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7 Easy Tips for Everyday Kitchen Table Centerpiece Ideas

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A beautiful centerpiece is always a welcome sight on a kitchen table.  However, the center of your table still deserves to look pretty with everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas too!  Follow these easy, 7 tips for dining table centerpiece ideas that are perfect for everyday use.  For more inspiration, check out some of my favorite kitchen table centerpiece ideas to use in my own dining area!

Since the center of the table is a focal point of the kitchen or dining room, I love to have a beautiful centerpiece.  However, on many days, our kitchen table more closely resembles grand central station.  Incorporating beautiful kitchen table centerpiece ideas for everyday use is the best way to create the perfect balance between pretty and practical.

At the same time, if I keep kitchen table centerpiece ideas on our table, it seems like everyone in the family (including me) is less likely to pile alllllll the things to clutter up the space.

Today, I thought I would share the easiest way I’ve found to create everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas that don’t just get in our family’s way.  While these 7 tips apply to many different styles of home decor, I’ll also share some of my favorite kitchen table centerpiece ideas for all of the seasons.

I hope you’ll find inspiration in these tips and ideas to help you shop your home and create your own everyday table centerpiece ideas for a beautiful focal point in the middle of the table.

What decorations to put on a dining table?

​For everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas, you’ll want to stick to the following rules of thumb:

  1. Keep it simple; less is more
  2. Make it easy to maintain on a daily basis
  3. Use flexible ideas that are easy to move around to fit your family’s needs

​What do you put in the middle of a kitchen table?

If you feel stuck while trying to create a simple centerpiece for your everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas, refer back to this fail-proof formula:

  • Simple table runner
  • Round decorative tray 
  • Small vase with these pretty faux flowers
  • Pretty salt and pepper shakers
  • Favorite candle OR candle holder with a flameless candle on a timer

This is just one of many, MANY combinations of my 7 favorite tips for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.  However, it is the most simple one and you probably have almost everything you need already on hand.  You can use this centerpiece idea on a kitchen island, dining room table, or breakfast nook too.

Now that you know you’ve got one, easy, go-to idea for an everyday centerpiece, let’s look at my 7 favorite tips and how you can combine them for interesting and beautiful everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas that make your kitchen feel extra inviting and welcoming for your family and friends.

7 Tips for Everyday Kitchen Table Centerpiece Ideas

1. Add a soft layer first for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.

One of the best ideas you can incorporate into everyday dining table decor is a simple table runner or even a pretty place mat in the middle of the table.  First of all, a table runner or place mat is a great way to add a pop of color or pattern to even the most simple everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.  It is also an easy way to give a touch of seasonal decor to your table without having to change anything else in the space!

Secondly, a table runner or place mat makes it easy to slide a centerpiece to one end of the table if you need more space for meals or activities.  This probably sounds kind of silly, but hey.  We are talking about what works for everyday use in the dining area, right?!

Adding a soft layer for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas elevates the most simple dining room table centerpieces.  You can simply add a small vase of fresh flowers or a pretty pitcher and stack of drinking glasses to a table runner or place mat for the easiest centerpiece!

THIS simple table runner is under $10 and is one of my favorites to use for a casual style.  I also love that the check pattern and neutral color goes with all seasons and looks nice for daily use.

2. Combine everyday kitchen table centerpiece elements on a tray.

Next, I suggest corralling your everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas with a decorative trays.  Decorative trays can be anything from a basket to a pretty dish to a tiered tray.  While a decorative tray definitely adds a beautiful touch to favorite table centerpiece ideas, it also helps keep the center of the table looking tidy and intentional.

You may choose to include decorative items on a tray for a centerpiece.  At the same time, you can also include functional items that your family uses every day.  A stack of dishes and everyday flatware contained in a pretty jar combine beautifully with a potted plant or vase of real flowers (or THESE faux flowers, which is what I use the most often.  They look so realistic and are super budget-friendly!)

You may want to also include a series of smaller items that your family uses daily, such as a covered butter dish, sugar bowl, or salt and pepper shakers.  Decorative trays can help these smaller items to stay tidy and include them as part of the decor rather than feeling like table clutter.

Goodness knows that at my house, the table clutter can get out of hand before I know what even happens!  Can anyone relate??

3. Use functional items in an everyday kitchen table centerpiece.

How to decorate a table for every day?

Speaking of those smaller items, keeping everyday kitchen items that are used daily on the table can save time and make breakfast or dinner time more convenient.  You can make these everyday, functional items feel like part of the decor with a cohesive look by investing in pretty containers and dishes that go with your home aesthetic.

