How to Decorate the Perfect Christmas Coffee Table

Decorating your coffee table is an easy and fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Adapt your decor choices to your Christmas color palette and design style, be it traditional, modern, farmhouse, boho style, midcentury modern, or anything in between.

Find the ideal decor and layout for different coffee table shapes and styles, including string lights, candles, greenery, ornaments, natural elements, and more.

Check out these Christmas coffee table decor ideas in a range of styles for inspiration.

How to Decorate a Coffee Table for Christmas Decorating your coffee table with seasonal elements will create a focal point and elevate your Christmas living room . You can use things collected from around the house, foraged from nature, or purchased at your favorite retailer that fit your holiday theme and complement your decor.

Lay a foundation: This could be a tray, seasonal greenery, a festive placemat or table runner, or a tangle of string lights.

Choose a centerpiece: Anchor your coffee table display with a vase of flowers or branches, reindeer, tree, or Santa figurines, a mini sleigh, a DIY wreath , or a shallow bowl of seasonal fruit or colorful ornaments.

Layer in textural elements: Create an enticing display by mixing materials and finishes, from shiny metallic to rustic wood decor pieces or ornaments.

Add color: From fresh flowers to Christmas plants, natural greenery, metallic elements, ribbons, or colorful ornaments and figurines, color will add dimension to your holiday coffee table display.

Vary heights and shapes: Add interest to your coffee table by staggering heights and mixing in different shapes.

Include ambient lighting: Create a warm and inviting glow with a tangle of string lights, a row of pillar, tapered, or tea light candles, or a collection of lighted house- or tree-shaped figurines.

Christmas Coffee Table Decor Ideas of 17 Showcase Red Berries Decorate a round tray-style coffee table with a tall vase of vibrant red berries for an instant Christmas makeover. Add in some lighted tree figurines and leave room for a wooden tray full of cocoa and cookies for cozy nights by the tree.

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of 17 Decorate With Pinecones Pile frosted pinecones into a white footed bowl to add simple elegance to your Christmas coffee table. Maison de Cinq paired the natural decor with a white jug full of winter greens for an understated but festive look.

of 17 Fill a Bowl With Bells Filling a bowl with shiny gold-toned bells is an easy and family-friendly DIY coffee table decor idea (just be sure that kids are old enough to not be tempted to put the bells in their mouths). Casa Watkins Living let some bells spill onto a wood tray below and paired it with a Santa snow globe and a vase of flowers.

of 17 Display a Christmas Plant Stack wrapped books with clean white covers and top them with a white poinsettia plant or other Christmas flowers or plants . O'Hara Interiors added a wrapped mini present with black-and-white patterned wrapping paper and a red velvet ribbon for a punch of color.

Continue to 5 of 17 below of 17 Take a Minimalist Approach Complement a minimalist living room with streamlined holiday decor. This neutral living room from The Merrythought includes a display of stacked white books topped with a scented candle and a gold-toned wishbone for a quietly festive modern look.

of 17 Cluster Bottle Brush Trees Break up the clean lines of a small rectangular coffee table with a round tray. Finding Lovely clustered bottle brush trees in a galvanized tray to complement the rustic wood table in this cozy Christmas family room.

of 17 DIY an Ornament Display Pile colorful ball ornaments into a kitschy sleigh figurine to create an easy DIY centerpiece. Thistlewood Farms paired a painted white sleigh and coffee table with shiny red Christmas ornaments for a bright contrast.

of 17 Style a Silver Tray Style a silver tray with matching taper candlesticks, a sprinkling of greens, and a trio of frosted and faux pearl-encrusted mini trees for a cool-toned wintry feel, like this coffee table from Maison de Cinq.

What can I use to decorate a coffee table tray for Christmas?

Decorate a wood, metal, mirrored, or metallic silver or gold tray with candles, a bowl of pinecones or bells, Christmas figurines, winter greens, book stacks, or ornaments.

Continue to 9 of 17 below of 17 Fill Jars With LED Lights Fill glass jars with LED string lights to create an easy DIY Christmas coffee table display. Layer in greens, pinecones, a scented candle, and some giant pinecones, like blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona.

of 17 Cluster Glass Tree Figurines Create a centerpiece with mercury glass Christmas tree figurines. John McClain Design layered trees of varying heights and finishes with greens and clementines to complement this midcentury modern living room.

of 17 Choose Subtle Colors Match your Christmas coffee table flower arrangement with your tree decor for a cohesive look. O'Hara Interiors chose soft pink roses to echo the pink and gold Christmas tree on this round holiday living room table.

of 17 DIY Candles in a Wood Bowl For an easy DIY, style a square coffee table with layered moss and flameless LED pillar candles of varying heights in a rustic wooden bowl, like this cozy family room from Maison de Cinq.

Continue to 13 of 17 below of 17 DIY a Taper Candle Holder Style a vintage trunk coffee table with rustic decor. Liz Marie Blog made a simple birch log candleholder to display alongside greens and books for a cozy feel.

of 17 Create a DIY Display Fill a clear glass with a base of rocks and natural branches. Then decorate the branches with faux flowers and felt decorations to create a colorful centerpiece with height to complement your holiday coffee table.

of 17 Decorate With Ribbon Add ribbon to your holiday coffee table display to fill out the base. Liz Marie Blog layered black-and-white ribbon with winter greens and bowls full of baubles and pillar candles to complement this all-white farmhouse living room.

of 17 Display Green Glass For a budget-friendly take, raid your kitchen cabinets and display green glass bottles on your coffee table for a hint of Christmas color. Casa Watkins Living added an organic wood bowl full of pinecones to add contrast with the round glass and brass coffee table for a boho-style look.

Continue to 17 of 17 below of 17 Style in Groups of Three Bring harmony to your Christmas coffee table by observing the rule of thirds. Group objects in clusters of three, varying shapes, sizes, and heights for added interest, like this French-inspired space from Maison de Cinq.

What should be in the middle of a coffee table? Create a coffee table centerpiece with a seasonal wreath, tea candles, a bouquet of flowers, potted plants, a terrarium, or a bowl filled with nuts, candy, seasonal fruit, a stack of coffee table books, or seasonal decor. This will leave room around the periphery to set down drinks and other small items.

How can I decorate my coffee table for the winter season? Stick to shades of white and natural elements for a wintry coffee table display . Mix white pillar or taper candles with a wooden bowl full of snowy pinecones. Place bare branches in a vase. Display brass or wood animal figurines on stacks of vintage books in neutral colors.