.
- Also, be careful when adding other decorative elements that might be extra-flammable (like dried flowers).
This simple Christmas table decoration is so easy to make because the greenery is just laid out on the tray. However, that also means the greenery will dry out after some days, and maybe shed some needles. If that happens, either put in some fresh bits or re-do it. It takes only minutes to make anyway.
And, even better: everything is fully reusable and/or recyclable.
Keep decorating enjoyable, quick and affordable
You don’t need a new table setting every year or a decoration that only works for photos. A simple Christmas table decoration that fits real life will get used, enjoyed, and appreciated far more than something complicated. This is one of those solutions that keeps Christmas feeling festive without adding another task to your list.
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