How to Decorate a Long Dining Table (and Get the Scale Right)

Inside: Everyday centerpiece ideas and festive table arrangements that help a long dining table look balanced, not cluttered.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra charge to you. I only recommend products that I love or would purchase for myself. See my full disclosure here.

If there’s such a thing as a dream dining room table, mine was one that could seat 12 or more people without having to drag out a card table, stick it awkwardly on the end, and attempt to camouflage it like it was all one table.

What I didn’t think was dining room dreamy was paying furniture store prices for one. But I was all about letting someone else do that, figuring out they didn’t have room for it, and selling it to me on Facebook Marketplace in practically perfect condition.

The table solved my seating problem, but it created a decorating problem I hadn’t counted on. When I plopped my usual centerpieces in the middle, nothing looked right. They seemed lost with all that tabletop stretching out on either side, and the dining table I’d always wanted had created a whole new dilemma.

This formal dining room table gets loooong. So long that I can’t even extend it all the way in my downsized villa. Two of the leaves now have to live in the garage.

But after trying different arrangements over the years, I’ve found a few ways to decorate a long dining table that really work for me, whether I’m keeping it simple for everyday or dressing it up for holidays and special occasions.

How Do You Decorate a Long Dining Table?

The trick to decorating a long dining table is choosing a centerpiece that looks large enough for the size of the table. That might mean one oversized arrangement or several coordinating pieces that work together down the middle. Either way, the goal is to make the decorations look like they belong on a table that size.

Simple Everyday Centerpieces for a Long Dining Table.

For everyday, my preference is one substantial centerpiece with the rest of the table completely clear. I like the simplicity of it, and I don’t feel the need to fill the extra space just because it’s there.

Go Big With One Centerpiece.

Most of the time lately, I have one oversized white bowl filled with moss sitting in the middle of my dining table. And that’s it. (You can see how I made the DIY moss bowl here.)

The bowl is big enough to hold its own on the long table, and the moss adds some color and texture without needing anything else around it.

This works for me when the table isn’t set. But once I add place settings, the bowl takes up too much of the table’s width, and I usually prefer something that extends farther down its length.

Or Group a Few Pieces Together As One.

Another option is to group two or three large coordinating accessories to read as one dramatic centerpiece. Above I’ve used two white ginger jars on a mirrored tray, and I like how the grouping gives them more presence than either jar would have on its own. A tray also helps the pieces look like one centerpiece instead of separate things sitting in the middle of the table.

SH&H Tip: If your usual centerpiece looks too small on a long table, try one larger piece or group a few substantial accessories on a tray. Either way can give your centerpiece more presence without filling the rest of the table.

Four Ways to Decorate a Long Dining Table for Holidays and Seasons.

When I’m decorating for a holiday, I’m a more is more type of girl, and I actually like having more going on down the middle. It makes the whole table look more like a celebration, especially once the place settings are added. And I’ve found that there are several ways to fill that extra length without just lining up a bunch of decorations for the sake of filling space.

1. Use One Long Centerpiece.

One of the easiest ways to decorate a long dining table is with a long, narrow container like a dough bowl or wooden trough.

For this Easter table, I filled my longest dough bowl with moss, flowers, and a couple of bunnies. Because the arrangement was already long, it covered more of the table without needing much else on either side—I simply tucked some palm fronds under the ends to fill in a little more.

I’ve also used this dough bowl for a fuller fall arrangement with hydrangeas, greenery, and white pumpkins. Even with all those different elements, the bowl kept everything contained in one long centerpiece.

SH&H Tip: Long and low arrangements are a good option when you’re setting the table for a meal. They add plenty of decoration without having to peek around it to talk to the person across from you.

2. Arrange Several Larger Pieces Along a Runner.

Instead of one long arrangement, you can group a few larger accessories along a table runner to create a centerpiece with more presence.

For this simple spring tablescape, I used two white ginger jars filled with cherry blossom branches on a burlap runner. Each jar was pretty on its own, but together they made more of a statement. The runner helps fill the table and connect the pieces visually, so they read as one arrangement rather than separate decorations.

