When the holiday season rolls in, every corner of the home deserves a touch of magic—including the humble side table. As Father Joaquin Perez, I’ve always believed that the smallest spaces can carry the biggest spirit. Whether it’s a cozy nook in the living room or a quiet corner in the hallway, a thoughtfully styled side table can become a beacon of warmth and joy. Christmas Side Table Decor isn’t just about placing a few ornaments—it’s about creating a moment that invites reflection, celebration, and comfort.
The beauty of Christmas Side Table Decor lies in its versatility. You can go rustic with pinecones and burlap, elegant with gold accents and crystal, or playful with candy canes and tiny elves. A flickering candle, a miniature nativity scene, a sprig of holly in a vintage vase, or a stack of festive books can turn an ordinary surface into a celebration of the season. It’s a chance to reflect your personality and share your holiday spirit with anyone who passes by.
Whether you’re hosting guests or simply enjoying a quiet evening by the fire, that little table can speak volumes. Let it tell a story of peace, joy, and the love that fills your home this Christmas.
Christmas Side Table Decor
Lantern with a Flickering Candle
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I’ve always had a soft spot for lanterns. There’s just something about that glow behind glass, especially on a dark December evening. I found mine at a flea market, dented and chipped, but when I drop a little flickering candle inside, it feels almost sacred. My kids sometimes call it “Bethlehem’s streetlight,” and I kind of like that picture. To be fair, a side table doesn’t need to be packed full of stuff. One lantern, glowing steady through the night, preaches peace better than words. Every time I walk by it, I’m reminded that Christ came to light up our darkness.
Snow Globe Nativity
We were given a nativity snow globe years ago, and to be honest, I didn’t think much of it at first. But then my kids started shaking it every time they walked by, watching the little flakes swirl around Mary and Joseph. One Christmas Eve, I caught myself shaking it too, just smiling at the wonder of it all. It feels childlike in the best way. Something about snow falling gently on that holy scene slows me down. In my opinion, a snow globe is more than decoration—it’s a little pocket of wonder on the side table, a reminder that joy can be simple.
Jar of Twinkle Lights
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Sometimes I’m too worn out to decorate much, so I’ll just stuff a string of lights into a clear jar and set it on the table. That warm glow spilling out of glass—it’s ridiculously simple, but it works every time. Honestly, I like it better than some of the expensive things I’ve bought. The kids call it “our little star in a jar,” which I think is perfect. In my opinion, not every side table piece has to be complicated. Sometimes the best décor is the easiest—just a jar, some lights, and a quiet reminder that Christ is the Light.
Wooden Star
Years back I cut out a star from a scrap piece of wood in my shed. It wasn’t straight, the edges were rough, but I kept it. Every Christmas, I prop it up on the side table. It leans a little, but I’ve grown to love its imperfections. To be fair, I think that’s part of the point. The wise men followed a star that probably didn’t look polished—it was simply bright enough to guide. That wooden star reminds me of the same. When guests see it, they don’t comment on the roughness. They ask about its story. And that’s what matters.
Small Wreath with Ribbon
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There’s something inviting about a wreath, even a small one. I found a tiny one at the farmers’ market, tied with a thin red ribbon, and it just felt right sitting on the side table. Not every wreath has to hang on a wall or door. To be honest, I like it better there where I can see it up close. The green against the wood feels fresh, almost like new life in the middle of winter. In my opinion, you don’t have to overthink wreaths. A small circle of green reminds me of God’s everlasting love—and that’s enough.
Shepherd and Sheep
This one started as a joke. My son lined up his toy sheep across the table one December, and I added a little shepherd figurine to watch over them. Somehow it stuck. Now, every Christmas, those sheep “march” across the table like they’re heading toward Bethlehem. The kids rearrange them constantly, and to be fair, I leave them be. There’s something sacred about watching them play out the story without even realizing it. That little flock has become a tradition I never planned. In my opinion, side table décor is best when it’s touched by family hands, not just a store display.
