Christmas table centerpiece: candle holders, greenery and candles

For a Christmas table centerpiece, line up three to five objects of different heights down the middle of the table: two candle holders, some greenery and a low object. Leave empty space between them, keep the flame away from the foliage, and check that guests can see each other. Here is how to do it, step by step.

A runner instead of a bouquet

A bouquet has one problem: it blocks the view. A table runner, a line of objects along the center, lets you see across and leaves room for the dishes.

Measure the table. You need a strip about 20 to 30 cm wide, in the middle. The rest is for plates, glasses and dishes.

Build the heights

Three levels are enough:

• Low: a candle holder of 20 to 22 cm, or candles placed on a small dish.
• Medium: a taller candle holder, or a small terrarium.
• Green: greenery, placed between the two.

Our lemon tree candle holder is 22 cm tall. The manufacturer lists it for the dinner table. It stays low enough for guests to see each other over it.

Our strawberry candle holder, bright red with a gold detail, is 20 cm tall. It adds a festive note to a Christmas table.

An odd number

Three objects group better than two or four. If the table is long, repeat the group of three at the same rhythm: one group about every 40 to 50 cm.

What to put with the candle holders

Greenery

Several choices, depending on your time and your table:

• Fir or holly branches. They smell good. They dry out in a few days in a heated room, and dry foliage burns easily.
• Artificial plants. They last the whole season, but they are made of synthetic material: keep them away from a flame.
• A small winter village. Our eight miniature houses, with white walls and brown roofs, are about 3 cm tall. Placed on moss between two candle holders, they make a snowy landscape that does not burn.

A terrarium in the center

A terrarium is a good idea in the middle of a table. It brings green that does not dry out in a few days like a cut branch, and it does not need watering during the meal. Our guide terrarium as a centerpiece explains the height and the space to plan for.

Place the terrarium in the middle, and put a candle holder on each side, away from the foliage. The glass reflects the light of the flames.

Small objects

A few pine cones, baubles or nuts, placed in the free space. Avoid using too many: the table must stay readable.

Prepare the table

Set the runner in place before you lay the plates. That way you see how much room is left for dishes and glasses.

• Place the large objects first, then the greenery, then the small objects.
• Step back three paces: if the whole looks crowded, remove an object.
• Light the candles last, when everything is in place.
• Keep a spare candle and a candle snuffer within reach.

Seeing each other at the table

The rule is simple: a seated guest should see the person opposite.

• Keep the center low, or tall and slim, with a narrow base.
• Avoid wide objects at face height.
• If you use a large candle holder, like the 46 cm eagle, put it on a sideboard. It is too imposing for a table for six.

Our guide to bird candle holders gives the sizes of the whole range.

Safety: flame and foliage

At Christmas, the table is full of things that burn: tablecloth, napkins, gift wrap, branches. A few simple rules.

• Keep candles 50 cm to 1 meter from flammable materials, such as curtains, paper tablecloths or the tree, according to an insurer. On a narrow table, this is hard: prefer LED candles near the foliage.
• No dry foliage or artificial plant against the flame. Leave empty space around each candle.
• Never leave a lit candle unattended. Put them out before you leave the room.
• Place the candle holder on a flat, stable surface. Not at the edge of the table.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.

Also choose the candle that fits the candle holder. Our guide which candle for a candle holder explains how to measure the socket.

LED candles, as an option

LED candles do not heat the material around them. They slide into a candle holder like a real candle, if their diameter fits. They are useful:

• near greenery, when the table is narrow;
• for a meal where children run around the table;
• when you do not want to watch the flame.

You can mix the two: real candles far from the foliage, LED near it.

For the mantelpiece and the coffee table

The same line of candle holders works on a mantel, but not when the fire is in use: wax softens in the heat. See our guides on mantelpiece decoration and the coffee table.

In short

1. A runner of three to five objects instead of a bouquet.
2. Three height levels, with an odd number of objects.
3. A terrarium brings green that does not dry out.
4. The center stays low, or tall and slim, so people can see each other.
5. Flame 50 cm to 1 meter from flammable materials, never unattended, LED near greenery.

Sources

• Candle use guidelines at home, Matmut (in French)
• Fire safety at home, Health Canada (in French)
• Candle holder manufacturer data sheets (dimensions, intended use)