This holiday season, we hope you're finding magic in the everyday moments. If you are looking for holiday centerpiece ideas for brunch, dinner, and everything in between, we're here to help. Keep reading below for all of the tips to consider before getting crafty, then relax and cherish the Christmas decorations and holiday meal with your family.

Before You Begin:

Gather Necessities

The first thing to consider before styling your holiday centerpiece ideas is what necessities you'll need. We like to break the necessities down into three categories: basics, decor, and natural items. For the basics, consider the dishes, silverware, glassware, and linens you'll need for your holiday tablescape. For linens, don't forget to think about the napkins, runner, or tablecloth you may need. The decor can range from candles and candlesticks to vases, serveware, and eye-catching holiday decor. The natural items depend on what look you're going for. Consider incorporating fresh flowers, branches, garlands, or pinecones.

Plan It Out

What kind of event are you hosting? It's easiest to create holiday centerpiece ideas when you have a good idea of who will be at your table. How many guests will be there? What do you plan on serving? Your holiday centerpiece should be fairly space-sensitive and shouldn't obstruct anyone's view of another guest. You also want to save room for dinnerware and serveware on your Christmas table. If your holiday centerpiece is on the larger side, consider serving food buffet-style on a sideboard, credenza, or kitchen counter. For many, gathering may look very different this year. Please be sure to confirm with an official resource, such as the CDC, for the most updated recommendations for gathering in your area.

Clean & Polish

Before diving into styling your holiday centerpiece ideas, make sure that all of your decor and serveware is in good shape. There's nothing more annoying than going to post your table on your Instagram story only to notice wrinkles on the placemats. Steam or iron any placemats, table runners, and tablecloths you plan to use. Polish silverware and glassware. Check serveware and plates – especially the rarely used holiday pieces – for any chips or cracks. Make sure you have enough of everything for each of your guests, from appetizer plates to coffee mugs.

How to Style a Holiday Tablescape

Start With the Centerpiece

Before you set out even one plate or glass on the table, start in the middle with the Christmas centerpiece. You'll want to place the largest items first and then go in and tuck greens, florals, or candles next. For a festive centerpiece, we love including hoiday decorations that give a nod to wintertime nature like garlands, winter florals, and citrus. If you have an extra garland you aren't using along the staircase, run it down the table instead.

Try the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds may have you thinking of photography, but it's an easy way to style the best centerpiece ideas. Try decorating with three types of flowers or greenery, consider using three colors, or use three large candlesticks to make a statement. Vary the heights and textures of the items that you use to keep your Christmas centerpiece multilayered and visually interesting.

Keep It Clean

If you want to add ornaments, bells, or pinecones to your centerpiece, keep it tidy. Fill an apothecary jar with holiday decor, try a tiered cake stand, or place a decorative tray on the table. These little organizational hacks are extra useful, because you can easily remove the pieces to make room for more dishes.

Add Serveware & Dinnerware

Once your holiday centerpiece is perfected, go back in and add the serveware and dinnerware you'll need for the meal. If you can set out the serveware ahead of time (even though it's empty) you'll be able to easily ensure that you have enough room for all of the food. Set out place settings for each guest. We like to lay the placemat or charger first, followed by the plates, napkins, and then silverware. Tuck the napkins under the plate, or place them in a ring next to the dish. Set out glassware around plates ahead of time, or line glasses up near the drink-serving station. For a festive final touch, add name cards to identify each guest's seat.

Holiday Centerpiece Ideas

Looking for a few more inspiring Christmas centerpiece ideas? Keep reading below for a few of our favorite DIY centerpiece ideas.

Beat Winter Blues

It wouldn't be Christmas without reds, greens, and tartan plaid. However, sometimes we need a break from the traditional Christmas table decorations. If you have heirloom pieces you want to work into your holiday centerpiece, add a few pieces that are more modern and eclectic. We love the warm-hued vases, mason jars, glassware, and dried floral pieces in this centerpiece. To achieve this look, pick a simple palette of neutral colors and then work in a variety of textures. This centerpiece just feels warm and welcoming, even though it's far from a traditional centerpiece.

Bask in a Winter Wonderland

If cozy snow days are your favorite part of winter, recreate the feeling of a fresh snow with a winter-wonderland-themed DIY Christmas centerpiece. If you already own crisp all-white plates, chargers, table runners, and linens, simply add in touches of gold and silver decor. We love these gold hurricane candles and sparkling silver candlesticks. Add a touch of the outdoors with festive pinecones or bottle-brush trees. Keep it organized on a cake stand, and then move it to a countertop when you need more space for serving food.

Take Inspiration From Your Christmas Tree

Rather than confining the pine, greenery, and ornaments to just the tree, use them as inspiration for your holiday centerpiece ideas. We're obsessed with this pine, pinecone, and ornament garland that runs down the length of this dining table. You can even add poinsettias for an extra pop of color. Pick out a handful of ornaments in a similar color palette and nestle them into the garland to perfect your Christmas table centerpiece. Add shiny metallic bells into the mix to reflect overhead lighting. For an extra-special touch, place an ornament at each place setting for a lasting memory.

Recreate one of these centerpiece ideas now.