Easy Christmas Table Centerpiece with Evergreen Leaves and Holly

How to make a Christmas table centerpiece using a kitchen colander, evergreen foliage, battery-powered lights, and decorations. The finished piece resembles a thick Christmas wreath, sitting flat on a tabletop with a flickering artificial candle at the top. It’s an easy project with plenty of holiday charm and no glue or adhesives necessary. It can take just minutes to make!

Some years ago, I was washing the dishes and set the colander upside down on the dish rack. From the corner of my eye, the shape looked similar to a Christmas decoration I’d just seen for sale. That’s when inspiration struck! The holes in colanders are perfect for threading florist wire through and attaching evergreen foliage. Instead of spending a fortune on beautiful Christmas decorations, I could make my own using materials I already had.

It only took me about thirty minutes to put this project together. I had some leftover evergreen cuttings from putting up our tree, holly from outside, and spare decorations. Once finished, I sat back and admired it, amazed at how beautiful and thrifty it was. It costs practically nothing to make! It’s such a great Christmas table centerpiece that I’ve been making it almost every year since, and I am delighted to show you how to do it, too.

Easy DIY Christmas Centerpiece

Making a Christmas colander table decoration will be easy enough for most adults. The instructions are simple, and you can make it in about half an hour to forty-five minutes. You could halve that time if you’re speedy and have everything organized. There’s also no need for permanent adhesives, hot glue, or foam. You could avoid synthetic materials entirely, but using artificial foliage and holly berries would make it last much longer.

Once wrapped in Christmas lights and set in pride of place, this handmade table decoration is simply stunning. It’s a classic piece that will look lovely on dining tables, coffee tables, or anywhere you’d like to add some holiday cheer. To create a pretty tablescape, I put a red table runner down the table, placed the centerpiece on it, and then surrounded it with place settings, festive napkins, candlesticks, and other accents.

Greenery for a Christmas Table Centerpiece

If you’re getting a live Christmas tree this year, you might need to trim the bottom-most branches. Save them! Fresh evergreen leaves are perfect for this project, and you might also be able to find some in your yard. Ivy, holly, pine, spruce, cedar, and other evergreens are relatively common, and if you don’t have any growing at home, you might be able to forage for some. Ask friends and family, or head to the woods for a few cuttings.

Using foliage with contrasting colors and textures to the evergreen needles is also a great idea. I have euonymus shrubs in my garden, and they work beautifully. You could also use eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, boxwood cuttings, and ivy! Just have a look around your backyard and see what you can find. There’s no need to go out and buy leaves if you have some for free at home.

Different Types of Colanders

The reason you use a colander instead of an upside-down bowl for this project is because of the holes. They are incredibly handy to poke florist wire through to hold the greenery in place. I have an old plastic colander and one that’s enamel – both work for this project. Colanders made of metal should work, but I’m unsure if wet greenery would be a good idea for copper.

If your colander is a bright color, don’t worry; the decorations will disguise most of it. If the bottom of the colander (the top of the centerpiece) is rounded, you can set a small saucer or plate on top. That gives a flat surface to put a votive or hurricane candle holder.

Berries, Pinecones, & Oranges

Red berries are one of the prettiest accents in this Christmas table centerpiece. You might be able to find some growing wild while you’re foraging for greenery. Holly, cotoneaster, hawthorn, or others. I’ve seen plenty when foraging for Christmas wreaths in years past, but not this year—the birds ate them all very early in the season. It’s probably best to leave berries for wildlife anyway.

Artificial holly, mistletoe, and berries are fine for this project, though. I’ve used them myself, and the ones I have are well over a decade old now. Other ornaments you could put on your holiday centerpiece are dried orange slices or flowers, pinecones, popcorn garlands, and ribbons. Lights are a great idea, too!

When I first did this project, I used a tea light with a small hurricane glass cover on the top of my centerpiece. You’ll see that in the DIY video at the bottom of the project steps. I love how the extra vertical height makes it look even more impressive. These days, I use a battery-powered candle for safety. They have the same beautiful glow as real candles but none of the hazards.

More Holiday Creativity

• Make a Simple Twig Star
• The Best Gifts for Gardeners
• Butternut Squash Pie Recipe
• Christmas Soap Recipe (from scratch)