How to Conquer Christmas Coffee Table Decor
Everyone seems downright giddy about decorating for Christmas this year, and I am no exception! I’ve made my decorating plans and checked them twice. However, I find that the coffee table sometimes takes a back seat on the decor train. If Christmas coffee table decor is one area you struggle with, read on for a few tips and ideas to get you on your way.
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Welcome to a Pinterest Challenge!
Before we dive into coffee table decorating, let’s talk about the challenge that started it all!
Each month, my friend Cindy from County Road 407 issues a “mission impossible” challenge to recreate a pin from Pinterest.
(Let’s just say, I’m always keen to accept the mission.)
We bloggers then set to the task of assembling a look inspired by the original pin. Aren’t you curious to see the inspiration pin now?
If you’re coming over from my dear friend Paula at Virginia Sweet Pea, then you’ve already seen a beautiful rendition of this challenge. Isn’t her vintage coke crate coffee table decor absolutely charming?
The Inspiration Photo
Our muse this month was Jennifer at The Grace House Interiors. Jennifer shared a gorgeous Christmas home tour filled with rustic farmhouse touches, including this vintage crate vignette.
I adore the “Chip and Jo” Magnolia crate with its weathered texture. The carved Christmas trees and mixed berries are perfect in their simplicity.
Keeping Jennifer’s main elements in mind, I created a similar centerpiece using items I already owned (or crafted). Then I filled in with a few other home decor accents for a complete coffee table look.
Christmas Coffee Table Decor
For my coffee table, I decided to create a trio of items, which is a bit busier than usual. (I suppose I’m feeling a bit “over-the-top” with the Christmas spirit this year.)
My overarching theme for the coffee table was a rustic/woodland atmosphere, so I incorporated many natural elements in my display. Let’s tackle each of them with the decorating idea I had in mind.
1. Display a collection with a glass cloche
Last month, I shared a tutorial on how to make mini wooden houses. If you have a collection of items or one special accent to highlight, a glass cloche often fits the bill.
What I love about cloche domes is that they invite guests to come take a closer look. It’s a scene within a scene.
I also enjoy the way the light reflects off the glass to balance the darker wooden accents.
2. Create a focal point with a crate or tray
In the spirit of this month’s challenge, I wanted to include a crate decorated for Christmas in my vignette. In a prior post, I talked about how I style coffee table tray decor grouping complementary items.
This wooden box was a gift from my late mother-in-law to my husband. I adore the grooves and texture of this box and the simple latch in front.
Tip: Partially fill the box or crate with packing paper, newspaper, or raffia to add height and stability.
After filling the box halfway, I arranged a bit of real cedar garland together with my wooden trees.
Tip: Add touches of greenery to create liveliness in your coffee table decor, and mix real and faux stems.
You might recognize the wooden trees from last year’s post on Christmas tree decorating tips.
I cut a new wooden tree this year on the band saw my husband designed. The others are store-bought. Can you guess which one I made in the photo above?
To finish the centerpiece, I added a few faux flocked pine stems, frosted berries, and pine cones. So quick and easy!
You’ll notice, to draw attention to the display, I ensured that the trees stood taller than the rest of the coffee table accents. I also repeated the same berry stems on my Christmas tree in the background.
You’ll get a closer look at the tree in my upcoming Christmas home tour next week!
3. Add figurines and reading material
I often find adding a small decorative sculpture to a coffee table makes the room feel more welcoming and cozy. My reindeer sculpture added the perfect finish to my woodland scene.
The red ornament and books also brought a little pop of color into the scene. A coffee table always feels complete with some literature to enjoy.
Underpinning the whole coffee table display was a repurposed Christmas table runner. This helpd to break up the wooden textures and complement the neutral sofas, bringing the whole piece in unison with the living room.
How do you plan to style your coffee table this year? Comment below!
Pin it for Later!
Shop the Look
Continue Your Tour
Don’t forget there’s plenty more Christmas inspiration to devour on this tour! Your next stop is Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse. She’s an expert at decorating beautifully with crates!
That wooden box is to die for. Gorgeous and your wood trees are a perfect replica of the inspiration pic. Such a pretty display and love your cloche too, both really create the perfect coffee table vignette.
Thank you so much, Marty! I’m enjoying all the Christmas decor everyone is sharing. It really lifts my spirits. I hope you’re doing well. Hugs, Crissy
It’s all gorgeous! I LOVE your rustic wooden crate and trees along with the whole trio vignette you set up on your coffee table. I am behind everyone on the decorating, but seeing your post has me ready to start dragging out my totes right now! I can’t wait to see more of your ideas this season!
Beautiful interpretation of this challenge! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Amber! Thank you so much. Don’t you worry, you are NOT behind. I feel like I’m just getting going on my holiday decorating. Challenges like this are good to light a fire under me and get things moving.
I can’t wait to see all the beautiful things you come up with for the holidays, too. Happy Holidays!
