How to Create a Beautiful DIY Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece

Learn how to make a simple DIY sleigh centerpiece this Christmas that feels festive and makes the perfect addition to your holiday decor.

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The best part is that you can put your own easy Christmas sleigh centerpiece together with just a few pieces of greenery and some ornaments you probably already have in your stash of holiday decor bins.

Whether you’re decorating your dining room for the holidays, setting your table for a cozy Christmas dinner, or decorating your mantel, this DIY sleigh centerpiece is a festive and cheerful option.

So grab your supplies and let’s get ready to create this holiday centerpiece together.

Table of Contents

• How to Create a Beautiful DIY Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece
• Why You’ll Love This Craft
• Tools and Supplies Needed to Make a Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece
• How to Create a Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece
• Other Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece Ideas
• How to Style Your Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece
• More Christmas Centerpieces You’ll Love
• A Few Final Thoughts
• Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!

Why You’ll Love This Craft

How to Create a Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece

Step 1: Find and Prep Your Christmas Sleigh

If you already love the sleigh you’re using as it is, you can skip right ahead to the next step. But if you’re starting with a thrifted find like I did, a little prep work makes a big difference.

When I found my sleigh at Goodwill, it was painted deep green with glittery stars and a smiling Santa face. Cute in its own way, but not at all what I had in mind, so it needed a quick refresh.

If you’re painting your sleigh, start by giving it a light sanding to smooth out any rough spots and remove any extra sheen or leftover paint or stain.

I lightly sanded mine, sprayed on a couple of coats of red paint, and let the paint dry fully between coats.

And of course, it wasn’t until after a few coats were already on that I realized I never took a proper “before” photo. I was a little too excited to get started, but trust me… it needed the makeover!

While I was wandering the store, I also came across what looked like the sleigh runners in a totally different aisle.

I don’t know if they originally belonged with my sleigh or if it was just good luck, but either way, the size was perfect.

So, I grabbed those too and hot-glued them to the bottom of my newly painted sleigh.

Step 2: Add Your Filler

Next, fill the bottom of your sleigh with plastic bags or crumpled brown kraft paper. I like using these because it’s easy to adjust the amount you need, and they help lift your ornaments and greenery so everything sits a little higher.

Not only are you using recycled materials, but it also means you don’t need nearly as many ornaments or greenery, which is a win-win in my book!

If you want more structure, you can also tuck in a small piece of floral foam. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

You just need to fill the sleigh and give your ornaments and greenery something to rest on as you build your centerpiece.

Step 3: Layer in Your Ornaments

Begin filling your sleigh by adding your ornaments. Choose any mix of sizes and colors that fit your Christmas style, and start by nestling the larger ornaments in place.

Then tuck the medium and smaller ones around them, layering as you go until the sleigh starts to feel full and the filler is mostly covered.

If you love a more traditional Christmas look, a classic palette works beautifully. I used a mix of red, blue, gold, white and green ornaments to tie in with the Ralph Lauren–inspired holiday style I gravitate toward in my holiday decor.

Step 4: Add the Greenery

To finish your Christmas sleigh centerpiece, start tucking greenery in around the ornaments and work your way around the sleigh until everything feels even and full.

I usually add a few pieces toward the back and sides first to give it a bit of height, and then I move to the front and fill in any little gaps. It’s very much a go-with-the-flow kind of step, so take your time and keep adjusting pieces until it looks good to you.

For my centerpiece, I used faux greenery with pinecones already attached. I just grabbed my wire cutters and trimmed a few smaller pieces off a larger stem so they were easier to tuck in around the sleigh and layer in between the ornaments.

A mix of textures always looks really pretty, so feel free to play around with whatever you have. Cedar, pine, fir, eucalyptus… they all work together and give the arrangement a soft, natural feel.

If you like a little twinkle, this is also a great time to weave in a small strand of fairy lights so they nestle in with the greenery. (Because let’s be honest, twinkle lights make everything feel a bit more magical at Christmas time!)

Other Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece Ideas

If you’re looking for other ways to personalize your sleigh or try out a different color scheme or theme, here are a few ideas you can play around with.

How to Style Your Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece

Once your sleigh is finished, it is time to style it, and this is always the part I look forward to most.

I used mine in the center of my Christmas table, but feel free to move yours around and see where it feels right in your home. Try a few spots, step back, and take a look until you find the perfect spot.

If you’re looking for a few additional ideas, here are a few to get you started.