How to choose a centerpiece for a dining table?

Choosing contrasting textures and colors can help you find the perfect centerpiece for your dining room table. If feathers and flowers feel too bold, assorted glassware is a sleek and timeless alternative.

What is the number one rule in selecting centerpiece?

Begin with the size and shape of your tables . Just be sure that your arrangement is also circular or square so it doesn't look out of place or compete with your place settings. Generally, you'll want wedding centerpieces that leaves plenty of room for candles, place cards, and other accouterments.

What are the rules for a table centerpiece?

For instance, a centerpiece is usually not over one-third the length of the table on which it is placed . Keep arrangements in proportion to table and number of place settings. 3. Balance relates to a law of physics that deals with actual and visual weight.

What is an example of a table centerpiece?

A fruit bowl, a flower arrangement in a tall vase, or candles in varying heights are just some of the things you can use as table decorations.

What is the rule of 3 for centerpieces?

In a nutshell, the rule of three suggests that things grouped in threes are more natural, harmonious and visually appealing . Odd numbers challenge our brains a bit and are more interesting.

What should not be used for a centerpiece?

Do avoid strong fragrances for your centerpieces. It will mess with the way your guests taste the food and in some cases trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people. Ask your florist about which flowers are most fragrant and consider using them sparingly.

What is the most popular form of centerpiece?

The most popular type of centerpiece is a vase of flowers . What is a good centerpiece for a kitchen table? A vignette centerpiece is a great centerpiece for a kitchen table.

Do placemats stay on the table?

How long does the placemat stay on the table? Placemats stay on the table for the entire meal , unlike the use of a charger, which is removed before the main course, or before dessert is served.

How to style an empty dining table?

One of the best ways to make a dining table more attractive is to add some decor and avoid letting it sit empty . Adding candles for a cozy ambiance, foliage (either real or fake) for color, and a table runner or cloth for texture adds some dimension to an otherwise flat and sometimes boring space.

What goes in the middle of a table?

Place the dinner plate in the center of the table setting. The fork is placed to the left of the plate. Place the knife to the right of the dinner plate and then set the spoon to the right of the knife. Set the water glass in the top right corner, above the knife.

How do you decorate the center of a table?

Flowers, candles and vases are all excellent items to use as centerpieces for you table decor . When using these, try to stick to odd numbers. This is more pleasing to the eye and helps create a sense of balance.

43 Dining Table Centerpiece Ideas for Any Time of Year (2024)

Room Design

Dining Rooms

Kate Van Pelt

Kate Van Pelt is a contributing writer for The Spruce, based in the PNW. Kate has been a full-time digital content creator for nearly a decade, covering everything from home decor to personal finance.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Updated on 04/15/24

43 Dining Table Centerpiece Ideas for Any Time of Year (2)

If you are looking for dining table centerpiece ideas to decorate your off-duty dining room, there are options for every style. While there’s nothing wrong with an empty table, adding a statement centerpiece can create a fun focal point that will make your room feel lived in between meals.

Check out these all-season dining table centerpiece ideas for inspiration.

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Modern Candelabra

If you're a fan of midcentury modern design, consider decorating your dining table with a classic design object like this 1960s era candelabra designed by Ceasar Stoffi that looks like a sculpture when not in use.
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Vase of Wildflowers

Why pay for a store-bought bouquet when you can create your own display with flowers and foliage from right outside your door? Take a walk outside, see what catches your eye, and let your creative juices flow.
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Decorative Bowl

Some people may prefer an assorted bowl of fruits or ceramic spheres over a vase as their dining table centerpiece, but you can also showcase a beautiful porcelain bowl all by itself.
Classic Dining Room Centerpiece
A classic dining room centerpiece is a decorative bowl filled with seasonal fruit that can be rotated throughout the year.Choose a silver, wood, or pottery vessel depending on your taste and style.
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Organic Wood Bowl

One way to elevate your design is to contrast your chosen decor against the dining table's material. In this example, an organic wooden bowl complements the solid marble table.
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Colored Glass Vases