Your box is beautiful, Crissy. It’s the perfect focal point for your coffee table style. The trees are awesome. I love that you combined the box with the cloche and houses. It’s a lovely coffee table vignette, one that I’m sure your family will enjoy during the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks so much, Carol! Yes, we’re enjoying the coffee table decor, though I’ll admit I’m always a little nervous with two young boys at home. It’s hard to wrestle near cloches and centerpieces. Ha! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Crissy, your rustic crate nearly made me swoon! I love everything about it, and the fact that it was a gift from a lost loved one make it all the more special. The elements I used from my mom added sentimental value too, and that makes this not only beautiful, but special. 💕
I had such fun participating this month with you all in the Pinterest Challenge! Looking forward to next time! 🙂
Niky & The House on Silverado
Hi Niky! I’m so glad you joined us for this challenge! Yes, I completely agree that sentimental items add such an important element. It’s great to bring a little piece of our history into decorating. I loved that you used items from your mom, too.
I can’t wait to see more of your style in future challenges. Have a wonderful holiday season! -Crissy
Crissy, Your vintage box is so cool; love it! I love how you styled it with your fun house cloche and the deer. Now you’ve got me thinking about a cool, old box I picked up last spring. I hadn’t thought about displaying it with the top open…thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks, Lora! I feel like I get so many new ideas from others on this challenge, too. I’m glad I could remind you of that box. It’s fun when you can give an existing item a fresh look. Happy Holidays!
I love sentimental old pieces like your husband’s wooden box and what a pretty holiday display it makes with your trees Crissy! In fact your whole coffee table is beautifully arranged. Pinning of course!
Thanks, Michelle. Yes, there’s something extra special when you can use items gifted by loved ones. Thank you for pinning, and Merry Christmas!
Crissy, this is such a cozy and pretty coffee table display. I love that wooden box with all of it’s texture. And your trees are perfect in it. All of your decor is beautiful!
Thanks, Angie! I love the coziness of Christmas time. It was fun to be hopping with you again for this challenge. I wish you a happy holiday season!
Your coffee table decor is anything but ‘over the top’. I love it, and it’s done with such an elegant style. Love the wooden trees, and I would guess the larger one was made by you, only because the wood looks to be a different thickness. Love the inherited crate, too, along with greenery (now I’m wishing I had ‘filled’ my crate with some extra greens!) Pinned!
Thank you, my friend! I actually made one of the smaller ones, but perhaps I should try my hand at making a bigger one, too! This woodworking stuff is addicting, you know. Thank you for pinning, as always. I hope you have a great start to the holiday season. Hugs, Crissy
What a cute coffee table display. I love the trees. The box is gorgeous. It has such great patina.
Thank you, Katie. I’m glad I thought of repurposing this box. It’s nice when you can use what you own to create something new. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Wow, nice Mother-in-law! Even though it was a gift to your hubs, what’s his is yours, right?! I love it and how you decorated it! Your ideas are always adorable and so clever. You have the jolliest coffee table now. Thank you for joining in. 🙂
Yes, most definitely it’s an equal accessory partnership! Ha! Thanks for organizing a great tour. I really loved seeing all the creativity in this one. Happy Holidays, my friend!
Crissy I adore the trees your husband made! They look so charming in your rustic arrangement. The entire vignette is so lovely!
Thanks, Laura! My husband actually made the saw, but I did the cutting this time. Sometimes he lets me have some fun in his workshop. 😉 I’m glad you liked the arrangement! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
I love the rusticness – (is that a word lol?) of that crate! So beautful! And those trees are so darling. I liket the thickness to them. I’ve been looking for some similar ones but have only been able to find ones on the thinner side! Thans for the inspo! Pinning for sure!
Thanks so much, Kori! Two of those trees were a Home Goods score, so you might try looking there. It was fun hopping with you. Thanks for stopping by and pinning. Happy Holidays!
hi crissy, i love love love the vintage crate and the story behind it. And, those trees are darling! Happy Thanksgiving, laura
Thank you, Laura! I’m glad this challenge inspired me to bring out this crate. It’s a fun way to decorate. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Crissy,
So happy to be following you on this fun challenge. I love that vintage box you used. Everything is beautiful.
RAchel
Thanks, Rachel! I look forward to checking out your decorated crate as well! -Crissy
Your version of this challenge is gorgeous! I love the crate that you used…it looks like an old tool box. As soon as I saw your trees, I thought, “I’ll bet that Crissy made those!”. Your trees remind me of six trees that my dad made my mom back in the 80s for her Christmas mantel. The way you styled your coffee table with the cloche to the left and the reindeer and books to the right looks fabulous. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your home this Christmas season.
Thank you, Paula! I know you appreciate good vintage finds, and my husband is lucky to have this unique box that his mom found. I had been using it as a display for some bath salts and lotions, so this is a major upgrade. What a special memory of the trees your dad made. Hopefully, my kids will someday cherish these items I’m making, too.