3 Rustic Christmas Tablescape Ideas: Setting A Simple Table

Experience the timeless charm of three rustic Christmas tablescape ideas with DIY Centerpieces.  

This holiday season, I’ve drawn inspiration from Mother Nature for my Christmas theme, focusing on a rustic and natural aesthetic.

I’ve crafted three distinct tablescapes embracing this theme, sourcing ninety percent of the elements from items found at home. The only new additions were fresh Cyclamen plants and a few candles.

Once I’m done using the Cyclamen in my decor, I’ll plant these plants in the ground, ensuring they thrive and bring joy throughout the year. So whether you are serving Christmas dinner at the dining room table or outside, let me inspire you with some rustic charm.

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Today is our Pinterest Challenge, and we are all about beautiful tables and Christmas table centerpieces. Several of my blogging friends and I will show you different ways to create a beautiful centerpiece for your dinner table that works perfectly with your tablescape.

Thank you to my dear friend Cindy @countyroad407 for hosting us. If you have come over from my friend Carole @blueskyathome, welcome. I am sure you thoroughly enjoyed her merry red and gold tablescape.

This month, we were inspired by Kelley Nan and the gorgeous image of her table with the candle glow and the twinkle lights shining. You can never have too many candles, as you can see from my first image. So come along and see how we all recreated our night time glow.

Inspiring Rustic Christmas Tablescape Ideas

Finding inspiration for a rustic Christmas tablescape can be a delightful journey blending nature’s beauty and seasonal charm.

Begin by exploring the great outdoors – stroll through woodlands or visit a local flower market with evergreens, pinecones, and natural elements.

 Nature offers so much inspiration, from the rich greenery of fir trees to the rustic allure of bark, twigs, and pinecones this time of the year. 

Look around the house for items you may have to incorporate into your place settings. 

Additionally, perusing magazines, online platforms, and social media can unveil many rustic-themed decor ideas and DIY inspirations.

Delve into vintage shops or antique markets, where weathered wooden accents and timeless dinnerware exude rustic elegance.

What Do You Need to Create a Rustic Christmas Tablescape? 

Gather an assortment of items from around the house and the yard. Here are a few items you can look for that will help you pull together a holiday tablescape that is rustic and charming. 

If you don’t have these items at home, check out the thrift store before heading to Hobby Lobby or Target. 

• Small Christmas trees
• Table Runner
• Placemats 
• Bottle brush trees 
• Festive centerpiece  (I will show you several simple centerpieces that you can put together yourself)
• Fresh greens (or faux greens)
• Wood ornaments or decorations 
• Deer Antlers 
• Wood slices 
• Dinner Plate
• Vintage silverware  (if you own it)
• Pine cones
• Dried Orange slices 
• Plaid pattern plates
• Place markers (if you want to add a personal touch)

How To Style A Rustic Christmas Tablescape In a Few Simple Steps

Step 1- Embrace The Christmas Season With The Addition Of Greenery

Fresh greenery, like pine branches, cedar, holly, or eucalyptus, brings a lively and natural element to table decorations.

Its pleasant scent and organic allure beautifully complement the rustic theme, enhancing the overall ambiance. Incorporating fresh greenery adds a genuine seasonal touch and evokes the holiday spirit through its lush appearance and earthy fragrance.

Step 2- Use Layers to Style Your Rustic Christmas Tablescape

Creating layers in a rustic tablescape for Christmas adds depth, texture, and visual interest to the overall decor. Here are some suggestions to achieve layered rustic charm:

1. Table Linens: You can start with a base layer using a tablecloth, table runner, or a neutral plaid throw blanket. Choose fabrics that are neutral, like burlap, linen, or cotton. This foundational layer sets the tone for the rustic theme. Or you can start with a rustic table like I did and add placemats with texture for your first layer. 
2. Place Settings: Layer different textures and materials for plates. Start with a wooden charger or a wood slice for the base of your place setting, and add a dinner plate from your vintage collections or a simple dinner plate with a Christmas salad plate. Think outside of the box, and feel free to mix and match different patterns. 
3. Add Flatware: I decided to incorporate vintage gold flatware passed down from my grandmother for this setting. Feel free to select flatware that holds sentimental value or significance for you in your beautiful Christmas tablescape.
   

Step 3- Create A DIY Christmas Centerpiece

You can do so many things to create a simple centerpiece that costs little money. 

Here are three examples I created with items I had at home and added just a few items I purchased. 

1. I own a few of these vintage urns and love to use them in my holiday decorating. This year, I added a few simple white cyclamens that I picked up at Home Depot for a bargain on Black Friday—and added a small amount of moss around the base to finish them off.  You could use red terra cotta pots, or paint old tin cans to look rustic if you don’t have anything that looks old.

2. Since we live in CA. Our weather is still lovely in December, allowing us to dine outside. When I created this tablescape, I used a collection of brass and white candlesticks that I have collected over the years from Estate Sales and thrift stores. I purchased white candles, clipped magnolia branches, and pine to create this stunning look. One of my favorite things is to create unusual lighting. I did this with a fresh greenery chandelier I crafted out of chicken wire and battery-operated candles.

3. I placed a small wooden sled in the center of my dining table—I added a few white cyclamen, some wooded mushrooms, and a fresh rosemary Christmas tree. You could leave it at that, or add some dried hydrangeas for a touch of color like I did. 

Other Centerpiece Ideas

• Lanterns with candles
• Bowl of fresh greens and ornaments
• Bowl of pinecones with twinkle lights

​Step 4- Add Other Natural Accents and Decor to Your Table

Include more greenery or flowers and various natural elements like pinecones, berries, twigs, antlers, miniature trees, or rustic decor pieces such as wooden mushrooms and ornaments. Arrange these items thoughtfully around the centerpiece and place settings. Remember to incorporate elements of different heights to enhance the visual appeal of the table setup.

Step 5- Add Lighting to Your Simple Rustic Christmas Tablescape

Consider using varying heights of candlesticks to give that festive touch to your table. I used my favorite battery-operated candles in addition to some authentic taper candles. You can add tea lights, lanterns, or twinkle lights for a rustic-style table. 

Step 6- Add Personal Touches to Your Rustic Tablescape

Incorporate personal touches like handwritten place cards or vintage pieces to infuse warmth and nostalgia into the layered setup. Or you can use one of my FREE Printable name cards to add to your rustic table settings. You can add special touches like dried oranges, miniature wooden nutcrackers, or mini trees as a gift for your guests to take home as a remembrance of the evening.  

That about wraps it up for me. Now it is time to move on to Kristy’s home @oursouthernhome for some more dining room inspiration. You can also see my other friends’ fabulous centerpieces by clicking the links below.