Skip to content

Top Navigation

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Food
  • Home
  • Life
  • Health
  • Money
  • Style and Beauty
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Real Simple

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Best Places to Buy Vegetable Seeds Online

      Because there's never been a better time to start a vegetable garden. Read More Next
    • 7 Must-Read Books by Black Authors

      Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and prepare to dive into a new title. Read More Next
    • A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      There are three common ways you canĀ measureĀ your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    9 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose Intolerant

    Not all dairy is created equal.Ā 
    • Recipes
    • Real Simple Cooking School
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping and Storing
    • Kitchen Tools and Products
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home

    Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain

    Made with products you probably have on hand
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Gardening
    • Home Improvement
    • Quick Fix
    • Real Simple Home
  • Life

    Life

    See All Life

    10 Captivating Podcasts for the True Crime-Obsessed

    If you’re hungry for stories of true crime, download any of these podcasts to get your mystery fix on the move.
    • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Wedding Planning
    • Travel Ideas
    • Adulting
    • Get It Done
    • Waste Less, Live Better
  • Health

    Health

    See All Health

    30 Healthiest Foods to Eat Every Day

    • Preventive Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health Coach
    • Crisis Coping
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Healthy Eating
  • Money

    Money

    See All Money

    11 Small Ways You Can Help Stimulate the Economy

    Your dollars may be worth more than you realize.
    • Money Confidential Podcast
    • Saving Money
    • Money Made Simple
    • Spending
    • Money Etiquette
  • Style and Beauty

    Style and Beauty

    See All Style and Beauty
    • Clothing
    • Skincare
    • Shoes
    • Hair
    • Clothing Care
    • Makeup
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    PowerPoint Parties Are the Socially Distant Party Trend You Have to Try: Here’s How to Host One

    Presenting a new way to party together—virtually.
    • All Holidays
    • Easter
    • Gifts
    • Mother’s Day
    • Passover
    • Entertaining
    • Father’s Day
    • Home for the Holidays
    • Come Together
    • Hanukkah
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Real Simple
  2. Holidays & Entertaining
  3. Holidays
  4. 10 Creative Ideas for Holiday Centerpieces

10 Creative Ideas for Holiday Centerpieces

By Krissy Tiglias
Updated November 06, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan
Looking for some creative holiday table decorating ideas? We dare you to skip the flowers and try something fun, affordable, and truly unforgettable.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Gooey Graveyard

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

It’s a little scary just how sweet this fun-to-create Halloween centerpiece can be to make. Start with a casserole dish, add a layer of black licorice flavored jelly beans, and then pop in wafer crackers and chocolate covered graham crackers (as the tombstones). For the finishing touch (and because it wouldn't be Halloween without those Peeps), stick a few friendly ghosts on skewers.

Black licorice jelly beans, candy.com.
Ghost Peeps, available at stores nationwide.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sweet Specimens

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

A simple arrangement that requires mixing up jars of assorted sizes (mason jars, beakers, soda bottles) and filling them with quirky Halloween surprises. Think out-of-the-box: cotton candy for the brains; lime flavored soda and pomegranate juice as the mad scientist's latest experiment. Then fall back on some all-time classics like licorice-shaped spiders, gummy worms, gumball eyes, and more.

Gummy eyeballs, orientaltrading.com.

2 of 10

3 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Holiday Party Eyes

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

An easy-to-pull-together arrangement that'll have all eyes on the middle of the table. Cover an assortment of glass votives with adhesive googly eyeballs and place the grouping on a serving tray.

Emergency googly eyes, mcphee.com.

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Turkey Bowl

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Dress up a favorite side dish (mashed potatoes, rice pudding, risotto) with festive stamped forks (or spoons) that show their Thanksgiving spirit. Try and arrange so that there is at least one utensil for each guest at the table.


Feather spoons, sucreshop.com.

4 of 10

5 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Conversation Piece

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

The tabletop is the best place to spread holiday cheer. Simply paint craft letters (or cover them with decorative wrap) and let them stand tall for all to admire.

Craft Alphabet Letters, paper-source.com.

5 of 10

6 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tree Topper

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

For a decadent display, let dessert step up to the plate. This double-decker idea involves sugar cones, covered in icing and rolled in festive holiday sprinkles, which have been carefully arranged on each tier. Almost too pretty to eat.

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Blooming Bows

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

When it comes to holiday decorating, the palette is all yours to play with. Don't underestimate just how festive (and fancy) faux arrangements can be. Start with traditional bows and use scissors to snip them open. For an extra hit of color, add petite bows or pom poms to the centers. Pop them in colorful vases and arrange in a cluster or in a line down the table.

7 of 10

8 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Celebratory Cocktails

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

Every memorable bash has a signature cocktail. Fill mason jars with your drink of choice. Top festive straws with flags decorated with adhesive letters. As guests take their seats, invite them to grab a piece of the centerpiece. From Happy New Year to Happy Birthday, have fun spelling just about any favorite saying.

8 of 10

9 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Spring Sensations

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan

For an Easter celebration, cue spring’s all–stars. Simply set out an assortment of candy dishes and fill with layers of colorful candy. Top with chocolate bunnies and eggs.

White chocolate bunny, candy.com.
Jelly beans, candy.com.

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pinwheel Display

Credit: Getty Images

This celebratory idea is perfect for all types of parties like Fourth of July, baby showers, or even a spring luncheon. Fill fluted bowls with sand and pop in these charming pinwheels, which can double as seating cards or favors.

Pinwheels, haloshaven.com.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Krissy Tiglias

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 10 Gooey Graveyard
2 of 10 Sweet Specimens
3 of 10 Holiday Party Eyes
4 of 10 Turkey Bowl
5 of 10 Conversation Piece
6 of 10 Tree Topper
7 of 10 Blooming Bows
8 of 10 Celebratory Cocktails
9 of 10 Spring Sensations
10 of 10 Pinwheel Display

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Shop | Real Simple Logo

  • New Year's Decorations
  • Easter Decorations
  • 4th of July Decorations
  • Halloween Decorations
  • Thanksgiving Decorations
  • Christmas Decorations
  • Hanukkah Decorations
  • Birthday Decorations
  • Wedding Decorations
  • Graduation Decorations
  • Shop More Next

Real Simple may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.

Real Simple Logo

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.realsimple.com

View image

10 Creative Ideas for Holiday Centerpieces
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.