How to Style the Best Christmas Decor for Coffee Tables

Elevate your holiday decor game with expert tips on styling the perfect Christmas decor for your coffee tables.

As the holiday season unfolds, there’s nothing quite like festive decorations to fill our homes with joy and magic. Today, I’m excited to invite you into my home and share some tips on creating the perfect inviting atmosphere for Christmas, focusing on one of my favorite spots—the coffee table.

This post is all about how to style the best Christmas decor for coffee tables, the heart of many living rooms and gathering spaces. I’ll share some tips and tricks you can use to add a festive touch to your coffee table. Then, I’ll walk you through three rooms of my home, each adorned with unique Christmas coffee table arrangements.

On my blog WM Design House, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

Today is the Bloggers Best Christmas home tour hosted by my friend Kelly @the tatteredpew. This is the best post of the year, where you can view many blogger’s home decor. If you have come over from Amy’s @amysadlerdesigns, I am sure you loved her rustic Christmas decor as much as I did. If you know me, you know I love anything rustic.

How to Decorate a Coffee Table for Christmas

Decorating your home with Christmas decorations is a wonderful way to create a festive atmosphere. Whether decorating a Christmas tree, styling your dining room table, or creating a gorgeous Christmas mantel, there are so many possibilities to add cheer this time of year.

One area that often gets overlooked is the coffee table. If you are wondering how to make a beautiful Christmas centerpiece that will make your coffee table look amazing, here are some design tips to consider:

1. Start with a theme

Before you start decorating, deciding on a theme or color scheme for your coffee table decor is a good idea. You may use traditional Christmas colors like red, green, gold, and silver. You could opt for a winter wonderland theme, using different colors such as whites, blues, and silvers, or you could choose a natural theme using neutral colors, as I did this year.

2. Use a tray as a base

A decorative coffee table tray can serve as a foundation for your display. It helps keep items grouped together and creates a structured look. A tray is also a great way to incorporate different textures, such as wood, wicker, or metal.

3. Layer different heights

​Create visual interest by using items of varying heights. Mix tall candles, medium-sized figurines or ornaments, and shorter decorative pieces like small trees or greenery.

4. Incorporate natural elements

Bring the outdoors in by adding natural elements like pinecones, evergreen sprigs, pine branches, holly berries, or a small wreath. These simple items evoke a cozy, rustic feel.

5. Candles and lights

Candles, string lights, or tea lights in themed candle holders or lanterns can add warmth and a soft glow to the display. Incorporating lighting elements is a simple way to add a touch of elegance to your living space.

6. Add ornaments or baubles

Place a few Christmas ornaments or natural oranges with cloves in a decorative bowl or glass vase and set it in the center of the coffee table. This is an easy way to add color and sparkle to the arrangement and tie it into your theme.

7. Books or seasonal magazines

Create a small stack of Christmas books or magazines to get your table in the holiday spirit. They can add height and provide a surface for other decorative elements, such as candles or floral arrangements. They also look pretty when styled with a string of wooden beads.

8. Personal touches

Incorporate a personal touch like a family photo in a festive picture frame or handmade Christmas tree ornaments to make the display feel special and unique to your home.

9. Consider scented elements

Use scented candles or essential oil diffusers with Christmas scents like pine, cinnamon, or spiced apple to create a holiday atmosphere.

10. Be mindful of space

Avoid overcrowding the coffee table with Christmas decor. Leave enough space for drinks or snacks when entertaining guests. While creating a festive spirit is fun, it also needs to be practical to accommodate your daily routine.

11. Rotate decorations

If you have a vast collection of holiday decor like I do, consider rotating items throughout the season to keep your coffee table display fresh and exciting.

As you start decorating the coffee table in your own home, remember that there are no strict rules – let your creativity shine, mix in personal touches, and most importantly, savor the joy that each carefully chosen item brings.

Now, armed with these tips, let’s step into my home and see my Christmas coffee table decor ideas come to life.

My Christmas Coffee Table Decor

There are three different coffee tables I styled in my home to spread some festive cheer this Christmas season.

