Ideas for Your Next Outdoor Table Centerpiece
A great table centerpiece can help pull a room together, and it makes a dining room look less empty when it's not being used — and the same goes for your outdoor dining space. Finding the perfect indoor centerpiece is often as easy as looking around the room and getting an idea of what would go well with what's already there, but what do you do for an outdoor dining room, where there isn't necessarily a lot of design inspiration? Here are a few suggestions on outdoor table centerpieces, depending on the environment they're meant for.
Forage For Foliage
If the outdoor dining room is somewhere woodsy, where you can see trees, bushes and maybe even some local wildlife, use the local foliage for inspiration. Oak leaves, pinecones, apples (especially small crab apples), and branches such as pussy willow can be used to make the setting appear even more in tune with the local environment. They can be displayed in pottery you already have, or tied together using found materials like old baling twine. Almost everyone has some weathered “project wood” lying around and this is the perfect base for natural arrangements.
The upside is that materials are abundant and mostly free. If you’re creative, you can customize fantastic decorations on a budget. The downside is that they're often fairly light, fragile, and temporary. They will need to be protected from rain and wind when not in use.
Stone and Heavy Wood Sculptures
Outdoor dining room furniture has to be robust enough to handle getting a little beat up by the elements and of course frequent use.
Indoors, heavy and abrasive centerpieces like unpolished stone and heavy wood are avoided because they damage a table's finish.
Outdoors, these more rustic materials can work perfectly and you won’t have to worry as much about damage to the tabletop. Driftwood, unpolished river rocks, and even outdoor sculptures are some fun centerpiece ideas.
And speaking of wood sculptures, one great tabletop addition is the Peakoly Wood Knot Decor, a stylish decoration that can fit practically any setting. This little conversation-starter makes for a sophisticated atmosphere.
Urban Contemporary
Glass and metal make good indoor and outdoor centerpieces. Glass, polished chrome, aluminum, and stainless steel hold up in wet conditions and may be heavy enough to withstand strong winds. One great use for these materials is to add light as well as beauty. While most people opt for candles to provide ambience, you can look beyond candles and incorporate small battery-operated lanterns. One excellent modern design that can light up your outdoor dining in a beautiful way is the Rechargeable Cordless LED Table Lamp from the YHT Store.
Modern Succulent Planters
Succulents are hardy plants that are easy keepers, requiring minimal watering. Cacti, aloe plants, hens and chicks, burro’s tail, and jade are examples of plants that are ideal for centerpieces when they’re small (some aloe, cacti, and jade plants can grow huge over time). These beautiful plants exemplify nature’s simple beauty which makes them ideal for simple centerpieces. Add a long, rectangular modern succulent planter; or plant succulents in virtually any container from broken pottery to cinder blocks. We recommend the Black Classic Oval Shape Ceramic 16 inch Planter Pot, which puts these wonderful plants on full display in a safe and sturdy position designed for tabletops.
Warm and Welcoming
Use fire as an element that can up-level the dining experience with the timeless appeal of fire. Though this design needs a larger table space and a fire vessel that’s made of fire resistant material, it’s a stunning addition to an outdoor living space that can make the design of the space feel more permanent and intentional.
Fire also adds comfort and warmth as the days and nights get a little chillier. And the dancing flames add wonderful ambience. For tabletop centerpieces you could opt for any fireproof vessel such as a metal bowl supported on a couple of bricks, where you can burn sterno or other fondue-pot fuel.
Or, you could opt for replacing your regular outdoor dining table with a fire table. Fire tables are fueled by natural gas, ensuring no smoke or cleanup after each fire. It’s also an easily controllable system that is safe, consistent, and adjustable.
Dinner by Candlelight
When eating outdoors, some gentle ambient light is perfect for setting the mood. Candles are among the favorite ways to bring a little romance to any type of outdoor gathering. However, candle flames can be snuffed out by the slightest wind.
Opt for windproof candle fixtures as your outdoor dining centerpiece. We recommend the Stonebriar 18 Inch Rustic Wooden Candle Hurricane Lantern, which can hold candles as big as six inches wide. If you don’t want to worry about the flame of a candle, you can place a battery-operated candle inside this gorgeous fixture.
Farmhouse Snacking
Part of enjoying what a backyard has to offer means staying energized and refreshed. What better way to keep everyone smiling and healthy than with some readily available fruits on the centerpiece of your outdoor dining table. Even when it’s time to chow down on a feast, these fruits are easily reachable for everyone as the finishing touch to a big meal. We suggest a strong wicker basket, like the Natural Rattan Basket set from the Equeen Handicraft store. These tightly woven baskets will hold up well for outdoor use, and act as a practical decoration for your outdoor dining table.
Eye-Catching Vases
A classic idea for any outdoor dining table is a pottery or glass vase. A spherical vase is an excellent addition to any outdoor design, whether it will complement a contemporary or a rustic style. What you put inside the vase is up to you, but it could be anything from a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, willow twigs, dried ornamental grasses, or even inorganic objects like marbles (which, when combined with battery-operated fairy lights, create magic in a vase! One excellent example of a spherical vase is the Cooee Design Ball Vase 20cm Black.
Elegant Wine Crates
One way of adding elegance to an outdoor dining space design is by taking advantage of the tasteful design and packaging of winemakers. Fine wines are still distributed around the world in some carefully packed wooden crates with straw inside, although cheaper wines are rarely shipped this way. These crates can act as a tasteful centerpiece for your outdoor dining table. We recommend the Decorative Wine Crate set from Vineyard Crates, each with a different design representing a renowned French winery. All that’s missing is the wine!
Soothing Water Fountain
Tabletop fountains can add a soothing ambience to your outdoor dining space - ambience that few other outdoor features can deliver. The sounds and visuals of running water will create a tranquil environment that is right at home in a setting made for entertaining. The SunnyDaze Ceramic Tabletop Water Fountain shows an elegant design and a diminutive 7” size that fits in many different settings.
Originally Published on October 22, 2014. Updated on June 24, 2022.