As the winter season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate your home for the holidays. One easy and festive way to add some cheer to your living space is with a beautiful centerpiece. Inspired by a recent find at Pottery Barn, I created this rustic winter wonderland centerpiece using readily available materials. This DIY project is perfect for adding a touch of warmth and elegance to your holiday decor.
Cozy Winter Centerpiece: Bringing the Outdoors In
Today I’ll guide you through the simple steps to create your own stunning centerpiece. This project only takes a few minutes to put together and you may already have all the supplies on hand.
One of my favorite places to get inspiration for new decorating project ideas to recreate is from scrolling through Pottery Barn. Especially the holiday lookbooks! When I saw their new Faux Aspen Centerpiece that is $129 I knew I wanted to make a budget-friendly version to use on my coffee table for winter.
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Before you head to the store, take a look around your home! You might be surprised to find that you already have many of the materials needed to create a stunning winter centerpiece. Check your holiday decorations for greenery, pinecones, and other natural elements. You may even have some old ornaments or ribbon that you can repurpose.
By using what you already have, you can create a beautiful and budget-friendly centerpiece that will add warmth and charm to your home this winter.
What You Will Need:
- Wood Dough Bowl or Oblong Wood Tray
- Glass Cylinder Vases (2)- Hobby Lobby
- Magnolia Garland
- Various greenery (e.g., pine, cedar, fir, magnolia)
- Faux antlers
- Pinecones
- Berries
- Twigs
- Candles
Wood Dough Bowls:
Step-by-Step Instructions
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, this winter centerpiece comes together quickly. To achieve a designer look, I recommend using at least three different types of greenery in your arrangement.
You might already have winter picks stored in a Christmas bin. Another money-saving tip is to repurpose greenery from an old winter garland or wreath that you no longer use.
The green berry clusters I am using are from Dollar Tree. Customize your arrangement with any color berry that you like! Off-white would be perfect to keep it neutral, whereas red berries would look very festive.
Prepare The Base
For my winter centerpiece, I used a long wooden dough bowl-style tray that I purchased from Hobby Lobby last year. You can find similar trays there now. Any oblong wooden tray will work for this project.
Then I placed the two glass cylinder vases at the bottom of the tray.If you’re using a smaller dough bowl, consider using only one cylinder vase and candle.
Arrange The Greenery
To fill the base of the bowl, I used an old magnolia garland that I already had. The Pottery Barn centerpiece inspired me to use magnolia leaves in my arrangement.
I created a figure-eight pattern with the magnolia garland around the glass cylinder vases. This will serve as a base to hold the greenery picks in place.
The next step was to insert the winter greenery picks around the tray. I started with this realistic white pine. My favorite online craft supply source is CraftOutlet.com (it’s my secret source for cool crafting supplies & wreath forms), the picks I am using today are from there but you can find winter stems at all of the craft stores or Amazon if you need them sooner.
shop greenery
After the white pine stems, I layered in smaller noble fir picks in each corner of the tray. It’s easy to hold them in place intertwining them in the magnolia garland.
To add a delicate texture I cut pieces of real greenery from a bunch that I had bought at Trader Joe’s (my go-to for fresh greenery and florals).
Finish Off With Natural Accents
To keep with the rustic and natural feel of this table centerpiece, I added pinecones, faux berries, antler ornaments, and pheasant feathers.
pinecones
First, I scattered different-sized pinecones around the arrangement. I have collected the pinecones in the woods behind my house so the cost for this was my favorite…$0!
antler ornaments
After the pinecones, I tucked in faux antler ornaments (Hobby Lobby, came boxed for $5) to each corner of the dough bowl arrangement.
Feathers, twigs & Berries
The final natural touches were faux green berry clusters (from Dollar Tree), pheasant feathers, and a couple of wispy branches that I clipped from my yard.
If you want to take one decorating tip away from this post, it’s to buy a bag of pheasant feathers. I use them year-round in various ways, from adding them to flower arrangements to embellishing wreaths.
Add Candles
The last step for this winter table centerpiece is to add a couple of battery-operated candles. What I Iove about these is they are on a timer and have a remote control as well, it’s nice for them to come on automatically at dusk.
Ready For The Holidays & Beyond!
Another reason that I love this coffee table display is that it works for Christmas time but can also stay out for the rest of the winter because it is so cozy looking!
Tips for Customization
Want to make your winter centerpiece truly unique? Here are a few tips to help you customize your creation:
- Play with Color: Experiment with different colors of greenery and berries. A mix of deep greens, vibrant reds, and soft whites can create a stunning visual impact.
- Add Decorative Touches: Incorporate other decorative elements like ornaments, ribbon, or small figurines. You can also add a sprinkle of glitter or faux snow for a touch of magic.
- Adjust the Height: Customize the height of your centerpiece by using different sized dough bowls and greenery. A taller centerpiece can make a bold statement, while a shorter one can create a more intimate feel.
I hope this post has inspired you to create your own beautiful and budget-friendly winter centerpiece. By following these simple steps and using readily available materials, you can transform your living space into a cozy winter wonderland. Remember, the key to a stunning centerpiece is to let your creativity shine. So have fun and enjoy the process!
See your projects featured! If you are inspired by this or any of my other DIY projects, I would love to see them and add you to the Reader’s Spotlight gallery. Send a photo to me at jennifer@cottageonbunkerhill.com
xo, Jennifer
2025
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Hi Jenn
Your centerpiece is stunning!! I love the natural elements and can almost smell the freshness from here!!! And yes, it would be beautiful throughout the winter!!!!
Thank you for this awesome idea!!!
Thank you Kathy!!
Your centerpiece turned out better than PB and for a lot less money. Beautiful!
I’m all about spending less $$$!!!
Jennifer
Your centerpiece is amazing. Love this.
Thanks, friend!! You know we love our PB dupes!!
This is so pretty and easy! Thanks for sharing your online source for supplies, I hadn’t heard of it. We live in the country and see deer regularly , and I have a collection of brass deer already that I use for Christmas/winter, so I think I need to add some faux antlers to the mix! Thanks for sharing!
I found craft outlet before I even started blogging. They are such a great resource, but you have to get ahead of the season because things sell out fast!