Christmas Table Decor Ideas on a Budget
Quick answer
To decorate a Christmas table on a budget, use plates you already own, run a low line of real or faux greenery down the center, add candles in mixed heights, tuck in ornaments or citrus, and tie cloth napkins with ribbon and a sprig of rosemary. A table for 8 costs about $55 to $140. For the rest of the house, see our Christmas decorating cost guide.
You do not need new dishes or an expensive centerpiece to set a beautiful Christmas table. These 12 budget ideas, easy place settings and a full cost table will help you set a festive table for family and friends. Hosting a crowd? See our Christmas party budget breakdown and 4-week hosting checklist.
Start with what you already own
Most of a beautiful Christmas table is already in your cupboards: white plates, everyday glasses and a plain tablecloth or bare wood table. Holiday color comes from small, cheap layers on top: napkins, greenery, candles and a few ornaments. Skip buying a full set of holiday dishes. If you buy one new piece, make it a runner: our Christmas table runners and tablecloths guide has size charts for every table. Covering the whole table? See our best Christmas tablecloths, including wipe-clean vinyl cloths for kids.
Build a low centerpiece
Run a line of greenery down the middle of the table. Faux garland works, but real cedar, pine or eucalyptus from a tree lot or grocery store smells wonderful and often costs less. Add candles in two or three heights, then tuck in ornaments, pinecones, oranges or berries. Keep everything under about 12 inches so guests can see each other.
12 Christmas table decor ideas on a budget
- Greenery runner: cut branches laid straight on the table.
- Candles in mixed heights: tapers, pillars and tea lights grouped together.
- Ornaments in a bowl or tray: left over from the tree.
- Citrus and spice: oranges studded with cloves, or a bowl of clementines.
- Cloth napkins tied with ribbon and a sprig of rosemary.
- Name cards on ornaments: write names with a paint pen. Guests take them home.
- Plaid or red table runner over a white tablecloth.
- Mini trees down the center, in different sizes.
- Candy cane jars for a kids’ table.
- Gold or brass accents: chargers, candlesticks or flatware.
- Pinecones and wood slices for a rustic look.
- Fairy lights tucked into the greenery.
Easy place settings
Layer from the bottom up: a charger or placemat, a dinner plate, a salad plate, then a folded napkin with a sprig of greenery or a small ornament on top. Chargers are one of the cheapest upgrades; plastic gold chargers often cost about $1 to $3 each.
White plates, a line of greenery and lots of candlelight. That is a holiday table for almost nothing. Many of the same pieces start the season in our Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas; just swap the pumpkins for ornaments.
Christmas table budget (for 8 guests)
| Item | Budget price |
|---|---|
| Greenery (real or faux) | $10 to $30 |
| Candles (tapers, pillars, tea lights) | $12 to $30 |
| Cloth napkins (8) | $12 to $25 |
| Ribbon and sprigs | $5 to $12 |
| Chargers (8) | $10 to $25 |
| Ornaments, fruit, pinecones | $5 to $20 |
| Total | $54 to $142 |
Safety tips
- Keep real candles away from greenery and napkins, or use LED candles.
- Never leave candles burning on an empty table.
- Check that guests can reach across without knocking over tall candles.
Set the table in 5 steps
- Tablecloth or bare wood.
- Greenery down the center.
- Candles in mixed heights.
- Plates on chargers.
- Napkin with ribbon and a sprig.
Hosting the whole meal? See our tips for a dinner party on a budget, and our Thanksgiving table ideas that carry right into December.
Pick a color scheme
A table looks planned when it sticks to two or three colors. Here are four easy combinations that work with white plates:
- Classic red and green: red napkins or candles, fresh greenery, a few red ornaments.
- White and gold: gold chargers and flatware, white candles, eucalyptus. Elegant and easy to reuse for New Year’s Eve.
- Plaid and wood: a plaid runner or napkins, wood slices, pinecones and brass candlesticks. Cozy and rustic.
- Green and silver: silver ornaments and mercury glass tea lights with lots of greenery. Cool and modern.
Whatever you choose, repeat the same colors on the tree and mantel so the whole room feels connected.
