Easy-to-Make Christmas Centerpieces

Elegance needn't come in a frilly, fussy package. This graceful tablescape comes together with the most basic of elements. Stack glass ornaments in a pyramid formation on top of a compote, adhering the ornaments to each other with scrapbooking glue dots. Surround the centerpiece with more red accents -- ornaments on top of candlesticks and a few red votive cups.

Run lengths of ribbon down the center of your table to wake up a crisp white tablecloth. Accent ceramic vases by wrapping them with a length of ribbon, and tie a bow around a square glass vase filled with ornaments.

Stack monochromatic boxes, all in various patterns, on top of a footed cake plate for this centerpiece. Top the tower with a bow and a length of ribbon trailing down on each side. Secure the ends of the ribbon tails to the underside of the cake plate.

Elevate your centerpiece with a handsome vintage sled. Top with an assortment of cloches, ornaments, and greenery. After the holidays, keep the sled, but replace the Christmas-theme accents with winter wares, like white pillar candles in glass hurricanes surrounded by faux snow.

Pretty presents aren't just for placing under the tree. Wrap empty boxes to look like gifts and decorate with a few embellishments to use in a centerpiece. These boxes are decorated with pom-poms, buttons, bows, and jingle bells, and finished with dramatic bows. Display the final products on wide candlesticks intended for pillar candles.

Accent Christmas red with a favorite color, such lime green or turquoise (as shown here), for a colorful holiday centerpiece. Paint a peat pot your desired color and let dry. Create a gift box design on coordinating scrapbook paper and glue to the front of the peat pot. Place a miniature poinsettia plant inside a plastic sandwich bag and place inside the peat pot. (You may need to remove extra soil from around the roots so it will fit in the pot.) Cover the top with shaved soap or purchased coconut for a fresh-snowfall effect. Place the pot in a small dish, beneath a cloche decked out in matching ribbon.

Combine crafts store staples to create these fun tree centerpieces. Start with a plastic-foam cone and an assortment of sequins. Thread the sequins onto corsage pins and stick into the cone, covering it completely. Experiment with layering multiple sequins on one pin. You can also use straight pins, instead of the pearl-head corsage pins.

For a centerpiece that is festive yet natural, arrange twigs in a ceramic pitcher and tie greeting cards to the branches. Weave a length of rickrack through the branches for an extra flourish.

Create an enchanted forest of paper trees using our free pattern and two sheets of letter-size white cardstock. Fold the two sheets of cardstock in half lengthwise. Use a pencil to trace the tree shape from the pattern onto each piece of cardstock, making sure the fold is in the same center location for each. Cut out the trees with a crafts knife. Stack the two tree shapes together, pierce the center fold with a needle, and sew the trees together with white thread. Position the four sides so the trees stand.

A tabletop wreath -- festive on an entry table -- also can serve as a centerpiece base on a buffet table.

Make a vase filled with evergreens more stunning by covering it with fresh flowers. Remove the heads from roses or other seasonal flowers and then hot-glue them to a glass vase or other vessel.

Let there be light! Tuck a candle into a bowl of Christmas bulbs. Look for the old-fashioned strand of bulbs. Then coordinate your holiday decor by mixing and matching the candle and bulb colors.

These decorative balls fashioned from red, green, and white Christmas light bulbs make a delightful low centerpiece when grouped en masse in a bowl along with a few glass ball ornaments.

These three wreaths are easy to make with florist's foam wreath bases, pearl ornaments, and scarlet carnations. Add glass hurricanes and ivory-color candles for classic Christmas centerpieces.

Decorate for the holidays with the beauty of nature. Showcase pinecones under glass to create a unique display.

Take the holidays to new heights. Use a tiered tray to display seasonal treasures.

Turn roses, greenery, and a florist's foam-filled container into a beautiful holiday centerpiece. It's a versatile project that can be created in various colors and sizes to suit your table and your container.

Take one clear glass bowl. Add spectacular ornaments with a color and style theme. The result? Pure genius that's easy as can be.

Take a look at this simple way to add elegance to your dinner table or sideboard.

Vintage tree toppers take center stage when grouped into an antique candleholder. Be sure to secure the toppers with temporary adhesive that won't damage the ornament.