12 Ideas For Nature-Themed DIY Holiday Centerpieces And Tabletop Displays

If you'd like to branch out from the usual Nativity or Christmas village display themes this holiday season, one approach is to take inspiration from nature. Whether your display is for a table centerpiece during a meal or just for a tabletop display for the season, you can expand beyond the often-seen bling and tinsel of using ornaments by incorporating natural imagery. We've gathered up some nature-oriented ideas to create your own unique centerpieces and displays for the winter holiday season.

Using natural materials for creating displays means you can have some fun foraging outdoors for your materials. These materials may dry out inside with heated air, however, so you may want to add some longer-lasting artificial pieces as well, in addition to creatively upcycling your other craft supplies. Candles (real or LED) help pull things together and add some extra drama as the darkness falls early. Be cautious when using candles for holiday decor; the safest holders are made of metal, glass, or ceramic. Never leave a lit flame unattended.

Some materials and themes might include: evergreen boughs, plant materials such as moss or twigs, miniature trees, wooden bowls and objects, pine cones, reindeer, winter birds and wildlife, snow people, winter landscapes, sleighs, miniature animals in a woodland setting, branches with red berries, edible materials such as fruits or nuts, etc. You're really only limited by your imagination and time, and this approach can not only be cost-effective but also have a low environmental impact by not buying new holiday decor items made of plastic or other toxic materials.

One of the simplest combinations for a natural holiday display is to arrange pine cones and evergreen boughs around glass candle holders. The intricate textures of branches and pine cones create lovely shapes and shadows in candlelight. You can use some artificial snow (get the biodegradable kind if you can) to surround the centerpiece, or keep it simple by placing the materials on a large plate or in a basket. White candles have a classic look, but you can use any color you like to enhance your arrangement.

A red glass candle holder imparts a luscious warm glow amid winter greenery. Making a centerpiece with evergreen branches and red berries will further enhance this red theme. You can add natural sprigs of holly, winter berry, or rose hips, or artificial (and reusable) craft sprays with small berries or apples. Pro tip: A white candle inside a red holder gives a brighter light than a red candle.

An edible centerpiece is always a hit at the holiday table, assuming guests can resist taking it apart before dessert. Oranges, apples, pears, and nuts are a common choice for such displays, but think outside the box. Other red and green edible fruits and veggies can look great in your centerpiece, so check out your produce department and consider what might look delicious in your arrangement. Choose sturdy fruits: berries and bananas get mushy too quickly. Possibilities include pomegranates, artichokes, avocados, rose hips, quinces, winter squash, or ornamental kale.

You don't have to choose red and green natural objects for your display; earth tones are an unexpected but beautiful choice. A wooden tray lets you place objects together and move them around easily. This simple but stunning arrangement includes a terra cotta pot with dried moss, pine cones, a votive candle in a glass holder, and some tiny LED lights. A tray can also hold nuts and fruits as part of an edible display that can rest on your dining or coffee table.

Okay, maybe you just really, really want to use those miniature reindeer you use every year to make your holiday display. How about making them the star of the show? And let them play with their other woodland pals, like moose or elk, or rabbits, or owls, or bears? Miniatures can add a touch of whimsy and humor, and bring out the kid in all of us. A simple artificial tree is all the background they need to charm and delight, or you can add other set pieces.

Baskets are a very easy and practical way to create a tabletop display. This is an especially handy way to make decor with natural materials because the basket means little pieces of pine needles or twigs that might fall off won't make a mess on your table. A rustic natural basket with or without a handle works, and you can often find inexpensive ones at craft stores or thrift shops.

Nothing beats the smell of hot mulled cider brimming with fragrant spices. You can use some of those ingredients to make your table centerpieces and displays, too. Dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and whole star anise make wonderful additions to a display. This one includes pine cones in a simple wicker basket on a wooden board with white candles — an easy-to-assemble display that conjures up sweet, spicy holiday treats.

Oranges were once traditional Christmas gifts that were considered luxurious; to this day, they're a common addition to the Christmas stocking or gift basket. Citrus fruits can make a gorgeous (and fragrant) edible centerpiece for your table. Their rich, warm colors look vibrant nestled amid evergreen boughs. Get a range of different colors and sizes if you can. Try tangerines, clementines, mandarins, lemons, pomelos, limes, blood oranges, and grapefruits for a colorful, easy-to-assemble centerpiece.

For a garden-themed table display, why not add some moss to a sturdy terra cotta pot? Then nestle some tea lights or candle holders inside, and add sprigs of dried rose hips (save them after doing your fall pruning) for a touch of red. This look is so simple yet so charming. It can also be done for an outside decoration, but as with any display using candles, make sure you use holders that are safe and keep an eye on them.

So, you still have some decorative gourds left from your Thanksgiving or Halloween display? No worries, just repurpose them in a colorful Yuletide display. Add some sprigs of holly with red berries, or sprays of winterberry, and/or sprays of blue spruce or juniper with blue berries. You can even throw your miniature pumpkins into the mix! Add some red, yellow, orange, or green candles (or mixed colors) to really boost the dramatic, colorful impact of this harvest-themed arrangement. 

With or without a partridge, a simple arrangement of colorful pears makes for a fragrant and luscious-looking table centerpiece. There are red pears, too (try Red Anjou), and unusually shaped ones like slender Bosc or stout Seckel. Add some sprigs of greenery and candles in shades of green or gold for an unexpected and eye-catching display. This one accentuates the gold and green-toned glassware and gold ceramic plates in the table arrangement.

If you can't bear to make a display without some bling and you already have some old craft pieces that are well-loved, there's always the tried and true combination of silver and gold with evergreen boughs. These glittery reindeer and owl figures arranged with some greenery and gold and silver candle holders make a display that is enchanting, evocative of natural beauty, and extremely simple to put together.