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Christmas table decor by budget
You can set a lovely table at almost any price. Here is what different budgets typically cover for a table of 8, based on the price ranges in the cost table above.
| Budget | What it covers | Best tip |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $25 | Yard greenery, tree ornaments, candles you own, everyday plates | Raid the tree and the yard first |
| $25 to $75 | Fresh greenery, new taper candles, ribbon for napkins, a bag of clementines | Spend on candles; they make the biggest difference |
| $75 to $150 | All of the above plus cloth napkins, gold chargers and fairy lights | Choose pieces you can reuse for New Year’s Eve |
Christmas table decor for different table shapes
Long rectangular tables
Run greenery the full length and repeat a small cluster of candles and ornaments every 18 to 24 inches. Repetition looks intentional and needs fewer items than one large centerpiece. If the table will stay set for days, flameless taper candles give the same look with no drips.
Round tables
Use a single round arrangement in the center: a wreath laid flat with a pillar candle or a cluster of tea lights in the middle. Keep it low so guests can talk across the table.
Small or apartment tables
A tray or cutting board with three candles, a little greenery and a few ornaments is enough. Keep the center narrow so there is room for serving dishes. Our small apartment Christmas decor guide has more space-saving ideas.
Kitchen islands and buffets
Put taller arrangements at the back edge and keep the front clear for food. A garland along the edge of a buffet adds color without taking up serving space.
Easy DIY touches
Homemade pieces are the cheapest way to make Christmas table decor feel personal.
- Clove oranges: press whole cloves into oranges in simple patterns. They smell wonderful and cost a few dollars for a bowlful.
- Wood slice risers: stack two or three wood slices under candles to vary the height.
- Ornament place cards: write names on plain ornaments with a gold paint pen.
- Jar lanterns: fill clean jars with Epsom salt “snow” and a battery tea light.
- Rosemary napkin rings: bend a sprig of rosemary into a loop and tie it with twine.
When to set the table
Good timing makes Christmas table decor feel effortless instead of rushed.
- Two or three days before: wash linens, polish candlesticks and plan the layout.
- The day before: lay the tablecloth, greenery and candles, and set out plates and glasses.
- The morning of: add fresh fruit, napkins with sprigs, and place cards.
- Just before guests arrive: light candles and turn on fairy lights.
Setting most of the table a day early makes the holiday itself much calmer, especially if you are cooking.
A kids’ Christmas table
Cover the table in kraft paper and let kids draw on it with crayons. Add candy cane jars, small plastic ornaments, and LED tea lights instead of real flames. A coloring sheet at each place keeps little guests busy while the adults finish cooking, and it costs almost nothing.
Common Christmas table decor mistakes
- Building a centerpiece so tall that guests cannot see each other.
- Covering the whole table and leaving no room for food.
- Using strongly scented candles that compete with dinner.
- Placing real candles too close to greenery or paper.
- Buying single-use holiday dishes instead of decorating plates you own.
The best Christmas table decor is simple: a low line of greenery, plenty of candlelight, and one small touch at each seat. Match the colors to your mantel with our Christmas mantel decor ideas, and see dinner party on a budget for menu tips. With these basics, your Christmas table decor will look polished for very little money.
Helpful resources: For more on Christmas table decor, see the National Christmas Tree Association and U.S. Fire Administration.
Christmas table decor: frequently asked questions
How do I decorate a Christmas table on a budget?
Use your everyday white plates, then add a low line of real or faux greenery, candles in mixed heights, ornaments or fruit, and cloth napkins tied with ribbon. A table for 8 can be decorated for about $55 to $140.
How tall should a Christmas centerpiece be?
Keep it under about 12 inches so guests can see and talk across the table. Tall candles are fine if they are slim.
What can I use instead of a table runner?
Lay real evergreen branches, eucalyptus or a faux garland directly down the middle of the table.
Do I need special Christmas dishes?
No. Plain white plates with gold chargers, holiday napkins and greenery look festive and work for every holiday.
What do you put in the middle of a Christmas table?
A low line of evergreen branches or garland with candles in two or three heights, plus ornaments, pinecones or citrus tucked in. Keep it under about 12 inches tall.
How can I make my Christmas table look expensive?
Stick to two or three colors, add gold chargers or brass candlesticks, use cloth napkins, and light plenty of candles. These cheap layers make simple white plates look elegant.
Sources: National Fire Protection Association. Prices are national planning ranges, not quotes. See how we research costs.
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