Many decorators choose a single piece of decor for the middle of the dining table. However, there are plenty of alternatives outside of this norm. For a long, slender table, consider two or three decorative elements instead.
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Layered Centerpiece

Can't decide between a vase or a bowl for your centerpiece? Why not both? If you opt for this design choice, keep your floral arrangement and bowl contents simple, so as not to overwhelm the space.
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Table Setting

An excellent design option for formal dining rooms is to simply set the table. Chargers, dinner plates, cloth napkins, and anything else you like. That gorgeous dinnerware deserves to be put on display.
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Metallic Vase

A dining table centerpiece is like an elaborate hat: striking, stunning, and bold. Don't be afraid to choose something glitzy and glamorous to complete your dining room design.
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Trinket Tray

For those who prefer a more eclectic style, your dining table can be the perfect platform to unleash your creativity. Consider arranging an assortment of trinkets on a decorative tray for a polished centerpiece full of disparate elements.
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See Also
12 elegant table settings ideas for beautiful dinner parties Ingenious, Unconventional Dining Table Ideas Table Decorating: How to Style a Beautiful Table Setting The 7 Most Popular Types of Wedding Centerpieces
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Tall, Slim Vase

If you've ever had a centerpiece block your view of a guest, instead of choosing a bulky floral arrangement, select a slender vase filled with simple leaves.
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Vintage Book Stack

Vintage books are excellent design additions to decorate dining room furniture from tables to sideboards and built-in shelving. Consider using them to anchor a modern vase and refine your chosen centerpiece.
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Scented Candles

Not every home has a formal dining room, and not every homeowner likes a formal dining table centerpiece. Consider a more lived-in look with a houseplant, scented candles, and an open book combine to create an inviting space.
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Potted Houseplant

Fresh-cut flowers are stunning, of course, but they're also temporary. If you'd like a centerpiece that will last longer than a week or two, select a houseplant for your table instead.
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Short Vase With Eucalyptus

For some, an elaborate, overstated arrangement will feel like the perfect topper for your dining room table. If that's not your style, however, consider a petite centerpiece, no matter your table's size.
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Everyday Items

For a casual kitchen table or a smaller home, a massive vase will only overwhelm your space. Instead, opt for a more practical design choice. Use items like porcelain teapots or an arrangement of cutting boards to create your own unique centerpiece.
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Essential Oil Diffuser

Alongside other assorted items in your centerpiece, incorporate a simple essential oil diffuser. Not only will this improve your design, it will also add an appealing aroma to the room when dinner isn't on the table.
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Dried Flower Bouquet

A more sustainable alternative to fresh-cut flowers for your dining table or kitchen island centerpiece is a dried bouquet. The glossy, metallic finish on this display takes the whole design up a notch.
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Sculptural Empty Vase

Just like the empty porcelain bowl, you can opt for an empty vase as your centerpiece as well. This is a great option for those who enjoy a more modern, upscale dining room design.
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Table Runner

If a single centerpiece doesn't feel like enough in your dining room, try anchoring the design with a table runner. This tip can work on a casual kitchen table or in a formal dining room.
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Stacked Bowls and Plates

Some centerpieces feature an assortment of items displayed side-by-side, but you can also decorate vertically. This farmhouse-style look features stacked plates and bowls topped with greenery.
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Stack of Round Placemats

Table runners are a great option for those who want more than a single decorative element on their dining table. However, if you have a round dining table, try a stack of placemats instead.
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See Also
Centerpieces and Table Decorations for Every Season | Balsam Hill
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Fruit and Flowers

Those with busy households will love this tip, because it's both attractive and so practical. Pair your centerpiece with bowls of fruit for family members to grab on the go.
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Coffee Table Tray

Coffee table trays are common decorative elements in living rooms, but they can also work well in the dining room. Use a pretty tray to add some contrast and visual interest to your centerpiece display.
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Low-Cut Flowers

If your dining room feels a little too formal, soften the design with texture. This light and simple bouquet creates some balance when paired with the heavy, dark furniture.
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Bowl of Lemons

