I have never been creative or artsy-craftsy, and centerpieces have been a challenge for me. Even when I am trying to copy something from the internet, it never turns out quite right. I have a very large dining table (54" round) and always have two or three leaves in it for holidays, making a big oval with lots of space in the middle. We do dinner buffet style so that everything stays warm in the kitchen rather than passing food (other than rolls) at the table.
For Christmas, I found an idea using the brass candlesticks that were a popular gift when I got married. I bought big, round ornaments on sale after Christmas one year and have arranged them on the table. I changed my avatar to a picture of them, although I had lined them up to take the picture. This year, I had the idea to remove the bows and use candle rings of greenery under the ornaments, but I could not find any that would work when I shopped yesterday.
For Thanksgiving, I have used a grapevine wreath on a silver pizza pan with 5 fake pillar candles in the middle with leaves and acorns from my yard scattered about. (you could not see the pizza pan) Looked ok, I guess.
Low height so people can see each other across the table. Flowers are always available from the grocery store and a round bunch would work well. Cut stems as needed to keep them low. They will last at least a few days as a nice reminder.
Whether Thanksgiving (which I don’t usually host) or Christmas, I like to do a lot of fresh fruit - apples, pears, grapes, a pineapple, clementines/oranges, etc. with decorative leaves (or pine boughs for Christmas). Great thing is it is edible so two uses. And lots of candles.
I’m also decorating deficient. One thing I do at Christmas is to fill a large, clear, urn-shaped vase with gold and silver Christmas ball ornanents. I put that on a silver tray, then surround it with votive candles.
We keep it very simple. We have several sets of clear crystal candle holders. We use those with varying color candles. Looks nice…and is easy and simple.
Just watched Ina Garten. She did four tablescapes. The one that stands out is several vases of orange flowers down the center of the table interspersed with small and smaller sized pumpkins and white votive candles. Her white china and orange napkins really pulled the whole look together, but I think the flowers, pumpkins and candles would be fine on their own.
I am doing one of those classic, obnoxious, “I haven’t read the whole thread but” posts, but for Christmas, I used to make oblong centerpieces that combined white pine, paperwhites, and other greens, sometimes with candles. They were lovely. If you are the kind of person who is crafty enough to buy the components and make them. If not, you can just order them.
@Consolation We need a visual or the Crafting for dummies version of this.
@raclut I could probably bribe my 14 year old to make that. Would probably cost me a bag of Italian egg biscuits. I could mix the cheeses, I guess. As long as you have the pumpkin and pear, you should be good. Tempted.
The cornucopia is be perfect for an appetizer table. I usually put a glass hurricane filled with un-popped popcorn or candy corn and a pillar in the center of the dining room table surrounded by some greens and pine cones. I place several votives and low, small vases (think coffee mug size) of flowers scattered along the table runner.