Easy & Fresh Modern Rustic Christmas Tablescape

Are you looking for a simple Christmas tablescape that is a fresh and modern take on rustic farmhouse decor? This is an easy tablescape to put together, and it’s a beautiful and budget-friendly option for a functional Christmas table!

Pretty and Functional Christmas Table? Yes, Please

Creating a Christmas tablescape is one of my favorite ways to decorate. But let me first say, we have a lot going on at our house during the season.

While I love the creativity, I’m also looking for something that is practical, budget-friendly, and doesn’t take up too much space.

This year, I went a little different direction than past years (you can see last’s year’s table here, and the year before that here, which is a variation of this year!) – both in colors and decor choices, and I’m really pleased with the results.

Let me walk you through the method to my madness and hopefully, you can take out a few ideas that will help you!

Working Your Table into Your Home Christmas Decor

When thinking about my dining room table, I also try to consider the direction I’m going for the rest of my house.

If you have a separate dining room, this might not be a big deal.

But my dining table is actually at the far end of the living room (we live in a ranch style house), so I always try to keep things coordinated.

For many years, I stayed with more neutral Christmas decor – green, white, tan, black – but no red.

But this year, I was really missing red! I added a lot of red berries to my entire house, to brighten it up – and that same theme carried over to my dining table.

So, all that to say – consider your color palette and design style for Christmas when preparing to create your tablescape.

Consider Functionality First

Another thing to consider is how the table will be used all season long.

Can you set it up and leave it be until guests arrive? Is it a busy, working station that gets used a lot?

These details will factor into whether or not you use just a Christmas centerpiece, a simple tablescape with no place settings, or a full holiday tablescape with place settings.

My table is a busy work area, so I created my tablescape with 2 things in mind.

1| I wanted more than just a centerpiece, but something pretty simple that ran through the center.

2| I didn’t want a tall centerpiece that would block the view.

Later on, I added in simple place settings, just to complete the look.

Let me show you what I did!

Simple Modern Rustic Christmas Tablescape

For Everyday Use

For the simple, everyday tablescape, I opted to keep it free from place settings. My kids use paper plates a lot, so there was no need for a fancy place setting.

This year, instead of a runner, I used some rustic style kraft Christmas wrapping paper! I love how it added a pop of color, coordinated with the tans, and it was no big deal if the kids stained it!

Because I didn’t want something too complicated, I used eucalyptus garland, with 3 sets of candle holders with battery-operated votives (much easier to maneuver than individual candles).