This works with other sizable accessories, too, like vases, candlesticks, or potted plants. They don’t have to match exactly, but choosing pieces with a similar color or style helps pull the whole arrangement together.

3. Extend a Main Centerpiece Outward.

When I was putting together this Ralph Lauren-inspired fall table, I started with a round centerpiece I really liked. But once I added all the place settings, something about it just looked weird. All the decorations were concentrated in the middle, contained within the tray, and the centerpiece looked too small for the table.

Rather than starting over, I added more magnolia and cream hydrangeas and extended them out from the tray area. And that was exactly what it needed to make the centerpiece look large enough for the table.

SH&H Tip: Before you call your centerpiece finished, add a few place settings and take another look. An arrangement that looks great on an empty table may need a little more on either side once the table is set.

4. Build a Centerpiece That Runs the Length of the Table.

This is probably my favorite way to decorate my long dining table for a holiday. Instead of using a container to hold everything, I build the centerpiece right on the table, layering greenery, flowers, candles, and seasonal decorations into one long, lush arrangement.

For this fall table, I mixed pumpkins, magnolia leaves, hydrangeas, and brass candlesticks right down the middle. There isn’t one main centerpiece. The different pieces overlap and work together to create a full arrangement that stretches almost the entire length of the table.

I used a similar approach for this Christmas table, but this time the magnolia and pine greenery formed a garland down the center. Red velvet ribbon, pinecones, and brass candlesticks added color and interest without breaking up that continuous look.

When I put these arrangements together, I usually start with the larger decorations and work greenery in between and around them. I like to tuck things together and overlap them a little so everything looks continuous and layered.

And this is one time I don’t mind having a lot on the table. For a holiday dinner, I love that full, festive look!

How Do You Decorate a Long Dining Table Without Making It Look Cluttered?

I don’t think a long dining table has to be sparsely decorated to keep it from looking cluttered. Some of my favorite holiday tables have had quite a lot going on!

For me, the difference is whether all those decorations look like they belong together.

I usually start with a color scheme and stick pretty close to it. That doesn’t mean everything has to match, but repeating the same few colors throughout the arrangement helps keep things from looking too busy.

My New Year’s Eve table is a good example. I used silver, gold, glass, and candlelight throughout the arrangement. There’s plenty going on, but the limited color palette keeps it from looking like a collection of unrelated decorations.

I also like mixing textures that play nicely together. Shiny metallics and glass look especially pretty with softer greenery, velvet, or natural elements. Using a few different finishes adds interest without bringing in too many competing colors or patterns.

So don’t be afraid to use plenty of decorations on a long table. The trick isn’t necessarily using less. It’s making sure what you use looks good together.

Do You Need a Table Runner on a Long Dining Table?

Not at all. A table runner can help fill some of that extra space and tie several pieces together, but it’s certainly not necessary. I often arrange greenery, flowers, and seasonal decorations directly on the tabletop. If the pieces overlap and share similar colors and textures, they’ll look like one long centerpiece without a runner underneath.

If you do use a runner, make sure it’s long enough for your table. An extra-long dining table usually needs an extra-long runner, not a standard-size one that looks skimpy in the middle. It doesn’t have to hang over the ends, but it should extend far enough down the table to look proportional.

I’ve enjoyed trying different ways to decorate my long dining table over the years. Some of my favorite arrangements have been the simplest, and others have involved pulling out just about every decoration I own in a color scheme.

I love that I’m able to decorate it either way. And after all, having room for everyone around the table was the whole reason I wanted such a long one in the first place. The decorating is just the fun part.

Before you go:

As always, I appreciate your visit, comments, and shares here on the blog! I’d love it if you also follow along with me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube so you won’t miss any of my inspiration and ideas.

Don’t forget to sign up for updates to keep in touch.

If you’re not already a member of the SH&H family, I’d love to have you join me! You’ll not only get email updates, but you’ll have exclusive access to all the bonus materials in my free subscriber-only library, like this:

Pin it to remember it!

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please pin and share this on Pinterest: