Rustic Woodland Christmas Tabletop

Decorating your home and decorating for entertaining go hand in hand at Christmas. Over the years I’ve gone from traditional green and gold decor, to whimsical red and white decor, to neutral toned nature-inspired tabletop decorations.

With the addition of a few new items, an easy DIY project, and thrift store finds, I was able to put this year’s tablescape together on a budget without sacrificing style.

Overall Look

What gives this table a rustic Christmas design? First of all, nothing here looks too precious or delicate. Matte pottery pieces such as dinner plates and mugs are warm and rustic, while vintage dessert plates and utensils add instant charm.

The centerpiece has natural elements, but there’s no fancy floral arrangement. And a simple project making dried orange slices gives a nod to a bygone era when decorations were all homemade.

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Setting The Table

Cover the table with a tablecloth that has holiday color, but can be used year round so you get the biggest bang for your buck. This green and cream striped tablecloth has a good weight to it with a tassel edge all around. It can serve you for many occasions throughout the year.

Use the same woven chargers that you’ve used in dozens of other tablescapes, and layer them with solid cream or white dinner plates.

Build layers with vintage amber dessert plates that echo the color of the dried orange slices. Using solid color dishes instead of trendy themes gives you much more usability over time.

The utensils for this table are another vintage find. I love the combination of gold/brass and wooden handles. I found an entire set with storage box on Etsy and simply adore it. Here’s a modern version.

Place Setting Details

When I’m creating a tabletop I typically focus on two areas of interest: details in the centerpiece, and details in the place settings.

Adding interest to each place setting is easy with a DIY place card or tag. It’s much more charming than a store bought tent card with names written on it.

• For these, I bought a square of leather (or faux leather) and cut it into strips with a dove tail edge. I cut a slit at the other end and tied on a dried orange slice using bakers twine. Finally, I wrote the names using a marker.

I bought some beautiful vintage Christmas postcards for about $1 each at an antique store, and simply placed one on each napkin for color and interest. These are a delightful addition especially if you find some that have written notes on the back. We had fun reading them aloud at the table and thinking about the people who wrote them!

This table can take you from Christmas brunch to Christmas dinner. For brunch add in the Christmas themed coffee mugs, and for dinner switch them for wine glasses. You can use the same green water glasses for both meals.

Centerpiece

You don’t need to spend money on expensive flowers for a rustic table. I spent almost nothing on the centerpiece because it’s made up of party staples: candles and holiday garland.

I often use fresh cut clippings to make a runner of real greenery, but this time I used faux garland. It’s not thick and hefty like many styles so it lays nicely on the table with plenty of room for the candles.

Candles

Even if the theme is rustic, adding some sparkle makes things pop. Glass vases and pillar candles adds just enough shine.

You probably don’t need to light them for a breakfast party, but they are glowing perfection at night for dinner.

To help bring the garland to life, tuck in some pinecones and dried oranges. You could also try other miscellaneous items like deer antlers and bird’s nests. Mix the items to create one long centerpiece down the length of the table, as opposed to having one central item. This way everyone has something unique to look at.

Flank the runner at each end with these old world style candle holders. I love them and had to have them after having similar ones on the table at a cozy restaurant in Amsterdam.

How To Make Dried Orange Slices

These are so easy to make and add such a lovely detail to your holiday decor. Plus, you can use them to garnish drinks and cocktails with too!

1. Use a mandolin to slice the oranges quickly, easily, and in uniform thickness. Cut them ⅛ to ¼-inch wide.
2. Once you have all your slices, dab them with paper towel to remove as much moisture as you can. Lay them on wire rack placed on a sheet pan, in a single layer.
3. Preheat the oven to its lowest temperature, or about 200º F. Heat the oranges for 3-4 hours turning halfway through, or until firm and dry. Let them cool completely and they’ll firm up and become brittle as they cool.
4. Store in a Ziplock bag at room temperature. Use them for decoration for years to come, or use them as a drink garnish for up to 2 years, making sure they’re completely moisture-free to prevent mold.  

More Rustic Decor Ideas

As I mentioned above, entertaining decor and home decor go hand in hand at the holidays. If you have a mantle and a Christmas tree, match the rustic woodland theme to create a cohesive space.

For a rustic Christmas tree, decorate with a DIY orange garland, and woodsy items like pinecone ornaments, birds, and birds nests. You could also collect a bunch of vintage Christmas cards and add string to hang them on the tree.

You can take your table even further towards the rustic look with burlap as a table cover, and upholstery webbing strips down the middle, or a moss runner.

Mantel

• Create your own themed art piece using a window-style frame (or vintage window), decorative paper, fabric, and woodland cutouts. Insert themed paper and burlap into each window frame, and attach a few cutout shapes with glue dots or a glue gun. The cutout shapes were actually a garland that I deconstructed for this decoration project.
• Hang a “garland” along the mantle which is actually yarn with little balls woven onto it. So simple!

• Fill a wooden box with woodland items including pine cones, greenery, and bare branches with tiny ornaments attached. Add some yarn balls for a cozy touch.

I hope you’ve gotten some good tips and ideas for decorating for rustic woodsy Christmas table. And remember to pick a theme and carry it throughout.