Advent Wreath
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I’ll admit, we don’t always keep up with lighting the candles in the exact order. Life gets messy. But every time I pass the side table and see those four candles sitting there, it slows me down. The kids love picking who gets to blow one out, which sometimes causes arguments, but even that becomes part of the memory. In my opinion, an Advent wreath doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is that it’s there, reminding us week by week that the waiting is holy. A simple circle, a few candles, and suddenly your table tells the story of hope.
Family Christmas Photo
I like to frame one photo from Christmas mornings past and set it on the side table. The kind of picture where the kids are in pajamas, hair sticking up, wrapping paper everywhere. It’s messy, but that’s exactly why I love it. Guests always smile when they see it, and the kids laugh at their younger selves. Honestly, it’s a grounding tradition for me. It reminds me how quickly time passes, how fast the little ones grow. In my opinion, side table décor isn’t just about looking festive—it’s about remembering, and a family photo does that beautifully.
Small Wooden Trees
One Advent, I sat in the garage and carved two little trees out of scrap wood. They’re not symmetrical, and one leans like it’s caught in the wind, but I treasure them. Every year they come out of the box and find their place on the side table. When I see them, I think about those quiet nights, carving while praying for my kids and our home. In my opinion, these small, handmade pieces carry more weight than anything bought in a store. They’re not just decoration—they’re memory markers, little altars of gratitude sitting on the table each December.
Basket of Ornaments
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Not every ornament makes it onto the Christmas tree, and that’s okay. I keep a little basket on the side table and fill it with the extras. Honestly, it might be one of my favorite decorations. Every ornament has a story—our first Christmas together, a vacation souvenir, a lopsided craft the kids made in Sunday school. When friends stop by, they often dig through the basket and pick up pieces, asking about where they came from. In my opinion, side table décor should start conversations, and nothing does that better than a pile of family history wrapped in color and glass.
Jar of Dried Oranges
My wife started stringing orange slices one year, and we ended up with extras. I tossed them into a clear jar and set it on the side table without thinking much of it. Funny thing is, it turned out looking like the most cheerful little accent. The bright orange against the wood table just pops. And when the sun hits it in the afternoon, it almost glows. Honestly, it feels like something out of an old country Christmas., this is proof you don’t need to spend a dime—sometimes the simplest, homemade touches carry the most joy.
Wooden Plaque with Joy
A few years back, I carved the word “JOY” into a scrap of wood. The letters were crooked, uneven, but I stained it and kept it. Every Christmas, I set it on the side table. It’s not polished, but that’s why I like it. Joy in real life is rarely neat—it’s loud, messy, surprising. Guests sometimes chuckle at the rough carving, but to me it’s a testimony. In my opinion, words matter in a home, and this one word carries the whole season. Placing it on the side table makes me remember that joy isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.
Devotional Books
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On the side table, I like to keep a little pile of Advent devotionals and children’s Christmas stories. Not stacked neatly, just there, within reach. It makes it so easy to grab one in the evening, or even for the kids to flip through on their own. To be fair, sometimes they just pile dust, but other times they spark deep conversations we wouldn’t have had otherwise. I think making faith visible in your living space matters. In my opinion, a side table shouldn’t just look pretty—it should be useful. Books lying there whisper: “Take a moment, read, remember the Savior.”
A White Candle
Sometimes I strip it back to the simplest thing: one white candle. No wreath, no bow, no holder that cost half a paycheck. Just one flame glowing against the night. Every time I light it, I think about John 1: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” That candle says more than any decoration ever could. Honestly, it humbles me. When the house feels busy, or my mind feels scattered, I’ll sit near that side table and let the quiet flame settle me. In my opinion, that’s the kind of décor worth keeping.
