December
2025
Looking for simple, creative, natural and wallet-friendly designs for your holiday table? You’ve come to the right place! We spoke with a professional decorator and blogger who shares her favorite DIY centerpiece ideas to help you style your home this season.
Holiday decor can feel (and be) quite expensive. You want a beautiful table centerpiece filled with greenery, candles, fruit and twigs, but can’t justify spending hundreds on store-bought arrangements to achieve the look and feel you want.
Instead, look to the great outdoors. With a few natural elements like pine cones and twigs, you can craft a beautiful, simple and budget-friendly centerpiece that feels festive.
For inspiration, we spoke with Claire Douglas of Claire Douglas Styling, a DIY and interiors writer, enthusiastic upcycler and all-around lover of budget-friendly home styling.
“I spend a lot of time experimenting with simple, achievable ideas that help people create a home they love without spending a fortune,” she says.
Claire’s journey into decorating started quite naturally, as she’s always enjoyed making things and finding creative ways to refresh spaces.
“When the cost-of-living crisis hit, I noticed so many people were looking for ways to bring joy and seasonal cheer into their homes without buying lots of new decor,” she says. “That’s when I really leaned into DIY Christmas decorations, foraging and upcycling – my audience seemed to appreciate it.”
Before long, this newfound passion became a large part of Clarie’s work. Now she shares projects, tutorials and inspiration on her blog and social channels.
In this article, you’ll find several of Claire’s favorite and simple DIY holiday centerpiece projects that even young children can pitch in on.
From simple pine cone creations to a dried fruit garland, your table and home will feel festive and seasonal in no time.
Natural Materials to Use for Holiday Centerpieces
To create your own natural holiday centerpieces and decor, start by gathering a few simple materials. Whenever possible, opt for natural elements and items that you can find in your own backyard or that are locally sourced. This will add an authentic, seasonal touch to your table and home.
“I always gravitate towards evergreen foliage, pine cones, twigs, branches and dried fruit,” Claire says. “They’re affordable, sustainable, and instantly cozy.”
Each natural element provides its own texture, color, and beauty to the centerpiece:
- Pine cones, Claire says, are a staple for her centerpieces. They add great texture and look beautiful whether left natural or painted.
- Dried orange slices bring warmth and color, and the subtle citrus scent feels so festive.
- Twigs and sticks sound simple, but they’re incredibly versatile. You can use them to build anything from miniature trees to rustic frames.
- And, of course, fresh greenery. “It instantly makes any room feel Christmas-y and smells amazing!” she exclaims.
“Using natural materials in your centerpieces and holiday decor has a way of grounding the space,” says Claire. “And I love how each piece is slightly different.”
Photo credit: Claire Douglas Styling
Sourcing Natural Craft Materials
To source natural materials, Claire does a little bit of everything – foraging, buying locally and reusing decor from previous years.
“I’m a big fan of foraging,” she says. “But I always forage responsibly – only taking what’s already fallen where possible and making sure I’m not disturbing wildlife or protected spaces.”
A walk through her local woodland, or even through the garden, usually gives Claire everything she needs to make her holiday decor: pine cones, branches, sprigs of greenery, interesting seed heads, etc.
“There’s so much out there if you look,” she adds.
Choosing a Color Palette or Theme
When working with outdoor materials, it can be helpful to choose a color palette or theme to help guide you during the creation process.
To guide her creative process, Claire says she always begins with the materials themselves.
“Nature already provides a beautiful palette,” she explains. “Especially the deep greens, warm browns and soft oranges.”
As soon as she knows what she’s working with, Claire considers the mood she wants the arrangement to bring to the room—something rustic and cozy, simple and scandi or bright and joyful.
From there, she adds one or two accents:
- Metallics for warmth;
- White for a minimalist feel: or,
- Berries or dried fruit for pops of color.
5 Simple DIY Holiday Centerpiece Ideas
1. Pine Cone Centerpiece
For a rustic, textured look, create this simple yet beautiful pine cone centerpiece.
What You’ll Need:
- Pine cones
- White and/or gold paint
- Paintbrushes
- Shallow tray or glass cloche
How To Make It:
- Gather a mix of pine cones (foraged or saved from previous years).
- Leave some natural and paint a few white and/or gold for contrast.
- Arrange the pine cones in a shallow tray or glass cloche and set in the center of the table.
2. Dried Fruit & Pine Cone Garland
Add a touch of color and seasonal scents with this DIY dried-fruit-and-pine-cone garland.
What You’ll Need:
- Oranges
- Apples
- Pine cones
- Small sprigs
- Twine
- Fairy lights
How To Make It:
- Thinly slice oranges and/or apples and dry them either in a very low oven or on a radiator for a couple of days.
- Thread the slices, pine cones, and any small sprigs onto twine.
- Lay the garland down in the center of the table and weave in warm fairy lights.
3. Kid-Friendly Upcycled Napkin Ring Centerpiece
Looking for an upcycled holiday craft you can do with the kids? Try this adorable upcycled napkin ring centerpiece craft together.
What You’ll Need:
- Toilet paper rolls
- Twine
- Scissors
- Glue
How To Make It:
- Cut empty toilet paper rolls into rings.
- Let children wrap them in twine.
- Use the decorated rings to hold napkins.
4. Mason Jar Pine & Cranberry Centerpiece
Mason jars are a staple on the hobby farm. Fill them with cranberries and pine twigs for a holiday-inspired centerpiece.
What You’ll Need:
- Mason jars
- Fresh cranberries
- Pine branches
- Water
How To Make It:
- Fill the mason jars with fresh, clean cranberries, leaving about ½ an inch of space at the top.
- Add water until it covers the cranberries.
- Cut a few pine branches and add them to the jar, standing them upright (about 2 or 3).
- Lay a few pine branches in the center of the table and set the mason jars on top.
- Scatter a few loose cranberries over the pine branches for an extra pop of color.
Photo credit: Claire Douglas Styling
5. Evergreen Wreath and Candlesticks
Evergreens are a signature of the holiday season. Make or purchase a greenery wreath paired with a few candlesticks for this elegant, yet simple, natural centerpiece idea.
What You’ll Need:
- An evergreen wreath
- Candlesticks
- Candlestick holders
- Small decorative battery-operated lights
How To Make It:
- In the center of the table, place a small to medium-sized evergreen wreath. If you like, you can add a tree cookie slice or burlap underneath the wreath for extra rustic color.
- In the middle of the wreath, add two candlestick holders and place candles in them.
- For extra holiday sparkle, wrap the wreath with small decorative battery-operated lights.
Tips for Preparing Natural Items to be Long-Lasting and Pest-Free
According to Claire, prepping your natural materials makes all the difference:
- For foliage, she recommends shaking off any loose soil or bugs outdoors before crafting. “Rinse gently if needed,” she says. “And leave it to dry completely.”
- With dried fruit, the key is to remove all the moisture. “Slice thinly and dry slowly so they don’t go moldy,” she adds.
After the holidays are over, and it’s time to store everything away, Claire suggests keeping everything you’ve created in an airtight or sealed container until you’re ready to use it again.
Keep It Simple!
The key with natural decorating and centerpieces is to keep it simple.
Claire adds this reminder: “Festive decor doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Some of the most meaningful decorations are the ones you’ve made yourself with the kids’ help!”
To learn more about Claire Douglas, be sure to visit her website and blog at clairedoublasstyling.co.uk. You can also follow her on Instagram and TikTok!
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