Anna and Melinda from Olive + Opal Interiors, a home staging company based in St. Louis, Missouri share a DIY tutorial on how to create an easy holiday centerpiece.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- Decorative bowl or trough
- 4-5 large pomegranates
- Seeded eucalyptus branches
- Assortment of decorative greens
- Scented pine cones
There is nothing I love more than to sit around the dining table with family and friends to celebrate the holidays with good food and great company. This year for Thanksgiving I made my own centerpieces with a handful of fresh elements and a little Pentatonix Christmas for inspiration. Here are the 4 easy steps to create your own beautiful holiday centerpiece and trust me, your guests will think that you spent a fortune at the florist!
STEP 1:
Arrange a layer of decorative greenery along the base of your decorative bowl. I like to start with some flat green leaves and a layer of seeded eucalyptus branches to add some color, texture and of course, an amazing smell. Trader Joe’s always has an excellent assortment of greenery so I typically grab about 3-4 different varieties per centerpiece. This layer doesn’t have to be perfectly arranged – in fact, make sure that the greenery is spilling over the sides of the bowl.
STEP 2:
Add the pomegranates to the bowl starting with your largest pieces of fruit. Mix in some of the pine cones and alternate with the remaining pomegranates so that you are mixing up the colors and textures. I’ll be honest, this step takes a little time and patience. Not often do I get it right on my first try, but after a few attempts of rearranging it magically falls into place.
STEP 3:
Prop up some of the fruit with crumpled butcher paper or cellophane to add height to the arrangement. This step is key so that your centerpiece doesn’t end up looking like a plain bowl of fruit. I crumple up small amounts of butcher paper and place under the pomegranates to lift up the fruit – the cellophane from the greenery bunches works great too. Don’t worry if the layering leaves some gaps in the bowl.
STEP 4:
Fill in the gaps with small bunches of greenery. The varying heights and shapes of the fruit and pine cones will inevitably leave gaps in the arrangement. Cut off small bunches of your remaining greens to insert in the gaps. I really love green dianthus (or the green furry ball flowers, as I refer to them) as fillers in arrangements. They work beautifully and add a vibrant color and some softness to the centerpiece.
There you have it! The last step (unofficial, but most important) is to sit back and admire your work.
Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season!
- DIY Holiday Centerpiece by Olive & Opal Interiors - November 21, 2018
