Every year I tell myself I’ll keep the dining room Christmas table simple, and every year it somehow turns into a full production. Greenery spilling everywhere, mismatched candles, ribbon that won’t stay put – you get the picture.
That’s when the Christmas dough bowl centerpiece saves me. It makes everything look pulled together, even when it’s really just a jumble of leftovers and a few things I found in a box. It’s honestly the easiest way I’ve found to make the table look festive without overthinking it.
Here are 20 of my favorite Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece Ideas for the Dining Room Christmas Table
1 | Evergreen and Cinnamon Sticks
This one smells amazing without even trying that hard.
Just layer a few pine branches inside your dough bowl, then tuck in whole cinnamon sticks and a few pinecones.
You can add small gold or wooden ornaments if you want to make it look fuller.
Even when the greenery dried out a little, it still looked nice and rustic.
2 | Floating Candles and Cranberries
If your dough bowl is watertight (or you have a liner), this one looks great in dim light.
Fill it about halfway with water, add a handful of cranberries, and place floating candles on top.
When they flicker, the light reflects off the water and feels super cozy.
3 | Mini Ornaments and Fairy Lights
This is the quick one you do when guests are already on their way.
Fill the dough bowl with mini ornaments in two or three colors – metallics or pastels both work.
Then snake a short string of fairy lights through them. That’s it. It looks festive even if half the bulbs are burnt out.
4 | Citrus and Greenery Mix
If you’ve got leftover oranges or lemons, slice them up and dry them in the oven for a bit.
Mix those slices with sprigs of rosemary and a few pine branches.
It gives the table that old-fashioned Christmas market smell.
My friend tried this with grapefruit slices too and it weirdly worked, even though it sounded strange at first.
5 | Snowy Pinecones and White Candles
You can fake a “snowy” look with a bit of white paint or flour dusted on pinecones.
Add some white or cream candles in between them. It looks soft and wintry without feeling overdone.
You can even use battery candles if real ones make you nervous. From the side, it looks like a little winter forest scene.
6 | Simple Garland Layer
When you’re short on time, a pre-made garland saves you.
Lay it straight into the dough bowl and just fluff it out.
Add one or two ribbons tied loosely at each end, not perfect bows- just knotted fabric that looks casual.
My cousin does this every year and it always looks like she got the idea straight from an interior design magazine.
7 | Apples and Eucalyptus
Red apples look great against the pale green of eucalyptus leaves.
It’s not traditional but it feels fresh.
You can mix in a few dried berries or acorns if you have them.
The apples last for weeks, so it’s also practical.
If you prefer you can find some great fake apples online so you don’t have to worry about constantly swapping in fresh produce.
8 | Vintage Ornaments and Ribbon Scraps
If you’ve got old ornaments that don’t fit your tree anymore, throw them in here.
Mix them with bits of leftover ribbon or tinsel.
It’s one of those messy-but-charming looks that feels personal.
9 | Dried Flowers and Neutral Tones
This works if your table is already busy and you want something subtle.
Use dried hydrangeas, beige pampas grass, or bleached pinecones.
It gives that soft, calm look that balances all the red and green elsewhere.
You can spray a little scent mist over it if you miss the pine smell.
10 | Cookies and Candy Display
A fun one if you’re having people over.
Fill the dough bowl with wrapped candies, cookies, or chocolates.
You can layer tissue paper or parchment inside first. Kids love sneaking pieces, and honestly, adults do too.
Just keep it refilled, because it’ll empty faster than you think.
11 | Small Houses and Faux Snow
You know those tiny ceramic houses people collect? Line a few up inside your dough bowl and sprinkle fake snow or flour around them.
Add a couple of bottle brush trees for texture.
It ends up looking like a tiny winter village.
12 | Green Apples and Nuts Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece
If red feels too traditional, go green for your Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece.
Fill the dough bowl with green apples and whole walnuts.
The mix of textures makes it interesting, and you can still snack on it later.
A few sprigs of pine tucked between them finishes it off.
13 | Mixed Metals and Candles
If you like a little shine, go for mixed metallics.
Combine gold, silver, and bronze ornaments, then place small votive candles in between.
It catches the light beautifully during dinner.
Imperfect symmetry makes it feel lived-in, not staged.
14 | Rustic Wood and Burlap
This one’s for people who like the farmhouse style.
Line the dough bowl with a strip of burlap or linen fabric, then layer pinecones and wooden beads.
You can tie a few with string for detail. It’s rough, simple, and feels handmade in the best way.
Works especially well on wooden dining tables.
15 | Wrapped Gift Fill Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece
This one looks playful and kind of nostalgic, like something from an old Christmas movie.
Take a few tiny boxes (even empty jewelry or tea boxes work) and wrap them with leftover paper or fabric scraps.
Tie each with string or thin ribbon, then pile them inside the dough bowl at random angles.
Add a bit of greenery or tinsel between them so it doesn’t look too stiff.
16 | Gold Bells and Greenery
Grab a few small gold bells (they don’t even need to match) and mix them with cedar or fir branches.
When people move around the table, they make a faint jingle sound.
My niece thought that meant “Santa’s nearby” one year, so now we keep it going. It’s low effort, high nostalgia.
17 | White and Wood Mix Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece
A neutral look that fits modern spaces.
Fill your dough bowl with white ornaments, wood beads, and a few sprigs of dried greenery.
It feels calm but still festive.
You can add a linen runner underneath to tie it to the table.
If you’re tired of the usual red-green combo, this one’s easy on the eyes.
18 | Simple Candle Row
Sometimes all you need is a row of candles in the dough bowl, nothing else.
Use different heights to keep it from looking too flat. Place a little sand or salt at the bottom to keep them steady.
The glow it gives off during dinner feels soft and relaxed.
19 | Fresh Herbs and Twine Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece
If you’ve got rosemary, thyme, or sage leftover from cooking, bundle them up and drop them into the dough bowl.
Tie each bunch with twine or ribbon scraps. It smells amazing and feels naturally festive. Plus it only takes around 5 minutes to do!
20 | Mini Wreath Inside the Bowl Christmas Dough Bowl Centerpiece
Buy or make a tiny wreath that fits snugly inside your dough bowl. Add one big candle in the middle or just leave it plain.
It frames everything nicely without looking fussy.
You can swap out the wreath out for different colors each year. Easy, tidy, and done in ten minutes.
