Is there any better time for crafting than the holiday season? Schedules relax, the kids are home, and the weather outside gets downright chilly. It’s an inexpensive activity that can be fun for parents and kids alike. From ornaments to decorations and even gifts, there’s almost no limit to what you can make. Break out the hot chocolate and follow DIY Expert Chantelle Lourens’ easy steps to make your own holiday centrepiece.

Here’s What You Need:

• Two pieces of 1" x 6" x 8' spruce

• Pencil 

• Tape measure

• Circular saw

• Chop saw 

• Pipe clamp 

• Pin nailer 

• Sanding block 

• Wood glue 

• Minwax weathered oak stain 

• Minwax dark walnut stain 

• Paint brush 

• Frosted pine garland 

• LED candles

Here’s How to Make It

As the holidays approach I always feel the urge to get crafty and creative with some fun seasonal projects. As usual, Home Hardware was my one-stop shop for my home décor project. I found everything I needed and promptly turned our home into Santa’s little workshop. This holiday centrepiece was number one on my list.

Step 1: Cutting the Boards

For the sides and ends, we took the first plank of spruce and cut out two 3-foot lengths and two 6-inch end pieces. We used a chop saw because it’s fast, easy to operate, and we had on hand. But you could just as easily use a manual saw, though it would take more time and elbow grease. For the bottom, only a circular saw will do the trick. We rip-cut a 4”x3’ piece out of the second plank of spruce. After all cuts were done, we sanded out any rough edges.

Step 2: Assembling the Centrepiece

For this step it was important to glue and pin-nail as we went to secure each join. We started with the bottom, doing one side first, then the other. After both sides were glued and pin-nailed, we capped the ends with the 6” pieces in the same way.

Step 3: Staining

Once the glue was dry it was time to stain. We actually used two different stains to achieve the perfect look. First a layer of Minwax Weathered Oak, followed by a very thin layer of Minwax Dark Walnut. I love this stain combination because it fades over time and allows the grey undertones to show beautifully.

Step 4: Adding Holiday Greenery

Next came the really fun part—decorating! The great thing about this centrepiece is that it can be used for different seasons. Here we took a large pine garland and simply cut it to the length of the centrepiece. I felt a bit guilty cutting up this lovely garland, but I’ve repurposed it for a few different projects now with great results.

Step 5: Lighting it Up

These LED candles added some cozy warmth to the final look. They’re not only beautiful, they’re also safe. We used remote-operated candles to avoid manually removing them for every switch-on and switch-off. Don’t mess with my presentation lol!

Our new centrepiece adds some rustic holiday charm to our dining area. As you can see, it was also very easy to make. So easy, in fact, that I might just make some more and cross a few gifts off my list! Be sure to visit your local Home Hardware store for any holiday projects you have planned.