DIY Holiday Centerpieces Using Bows and Greenery

DIY Holiday Centerpieces Using Bows and Greenery

If you’ve ever stood at your dining table wondering whether a red gingham bow or a black gingham bow would make the perfect finishing touch—you’re in good company. Crafting a beautiful holiday centerpiece is part creativity, part balance, and part knowing how to let your decor tell a story.

At A Bow or Two, we believe that even a simple door bow can bring warmth, elegance, and personality to your holiday gatherings. Here’s how to design a DIY centerpiece that feels festive, cohesive, and effortlessly designer-approved.

Start with a Festive Foundation

Every great centerpiece begins with a base. Choose a tray, wooden board, or glass dish that matches your home’s style—rustic wood for cozy charm, metallic gold for a glamorous touch, or white ceramic for a clean, timeless look.

Next, layer in greenery. Fresh pine, cedar, or eucalyptus branches instantly create texture and fragrance, while faux greenery offers a longer-lasting option. The goal is to form a soft, natural nest that your bows and accents can rest in.

Choose Your Bow Story

This is where your color palette comes to life. Just as you’d select the right door bow for your front porch, pick bows that harmonize with your table’s tones and textures.

• Classic & Cozy: A red gingham bow brings that nostalgic holiday warmth—perfect with candles, pinecones, and gold accents.

• Modern & Sophisticated: A black gingham bow offers an unexpected twist, pairing beautifully with silver ornaments or frosted greenery.

• Balanced & Inviting: Mix one gingham pattern with a solid-colored bow—perhaps a cream or forest green—to create a layered, designer feel without overwhelming the arrangement.

When in doubt, choose one bow style as your focal point and use smaller, coordinating ribbons throughout your greenery for repetition and flow.

Add Natural Elements for Depth

Greenery and bows create your foundation, but the details make it shine. Mix in:

• Pinecones or acorns for a rustic look

• Cranberries or pomegranates for pops of red

• Small ornaments or tea lights for sparkle

• Cinnamon sticks or dried oranges for warmth and scent

These accents echo the textures and colors in your bows, pulling the whole piece together with harmony and intention.

Play with Height and Scale

Designers think vertically. Varying the heights of your elements—candlesticks, vases, or tall sprigs—adds movement and visual interest. If your table is long, use two or three smaller centerpieces rather than one large one. Each can feature a coordinating bow for a cohesive, balanced display that feels both full and inviting.

Think Beyond the Table

Your holiday centerpiece doesn’t have to stay in the dining room. A small arrangement with a black gingham bow looks stunning on an entryway table or mantle, while a red gingham bow centerpiece instantly warms up a kitchen island or coffee table. Matching your table’s centerpiece to your door bow outside creates a seamless holiday look that greets guests from the moment they arrive.

Make It Yours

The magic of DIY decor is personalization. Maybe your centerpiece leans rustic and homey, or sleek and minimal. Maybe you love mixing colors that “shouldn’t” work together but somehow do. That’s the beauty of bows—they’re flexible, charming, and completely you.

Change your ribbons with the season, reuse your greenery base, and let your centerpiece evolve with your home’s personality.

In Closing

Designing your own holiday centerpiece is about more than greenery and ribbons—it’s about creating a moment that feels like home. Whether you choose a bold red gingham bow, a refined black gingham bow, or a festive door bow to match, your handmade arrangement will bring warmth, joy, and a designer’s touch to every celebration.

At A Bow or Two, we believe great design begins with intention—and often, it starts with one beautiful bow.