The minute the tree goes up, I'm curled up on the sofa in my softest sweater with a blanket, staring at the coffee table and thinking, "That spot needs some Christmas, too."
It's the table everyone gathers around in December. Cookie plates, mugs of cocoa, a board game that never quite gets finished... and it still deserves to sparkle!
1. A Gold Candle Tray
A tray turns a handful of pieces into one tidy display, and you can lift the whole thing off when you need the table for snacks.
Set three or four gold pillar candles in different heights on a round tray. Tuck a little greenery around the bases and add one sweet figurine, like an angel or a brass deer.
So pretty!
2. A Mini Tree with Red Ornaments
A tabletop tree (12 to 18 inches) is the quickest Christmas win on this list.
Trim it with tiny red ornaments, top it with a bow, and drop the plastic pot into a gold planter or basket. Set it off center and lay a couple of books beside it so it has company. Cute!
3. A Basket of Mercury Glass Ornaments
Got ornaments that didn't make the cut for the tree? Pile them into a woven basket or a big bowl!
Stick to two metallics, like silver and gold, and mix big and small sizes. Mercury glass catches the candlelight in the prettiest way at night.
4. A Pinecone Basket
Pinecones in a little wicker basket bring the woods indoors, and if they're from your own yard, they're free!
Set the basket on a book, then add a strand of battery fairy lights and a sprig of cedar. (Bake fresh pinecones at 200°F for about 30 minutes first to dry them out.)
5. Wrapped Book Packages
Wrap a few coffee table books in kraft paper and tie them with twine. Now they're tiny presents!
Add a scrap of red buffalo plaid underneath and a white pitcher of greenery behind the stack. It seems like you just finished wrapping gifts. So festive!
6. Pillar Candles and Pinecones
Candlelight is my favorite part of a December evening, so this one is close to my heart.
Group three pillar candles in warm cream shades and scatter a few pinecones around them on a tray. If you have kids or pets, flameless candles on a timer are just as lovely.
Now I want hot cocoa...
7. Branches and Red Ornaments
A tall glass vase of branches gives a long coffee table some height without blocking anyone's view.
Spray paint a few bare branches gold, set the vase on a gold charger, and drop red ornaments into the bottom. Hang one or two on the branches, too. For more greenery ideas, see how I hang garland on a mantel.
8. White Taper Candles
A row of white tapers is classic and so easy on a small round coffee table.
Use a metal candle holder with four arms, or four single holders, and circle the base with evergreen sprigs. If you love an all-white Christmas, my white Christmas decor ideas are right up your alley. So lovely!
9. Buffalo Plaid Charm
Red and black buffalo plaid gives your living room instant cabin charm.
Run a plaid scarf or fabric scrap down the middle of the coffee table, then add a green taper candle and one or two red accents. Easy and so cheerful!
Oh, and by the way! Day 1 of my free 30-Day Home Styling Playbook walks you through styling your coffee table, step by step. It's a great place to begin before you add the Christmas pieces.
10. A Wine Glass Snow Globe
Turn a wine glass upside down over a bottle brush tree and you've made a mini snow globe!
Set it on a wood slice, sprinkle in some fake snow, and tuck a few red berries at the base. A cork on top makes a cute little handle. Make two or three in different sizes for a set.
11. A Nutcracker Spot
If you have a nutcracker tucked away, give it a front row seat!
Stand it on a short book stack or a woven pouf beside the coffee table, with a small potted tree nearby. Two nutcrackers, one at each end, make a fun matching pair.
12. Evergreens and Red Candles
Perfect for a round coffee table: a low evergreen arrangement with two red taper candles in the middle.
Tie a big red bow on the front and let a few branches drape over the edge. You can see it from every seat on the sofa. Fancy!
Quick Tips for Styling Your Christmas Coffee Table
- Group in threes. Odd numbers seem more natural than pairs.
- Mix heights. Pair one tall piece with one medium and one low piece.
- Stay under about 18 inches. That keeps the view clear across the room for chatting.
- Save a spot for mugs. Keep one side of the table open for cocoa and cookies.
- Repeat one color. Pull a color from your tree or throw pillows so the room ties together.
Christmas Coffee Table Decor FAQs
How do you decorate a coffee table for Christmas?
What goes on a Christmas coffee table tray?
How do you decorate a round coffee table for Christmas?
How tall should a Christmas coffee table centerpiece be?
Your Coffee Table Is Ready for Christmas!
Pick one idea, set it up this weekend, and enjoy it all season long! Then head into the dining room for my Christmas tablescapes and Christmas napkin folding ideas, or find everything in one place in my Holiday Hosting Guide.
And if you love the look of this blog, you can grab my template right below.
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