Items like flatware, cereal bowls, a water carafe, napkins, and salt and pepper can take center stage as beautiful everyday kitchen centerpiece ideas when you invest in pretty pieces.

One of my favorite ways to use functional items in everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas is with a bowl of fruit.  Our family goes through SO much fruit!

Keeping a large bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table makes healthy snacks convenient and brings in some bright colors for a happy vibe.  Apples, cutie oranges, and grapes are the most common fresh fruit that you may find in a pretty fruit bowl on our table or kitchen island!

Here are some decorative bowl and basket options that are great for fruit: 

4. Create a base with a neutral color scheme for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.

Since you likely want everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas that are easy, don’t take a lot of time, and do not have to changed often, you may find it helpful to create a base of neutral colored decorative items.

Here is a great example of a neutral base for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas:

All you have to do to give a fresh look to your entire kitchen space is drop in some pretty fresh flowers from the grocery store!  I also love to use super realistic faux flowers.  My go-to natural blooms in the spring and summer are:

5.  Have fun with oversized pieces for a large centerpiece.

While this is one of my favorite tips for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas, it also definitely depends on the size, scale, and shape of your table.  The basic point is to not be afraid to go a little “big” with your centerpiece.  Too small of a centerpiece can underwhelm a space.  While you don’t want to overwhelm a table either, have some fun being creative with centerpiece ideas that are on the larger size.

I love using this large wooden vessel made from reclaimed wood with tall branches or white flowers.  It still allows the table to be easily used for everyday purposes but also makes a statement with its larger size.

One of my favorite seasonal centerpieces to use is this extra large gray terra cotta bowl filled with vintage and vintage-style Christmas ornaments.  It is easy to move if we need the full table or to slide over for daily use when our family gathers at the dinner table.

You can have a lot of fun with a large vessel, such as a wooden dough bowl for rustic elegance, a large stoneware crock for a vase, or an oversized bowl.  While any of these vessels look pretty all on their own, you can easily swap out seasonal elements to give your everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas a fresh look!

​

6.  Include natural elements in everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.

What is a good centerpiece for a kitchen table?

We have already chatted about ways to incorporate flowers into a gorgeous centerpiece that still works for daily use.  Floral arrangements or even a potted plant can make a great everyday centerpiece for your table.  Natural elements, such as flowers and plants, bring beauty to this everyday space in your home!

You can also include other natural elements in your everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.  Often, these natural elements lend themselves perfectly to seasonal touches.  For example, palm branches add height and whimsy during the summer months.  During the fall season, a stack of heirloom pumpkins are one of my favorite centerpiece ideas.  I love using pine cones in an oversized bowl for just the right centerpiece during the winter.  Cheerful pastel flowers are a beautiful option for spring.

Natural elements are a good idea for any time of year and can inspire you to keep your everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas feeling fresh and creative!

​

7. Stick with the rule of three’s in varied heights for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.

A good rule of thumb that you often hear interior designers refer to is the rule of three’s.  While I am definitely not an interior designer, I have found that styling a vignette like a table centerpiece is so natural in a grouping of three items.  In fact, you may have noticed that many of the examples in this blog post use a group of three items.  Additionally, a grouping of three is a natural fit for a decorative tray, as mentioned above in tip #2.

As you think about your grouping of three, also consider varied heights.  For example, a vase with tall flowers, a water carafe, and a pair of salt and pepper shakers makes a nice grouping of three items in different heights.

You may also have a grouping of three items with symmetry.  For example, a pretty bouquet of flowers flanked by matching candle holders is a classic style for beautiful, everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas.  A centerpiece like this is also a good option to easily transition over to a dinner parties or special occasions too!

What looks good in the middle of a dining room table?

Here are some great ideas for table decor basics that I like to keep on hand for everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas:

Are you feeling inspired to give your everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas a little refresh?  As I type, my kitchen table and kitchen island are ready for a little swap of a decorative piece or two, making the kitchen feel fresh and ready for the season!

Thank you for allowing me to share some ideas and get my own creative wheels turning too!  I hope you have fun taking these tips and tweaking them to fit your personal style for beautiful everyday kitchen table centerpiece ideas!

You can browse more ideas for decorative accents and table decor, carefully curated HERE on my storefront!

Happy decorating!

You may also enjoy these easy decorating ideas from popular blog posts:

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