As we explore, you will see there is a theme to my tables. They all feature a neutral color palette and lots of natural materials.

We’ll start in the formal living room, then move next door to the sitting room, and finish our tour in the cozy family room.

Living Room Holiday Coffee Table

The neutral and natural theme works beautifully in my blue and white living room.

For this holiday masterpiece, I started by creating a cone tree out of moss, then added some gorgeous rustic birdhouses.

I also used stacks of books for risers and fresh greenery and Christmas trees to bring in a variety of colors and textures.

Long tapered candles add height and a bit of glow, while the white swan is the perfect touch to complete the festive table.

Other Christmas table decorations such as ceramic houses. bottle brush trees, and white garland are also great ideas to incorporate if you have them on hand.

Sitting Room Coffee Table Decor

This room sits adjacent to the living room, so sticking with the same theme is essential.

The coffee table in my sitting room is a vintage cart that has a lot of rustic texture and charm.

To decorate it, I started with a wicker tray that adds a nice contrast of texture. Then, I added a Christmas tree with twinkle lights, a wooden vase, and an old white goose.

Keeping with the natural theme, I brought in some moss mushrooms I had made in the spring, along with a few botanical books and pinecones. The Christmas display on my sitting room coffee table reminds me of a wintry forest scene I could curl up in.

In the same room, I have a small table off to the side by the window. This table has a simple arrangement of stacked books that I picked up at the thrift store. To make them even more interesting, I removed their covers to expose the binding. I also added a touch of greenery and a moss ball to carry through the theme and a wooden vase filled with vintage paper rolled up and tied with twine.

Family Room Christmas Coffee Table

My coffee table in the family room is a large ottoman that I drape with a throw and top with a styled wood tray. This tray is 22″ and was a bargain for under $25.00. I use it all year long.

This year, I have tried two different styles, one with a rustic sleigh filled with wooden trees, greenery, and pinecones. The other is the same wooden tray with simple decorations of a sisal tree, a stack of books, and a gingerbread house. These simple ideas bring a festive look to the cozy room.

Meanwhile, a side table nearby showcases a large paper Christmas tree taking center stage.

Which of these Christmas coffee tables is your favorite? I have a hard time choosing – I love them all! The neutral colors and natural elements in my decor are so versatile and fun to work with.

As our journey through Christmas decor for coffee tables ends, I hope you’ve found inspiration and excitement to infuse your home with the magic of the season. Remember, it’s not just about the decorations; it’s about creating moments and memories that last a lifetime.

Before we close, I’d love to extend an invitation to explore more holiday magic on my blog. Whether it’s Christmas tablescape ideas, DIY Christmas tree ideas, or delicious recipes to delight your taste buds, there’s a treasure trove of Christmas joy waiting for you.

Now it’s time to move on to my friend Rachel’s home @thepondsfarmhouse. If you love vintage decor, you are in for a treat, so click on over to see what she has to share. In addition, you can click on the links below to see several other blogger’s homes decorated for the holidays.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bloggers’ Best Holiday Home Tours

This week I am joining some of my blogging friends for the Bloggers’ Best 2023 Holiday Home Tours. Thirty talented and creative women will be opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each home tour by clicking the links below. Enjoy!

Monday’s Tours

The Tattered Pew // StoneGable // Worthing Court Blog

Southern Home and Hospitality // Our Crafty Mom // My Thrift Store Addiction

Tuesday’s Tours

A Life Unfolding // Living Large In a Small House // Cottage On Bunker Hill

Bricks ‘n Blooms // Cottage In the Mitten

Wednesday’s Tours

WM Design House // The Ponds Farmhouse // Shiplap and Shells

Simply 2 Moms // Robyn’s French Nest // Amy Sadler Designs

Thursday’s Tours

Midwest Life and Style // White Arrows Home // White Lilac Farmhouse

DIY Beautify // Thistle Key Lane

Friday’s Tours

She Gave It a Go // Pasha Is Home // This Is Simplicite

Decor to Adore // Le Cultivateur // Peacock Ridge Farm