The centrepiece is what turns a table laid for dinner into a Christmas table. It does not need to be elaborate: one good piece in the middle, some greenery and a little light will do it. Here are ten easy ideas, from a long, low glass centrepiece to a bowl of pine cones, with notes on height, candles and care. Prices were correct when we published this guide, and each product page always shows the current price.
The short answer
Start with one low anchor piece down the middle of the table, add greenery such as fir or eucalyptus, then a little light: tealights in holders, or battery fairy lights among the foliage. Keep it below about 30cm so guests can see each other, and keep every flame well clear of greenery.
1. A long, low glass centrepiece
Our extra large double piece (£76.80) sets a hand-blown glass bowl at each end of one long piece of gamal wood, about 75cm from end to end and low enough to see over, so it fills the middle of a dining table without blocking anyone's view. For Christmas, fill each bowl with moss, small pine cones and a few baubles, or plant a succulent on gravel and keep it there all year. It weighs about 10kg, so measure the table and set it in place before the plates go down.
2. A bowl of pine cones and baubles
A glass bowl filled with pine cones, baubles or both is the simplest centrepiece there is, and it lasts all season. The molten glass sweet bowl (£29.50) sets a wavy-rimmed glass bowl into a chunky block of wood; add a sprig of fir beside it and it is done. Each piece is hand-blown, so the rim on yours will curve a little differently from the one in our photo.
For more height at the end of the table or on a sideboard, the large glass bowl on a wooden stand (£35) holds a generous heap of baubles.
3. A row of tealights down the runner
The triple candle holder (£30) holds three tealights or small candles in a low row on one piece of wood, which suits the middle of a runner. On a long table, set two end to end with a little greenery between them, kept well clear of the flames.
4. A tealight at every place
A single candle holder (£11) at each place setting gives everyone their own small glow, and three of them grouped in the middle make a centrepiece of their own.
5. A stem and a tealight together
The small vase and tealight holder (£16.95) puts a bud vase and a tealight on one small piece of wood. A short sprig of eucalyptus or fir in the vase, trimmed so it leans away from the flame, makes a neat setting for every two places.
6. A foliage runner
Lay fresh fir, eucalyptus, ivy or rosemary straight down the middle of the table, then set your glass pieces along it. Fresh foliage usually looks good for about a week; dried eucalyptus and pine cones last all season. Put a cloth runner underneath to protect the table from sap and damp, and keep the foliage well clear of candle flames.
7. Winter stems in a vase
A single bare branch, a few stems of eucalyptus or a handful of white flowers brings height without bulk. The V-shaped vase (£52), about 24.5cm tall and holding about 650ml, suits a branch; the medium vase on whitewashed wood (£35.75) suits white tulips or anemones. Keep tall arrangements on the sideboard or mantelpiece, where height does not matter, and use a small flower vase (£12) with one stem at each place instead. For more ideas, see what to put in a vase without flowers.
8. A candle sand centrepiece
Candle sand pours like sand and burns like a candle, so a wide bowl with several wicks makes a long, low glow down the table. Use a stable, heat-resistant bowl of your own at least 10cm across: glass, ceramic, metal and thick wooden bowls all work. Pour at least 5cm of sand with the top 2.5cm below the rim, and keep every wick at least 5cm from the sides and from each other, so a wide centrepiece bowl may need two pouches. Burn it for no more than four hours at a time, never leave it unattended, and keep greenery away from the rim. Our candle sand comes in 300g pouches with four cotton wicks, in ten fragrances at £12 or unscented white at £9.60. Our candle holders are made for tealights, so use your own bowl for candle sand. See candle sand ideas for more.
9. A living centrepiece
A glass terrarium makes a centrepiece that lasts well beyond Christmas. Lay moss in the base, add a few small pine cones or mini baubles, and tuck in a sprig of fir. The large diamond terrarium (£29) has an open top in a brass-finish frame, and the extra large ball top on dark tung wood (£45) closes with a wooden ball stopper, which suits moss. Light it with battery fairy lights if you like, but never put a candle inside a terrarium. Our gifts for plant lovers guide covers the full range.
10. Battery fairy lights in clear glass
A string of battery LED lights coiled into a clear vase or bowl glows without a flame, which makes it the easiest way to add light right among the foliage. Tuck the battery pack behind the piece or under the runner.
Getting the height right
- Keep it low. Anything in the middle of the table should sit below about 30cm, so guests can see each other across it.
- Leave room for dishes. A long, narrow centrepiece leaves space on either side for serving plates.
- Repeat on a long table. Two or three smaller pieces along the runner work better than one large one.
- Think in odd numbers. One, three or five pieces usually look more relaxed than pairs.
Candles and greenery: staying safe
Keep every flame well clear of foliage, pine cones, crackers, napkins and paper decorations. Never leave a lit candle unattended, and blow candles out before you leave the room or clear the table. Stand holders on a stable surface, out of reach of children and pets, and never move a holder while the candle is lit. Among the foliage itself, battery LED tealights give the same glow without a flame.
Caring for glass on wood
Our molten glass pieces are hand-blown glass fused onto wood, so keep any water inside the glass and the wood dry: wipe spills straight away and never stand a piece in water. Hand wash the glass with warm water and a soft cloth, and let a tealight holder cool completely before you clean it.
Ordering in time for Christmas
We dispatch within 1 to 2 working days, and UK delivery is a flat £4.99, usually arriving 3 to 5 working days after dispatch. Carriers get busy in December, so it pays to order early.
Common questions
What do you put in the middle of a Christmas table?
A low anchor piece, such as a long glass centrepiece or a bowl of pine cones, with fresh foliage along a runner and a little light from tealights or battery fairy lights.
How tall should a table centrepiece be?
Below about 30cm, so guests can see each other across the table. Anything taller looks better on a sideboard or mantelpiece.
How do you make a Christmas centrepiece last?
Build it from long-lasting things, such as pine cones, moss, baubles and dried eucalyptus, and refresh any fresh foliage after about a week. Keep it away from radiators and direct sun.
Can you use real candles with Christmas greenery?
Yes, with care. Keep every flame well clear of foliage and paper, never leave candles unattended, and use battery LED tealights among the greenery itself.
Browse our candle holders, bowls, vases and statement pieces, read what to put in a decorative bowl, see the Christmas gift edit, or dress the fireplace with our guide to styling a mantelpiece.
