Looking for dining table centerpiece ideas? From simple daily tabletops to large celebratory or holiday-esque ideas, I’m sharing the most stylish options for you to aim for!
Confession: I inwardly grown at 99.9% of the centerpiece ideas I see out there.
(Really. Do an internet search for centerpiece ideas and dare yourself not to mentally yawn at the generic options you’ll see at a glance. It takes too much time digging to find something halfway acceptable…)
Why?
They’re either too flowery, unfocused and old-fashioned looking, or too traditional (read: “boring, yawn, I think I’d rather just put a bowl of extra food in its place”)…
Ask yourself,
What is the purpose of a centerpiece?!?
The purpose is something beautiful, something that adds atmosphere (e.g. candles) or function (hello, fruit!), and doesn’t detract from the purpose of gathering around a table which is to connect with others (goodbye, horribly tall-and-complicated centerpieces that look a bit pretentious…unless you’re going for pretentious, in which case you’re on the wrong site, sister!).
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of simple. Whether that’s simple joy or simple elegance, or something in-between, simple has a way of helping people be purposeful.
And this love of simple, thoughtful focus goes for centerpieces as much as anything else.
“The smaller the table, the simpler the centerpiece.”
– Jess
(And if you’re looking for something quick to buy and make life easier, I’ll add those ideas with links down at the end! Some are SO gorgeous and you’ll have to see the photos there as I didn’t have room to include them all!)
Note that in the above, I’m mixing textures and colors. The bright citrus is balanced with an earthier brown, the shiny skin contrasts with the raw wood, and the wood ties in with the chairs and pendant…even subtly with the natural browns of the woven basket in the background.
DINING ROOM CENTERPIECES
Small vs Large: Centerpieces by Table Size!
You can definitely get away with going bigger and busier on large dining tables, but even then…a massive table with an elegant, restrained centerpiece goes a long way!
Some of my favorite ultra-simple centerpiece ideas that anyone can do:
- A bowl filled with fresh in-season fruit.
- A simple candle or candle arrangement (not so tall that people can’t see each other over them).
- A simple flower arrangement (nothing too busy and—again—keep it low).
Want to see examples of my favorite 15+ simple centerpieces ideas to use? Read on!
Even in daily life, if you’re not entertaining, you can switch things up with items you already have on hand, such as the below bird of paradise (in a modern concrete planter, a lovely contrast to all the warm wood) and a woven basket (again, superb for holding fruit, or napkins, or whatever else you like to have handy for a high-traffic, daily-use table)!
So much of what you might want to have centered on your table depends on the purpose and season you’re in, whether it’s a busy young family or a fancy adults-only holiday party.
The gamut runs wide!
FUNCTIONAL CENTERPIECES
Tips for Connecting to the Dining Experience!
I prefer to keep the centerpieces connected to the dining experience.
What I mean by that is that I like centerpieces that can actually be left on the table for meals. (I also refer to this as a “functional centerpiece.”) We’ve probably all witnessed people have elaborate centerpieces on their dining table only to have to remove them prior to a meal actually being eaten at that table because they can’t talk to others around/over the giant floral displays, or there’s not enough room for food (and drink).
Try to avoid that if you can!
wood tray | salt bowl | wood salt scoop | similar vase | similar tray | candle
For example, in the above young family’s daily table centerpiece, the fun salt setup, the candle for ambiance, and the splash of life with a plant all combine for function + beauty. Best of all, it’s on a tray so it can be instantly removed or replaced!
It’s a wonderful aim to make your centerpiece functional at all times. This doesn’t exclude having items simply for beauty, because beauty does serve a function for us as well!
Examples:
- If you usually light candles during meals, have a candle or candles as the focal point or part of your all-day centerpiece.
- If you typically have fruit after dinner, use that fruit in your centerpiece.
- If someone brings you flowers and you want to enjoy them while you eat, leave them there. (Of course, if it’s a tall bouquet, you may want to reconsider having it as a meal centerpiece because it makes it hard to see others and connect well with them, which is one of the best parts of eating together!)
- And if you just want the salt + pepper to use during dinner, don’t be afraid to use that as part of your “centerpiece” too!