Neutral tones and natural materials are especially popular in interior design, but if your dining room feels a little too boring, use your centerpiece to add a pop of color and liven up the space. A bowl of lemons will do the trick.
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Mini Bouquets

Your centerpiece can be one focal point or a combination of many decorative elements working together. If the latter is more appealing to you, create a collection of mini bouquets as the topper for your table.
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Vase of Pampas Grass

We've touched on houseplants and dried bouquets as alternatives to fresh flowers, but another playful option is a vase full of pampas grass. These fluffy branches have a featherlike quality that can also add texture as a contrasting element against the hard surface of your table.
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Off-Center Vase

Balance can be achieved using a truly centered centerpiece, but this isn't the only way to decorate. For instance, this particular dining table features an off-centered vase with other items, which mimic the asymmetrical light fixture above.
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Assorted Glassware

Choosing contrasting textures and colors can help you find the perfect centerpiece for your dining room table. If feathers and flowers feel too bold, assorted glassware is a sleek and timeless alternative.
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Group of Threes

When it comes to decorating, a simple tip many stylists utilize is to arrange your items in groups of three. This design tip applies to much more than centerpieces, so feel free to try it throughout your home.
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Glass Demijohns

A group of green glass Demijohns will add a rustic feel to a formal dining room. This space from Marie Flanigan Interiors includes a group of vases that were originally designed to ferment wine and pair well with dark wood tones of this spacious room.
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Set of Candlesticks

A set of tall candlesticks will add height to an off-duty dining table. Forbes + Masters chose simple black candlesticks filled with white taper candles that complement the minimalist black-and-white decor of this modern dining room.
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Painted Metal Vase

In a formal traditional dining room decorated with warm metal accents, choose a centerpiece to match. Tyler Karu Design + Interiors chose a gold metallic vase painted with flowers in this moody and elegant space.
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Multicolored Glass Vases

Mix multicolored glass vases to add color to a neutral dining room. Tyler Karu Design + Interiors chose short round vases in soft shades of blue and pink that can be filled with flowers or left empty.
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Copper and Earthware

Add warmth to a long farmhouse dining table with a casual centerpiece made up of copper cookware and earthenware pottery, like this space from Ashley Montgomery Design.
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Oversized Bouquet

Add special occasion elegance to your dining table with an oversized bouquet of colorful flowers.
Marie Flanigan Interiors chose a sterling silver bowl full of pink, orange, and red flowers that complement the warm wood table and add contrast with the cool-toned landscape mural wallpaper in this sophisticated dining room.
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Mixed Height Vases

Mix vases of varying sizes, heights, and materials to add interest to a modern dining table. Maite Granda paired amber glass vases with short gold vases filled with flowers in this contemporary space.
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Staggered Candlesticks

Arrange a row of short candlesticks down the center of your dining table for a casual look. Studio Peake added colorful candlesticks on top of this pale wood dining table that echo the color accents throughout the room.
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Mismatched Flowers

Create a relaxed feel in a formal dining room with a pair of transparent vases holding mismatched bunches of flowers. Vary shape, form, height, and color like this modern space from Desiree Burns Interiors.
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Sculptural Objects

Use the center of your dining table as a display space for a collection of sculptural objects such as vases and vessels.
Marie Flanigan Interiors decorated this contemporary dining table with a mix of gray and white pottery that is also displayed along the back wall on a set of plinths to create an art gallery effect.
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Carafe and Glasses

Set a decanter of your favorite spirits and a couple of glasses in the center of the table to create a welcoming feel. Twelve 15 Design Studio filled out the practical centerpiece with a serving tray, flowers, and fruit in this earth-tone dining room.
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Footed Bowl

Add subtle height to your centerpiece that won't block views with a footed bowl. Fill it with anything from greens to fruit to flowers to ornaments or decor objects depending on your mood, like this space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.
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Vintage Soup Tureen

Mix modern and vintage elements to create an eclectic dining table centerpiece. Mary Patton Design mixed a decorative vintage soup tureen with colorful modern Scandi-style candlesticks for a vibrant mashup in this lively space.