When it comes to decorating for the holidays, don't forget about your tabletops! Here are five stunning Christmas centerpieces guaranteed to dazzle guests.

Hanging ornaments on the tree may be the pinnacle of Christmas decorating, but if you’re having guests over for dinner, you’ll need to do a bit more. You’ll also need to set a festive and inviting tablescape.

 

Need some inspiration on how to decorate your dining table this holiday season? 

Here are five Christmas centerpiece ideas that will surely dazzle your guests!

 

Impress your guests by combining silver and gold elements to create a stunning gilded tabletop. You can create this striking tablescape by merely mixing different textures of metallic silver and gold hues.

Make your centerpiece with vases and candleholders in sleek metallic finishes. Add white or metallic candles. Spread some shiny ornaments around the base of each candle. You can also add a few small Christmas trees to create an even more glistening winter wonderland vibe!

 

A gilded gold and silver centerpiece coordinates perfectly with dishes in similar tones. Make your individual place settings with fine china trimmed with silver or gold. Or, if you have all-white dishes, add gold or silver metallic chargers beneath each place setting.

 

Your tabletop will look even more impressive if you add gold-rimmed wine glasses and metallic napkins to each place setting.

 

There’s no need to buy a new tabletop centerpiece. All you have to do is gather up ornaments that you already have and create your own!

 

Take bowls, vases, and cups that you already have and fill or top them with your favorite Christmas ornaments.

 

Balance a large ornament on top of a tiny egg cup. Fill a clear glass vase with small Christmas balls or vintage ornaments that you keep as family heirlooms. Add a fruit bowl to your centerpiece and carefully position a few different ornaments inside.

 

An ornament centerpiece works with any tablescape. You can make it glitzy with spiral glitter ornaments. You can keep it modern with gold and silver balls. Or you can make it whimsical with one-of-a-kind hand-beaded Christmas balls and vintage decorations.

 

You can also scatter some ornaments around your bowls and vases to make it even more fun and festive. And if you need to add some light, you can easily accent this centerpiece with taper candles or small votive candle holders.

Make your holiday table simple, chic, and natural by creating a rustic centerpiece of fresh green garland.

 

A wreath of garland is all you need to turn a basic table setting into a beautiful work of art. You can use a strand in place of a table runner (so you won't have to worry about washing and drying any extra linens when the meal is over).

 

Sometimes, a centerpiece in the middle of the table doesn’t offer your guests at the end of the table a great view. But a garland centerpiece is the perfect way to make every guest at the table feel special and have a chance to enjoy the same décor.

 

Sprinkle in some votive candle holders or add a few tapers here and there to incorporate some luminescence and ambiance. You can make it even more rustic by adding a few pine cones, walnuts, or fruits.

It’s hard to think of a table centerpiece and not think of flowers. But plunking down a glass vase filled with a few stems isn’t your only option.

 

If you really want to wow and dazzle your guests, create a centerpiece with floating flowers instead.

 

Gather a few glass (or clear plastic) vases and fill them about halfway with water. Add a few flower blooms, with or without stems, and watch those flowers float! You can create a stunning centerpiece with a few hydrangea blooms, roses, daisies, or even loose petals. It’s all about getting creative and using whatever flowers are accessible at the moment.

 

Every table centerpiece looks better with candles, so you can also add a few small vases with floating candles inside.

You can also improve your table decor inexpensively by buying table liners cheap and getting creative with your table setting.

 

What we love the most about this centerpiece is that it’s inexpensive to create and easy to coordinate with any type of table setting. Go minimalist and modern with a few floating orchids in small vases. 

Want something more decadent? 

Add tall towering vases filled with roses and lilies.

 

The options are endless!

 

Whether or not you intend to exchange gifts at your holiday dinner, a centerpiece made of gift boxes is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

 

Make it casual and a bit shabby chic by stacking small gift boxes on a vintage tiered cake plate. Make it elegant and sophisticated with a silver cupcake platter piled high with little gifts. Or, make it fun and whimsical with multiple dessert plates layered with small gift bags in different colors.

 

Tiered cupcake and cake plates come in all different heights and sizes, so you can make this centerpiece as understated or as decadent as you see fit.

 

For a glitzy dinner party, decorate your plates with little gift boxes wrapped in silver and gold foil paper. For a rustic dinner, decorate it with burlap-wrapped gift boxes and incorporate pine cones or small bird ornaments.

 

Wrap your gifts in colorful holiday paper and sprinkle each layer of your tray with wrapped candies, peppermints, or sweet treats.

 

Depending on your budget and guest list, you can even turn each little gift box into a party favor. Even if it’s filled with something as simple as a homemade Christmas cookie, it's a great way to send your guests home with a special surprise!

 

Assembling a dazzling tabletop starts with creating a centerpiece that coordinates with the meal you intend to serve.

 

Natural and rustic or elegant and glitzy, the centerpiece on your dining room table sets the entire tone for the meal. Whether you're hosting a small dinner party or a large gathering, this is the perfect year to make your centerpiece something special.

 

And if you're on a tight budget, don't worry. There's no need to buy an expensive centerpiece in a holiday store. No matter your sense of style, you can create a stunning centerpiece just by using items you already have around your home!   

Ryan Sundling is a Group Marketing Manager at Cardinal Group Management and works closely with Wildwood Baton Rouge to help them with their marketing efforts. He has over ten years of experience in the student housing industry.