I’ve had a round tray filled with a small candle, a simple flower in a vase, and a little salt & pepper in bowls that can stay on our table and be used from breakfast through dinner. Centerpieces don’t have to be ornate!
Simple Centerpiece Ideas
#12: A simple candle or vase arrangement!
Preferably kept not so tall that people can’t see each other over them.
#11: For long tables, repeat your centerpiece!
Repetition of the same branch, for example, is more aesthetically pleasing on the eye and keeps consistency and flow visually.
It “fills” your table without making it look cluttered.
#10: A simple, low-as-possible flower arrangement or branch!
Nothing too busy and—again—keep it as low as you can!
#9: A wooden dough bowl filled with fresh in-season fruit.
Bonus points if the fruit is actually part of the meal—such as for dessert!
#8: One simple candle in a glass hurricane!
Try to keep the hurricane height low, even though it’s glass, so it doesn’t feel like it’s dividing people.
#7: A white stoneware vase with multi-sections!
This is one of my favorite vases that we own. I receive countless fresh-picked bouquets from my children every week, and they fit perfectly into this piece.
It also sits low so we can all see each other at the dinner table, and the girls are so proud of themselves having picked those flowers we’re all enjoying. (My grandmother had a similar vase that she used to fill with flowers I’d pick for her on my way to and from the beach, so I know exactly how this feels as a little girl!)
#6: A grouping of candlesticks with beeswax tapers in varying heights.
Keep it to a simple assortment of 3, 5, 7 or more (just keep it in odd numbers, as those are more pleasing to the eye!).
#5: A fresh sprig of an in-season plant in a simple glass vase.
Below is an example of a mix between #7 and #8. I cut a few simple, fresh sprigs of rosemary from our garden…
#4: A wood or metal tray holding multiple items.
…and if you must have multiple items in your centerpiece—as I did in the above photo—use a tray or large plate or help group the items together visually. Believe me, this versus having the items loose makes a world of difference!
Another fun idea is to use this stunning seagrass placement from Alfie & Gem as the base for your centerpiece! (Of course, they’re be amazing as placemats too!)
#3: Potted herb(s) in a terra cotta planter.
This is a fun one! Try a centerpiece with a real live potted herb like mint, rosemary, or basil in a terra cotta pot or planter. (Bonus points if that herb is being used in that meal and can be picked right off!)
#2: Brass salt & pepper mill grinders.
If beauty-in-function is your style, these brass mills can stand alone as a simple centerpiece.
#1: Functional-but-beautiful pieces grouped together on a tray!
If you love unique pieces, such as salt & pepper containers, don’t shy away from being different!
Below, I found a cast-iron bowl I loved, a wooden mini scooper, and combined them to make our family’s favorite salt holder to date! 🙂
You can use these quick-n-easy ideas to order as well:
- I’m loving the cold stone of THIS contrasted with the heat/fire of candles! (I share a stone one I may like even better, if not equally, below!)
- Gorgeous display bowl (not inexpensive)
- For a less expensive, more earthy version, go with THIS!
- If you don’t mind faux flowers and want something 100% premade and ready to go, grab this lovely, elegant-yet-cheerful one!
- Smaller and even more neutral than the above would be THESE! For larger tables, repeat 2-3x for maximum impact!
- I do love a creative candlabra like THIS! And again, as I mentioned above, the stone to contrast the fire is chef’s kiss perfect balance!
- You could put nearly ANY floral or fruit item arranged around THIS!
- I’d looooooove to use this sculpture on a table! Stunning by itself during the “off” hours and could put something into it during its “active” time!
- Unique brass candlesticks (great interest & movement)
- Great texture: terracotta bowls in black and white (and different sizes) HERE
- Modern candlesticks
- I love an adjustable candlabra especially for a table that adjusts with leaves — stretch it out or condense it based on your size!
- To fill bowls, go with artichokes, citrus, pomegranates, etc!
- To fill a vase, choose fresh greens from your trees, bushes or garden, or use THESE! (We’ve used in large vases AND in this project!)
- I also like these lovelies!
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- The ONLY 12 Banquette Seating With Storage (or Without) Designs To Know!
- Why you should consider a plaster concrete dining table as your next table!
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Hi! There are a few dining room sets in this post I love, would you happen to know where they are from?
Thanks!