DIY Centerpieces for Even the Most Un-Crafty Person!
(Originally published January 2020)
It can be so tough to find a centerpiece that’s just right for your table!
I’ve been so frustrated, trying to find the perfect table centerpiece! They’re either too small, too big, too busy, or not my style. When I actually find one that I like, I get an unwelcome dose of sticker shock. Certainly there is a happy medium, right?
After the excessive sparkle and bling of the holidays, I cleared my dining room table and lived with a blank slate for a few days. No more glitter! But I’m a home stager, and a plain wooden table didn’t seem right to me.
I began to search for that perfect centerpiece, and I came up with nothing. Of course, it doesn’t help that I was shopping right after the holidays, when stock is low. But still, I hoped that I would find a great focal point for my dining room table. No such luck.
An unlikely source of inspiration
Enter my daughter and her friend, who begged me to take them on a trip to the Dollar Tree. I reluctantly took the two pre-teens shopping, and went in not expecting to buy anything that day. However, I was completely surprised by the ideas that sprung to my mind as I walked the aisles. The creative wheels were turning! With some imagination and twenty dollars, I purchased enough budget swag to create several unique centerpieces, using items that I already had in combination with new items!
Mixing & matching materials
I purchased a wide variety of materials: decorative sand, white candles, clear glass jars, jewel-toned glass, and some other items. Since I overdosed on color and sparkle during the holidays, I selected the white candles for their association with cleanliness, which I craved after cleaning up all of the Christmas glitter.
Decorative sand, jewel-toned glass, and beach glass pieces added color, texture, and depth to my centerpiece creations. The platter in the photo below, finished in chrome, was also purchased from the Dollar Tree and completed the look for a fraction of what I have paid elsewhere.
Even if you’re not a crafty person, I encourage you to expand your thinking and make your own centerpieces if you can’t find what you want in stores. By re-purposing items that you already have, and adding new inexpensive materials, you can create a special focal point while spending almost nothing!
See my article Inspired DIY Holiday Seasonal Decor for Under $10 for more ideas about DIY decor!