Cross-Stitched Verse
My mother-in-law once stitched Isaiah’s words: “Unto us a child is born.” She framed it and gave it to us, and every year I set it on the side table. It’s soft, handmade, stitched with love—and you can feel that when you see it. Guests often notice it more than the flashy decorations, because there’s something about work done by hand that speaks deeply. Honestly, I think we need more of that—things that carry a story, not just a price tag. In my opinion, this little cross-stitch is one of our most precious decorations, and it points straight to Christ.
Jar of Candy Canes
To be honest, I think candy canes were made for dads who need quick decorations. I just toss them in a jar, and suddenly the table looks festive. Of course, the kids raid them constantly, and my wife sighs when she finds wrappers stuffed in couch cushions, but I secretly love it. That red-and-white stripe catches the eye, and it reminds me of the sweetness and simplicity of God’s gift to us. Some folks get fancy with ribbons and arrangements, but in my opinion, a plain glass jar filled to the brim with candy canes looks just right. And tastes better.
Cinnamon Pinecones in a Bowl
The smell of cinnamon hits me before I even notice the pinecones, and suddenly I’m back in my grandmother’s kitchen at Christmas. She always had something baking—cinnamon rolls, spiced bread—and the house smelled like comfort. I started filling a bowl with cinnamon pinecones years ago, just to get that same warm scent in our home. Honestly, it’s such an easy thing to do, but it makes the whole side table feel alive. Plus, the kids like collecting pinecones with me outside, and we bake the smell right into them with a little oil. It’s memory-making in the simplest form.
An Angel Figurine
We have this one angel figurine, nothing ornate, but it’s become a staple on the side table. My daughter insists the angel must face the nativity scene—“so she can see baby Jesus,” she says. I never argue. That kind of faith, simple and pure, teaches me more than most sermons do. I’ve found that when you decorate with meaning rather than just looks, it touches people. Guests notice the angel, but what they really notice is the thought behind it. In my opinion, an angel belongs on every Christmas side table, reminding us of the heavenly messengers proclaiming peace.
Family Christmas Cards
Every year we get stacks of cards—friends, missionaries, old neighbors. Instead of shoving them in a drawer, I keep them in a little basket on the side table. It’s not tidy, but I actually love that. I’ll grab a card when I’m sipping coffee, read the names, and sometimes whisper a prayer for that family. The kids dig through too, laughing at photos of friends’ kids who’ve grown taller since last year. Honestly, it’s more than decoration—it’s fellowship spread across paper. In my home, the side table isn’t just a pretty space, it’s a place to remember people we love.
Hymn Lyrics in a Frame
One year I scribbled the words to “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” on a scrap of paper and slipped it into a simple frame. My handwriting was sloppy, ink smudged in places, but something about that imperfection made it feel more real. When I placed it on the side table, I didn’t expect much. But guests actually stopped to read it, sometimes humming the tune under their breath. That’s when I realized: words matter. They shape the room as much as lights or garlands do. In my opinion, a framed hymn lyric speaks straight to the soul every single time.
FAQ
How can I decorate my side table for Christmas?
You can keep it simple with a mix of candles, small ornaments, and greenery. A basket of ornaments, a nativity set, or even a stack of Christmas books can make the space festive without overwhelming it.
What are budget-friendly Christmas side table ideas?
Try using what you already have—extra ornaments, ribbon, or a small strand of lights. Even a mason jar filled with pinecones or cranberries adds a cozy, seasonal touch without spending much.
Should my side table match the rest of my Christmas decor?
It doesn’t have to match perfectly, but it should flow with your overall style. If your tree is elegant, add metallic accents. If it’s rustic, think wood, plaid, or natural greenery for the side table.
How do I make my side table decor feel personal?
Add items with meaning—family photos in festive frames, a bowl of handmade ornaments, or devotional books. These pieces spark conversation and keep the focus on what matters most.
I’m father joaquin perez, we are a catholic church with all the sacraments where everybody is welcome. we celebrate catholic mass every Sunday at 12:30pm at saint stephen episcopal church at 2750 McFarlane road, Miami, Florida