How to create a rustic table centerpiece in 6 easy steps

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I wanted a rustic centerpiece for my dining table, similar to this one here from Lenny and Jenny Designs on Etsy.

Photo courtesy of Lenny and Jenny Designs, Etsy

The problem is, my table is over 8 foot long, and it’s very hard to find a box planter that size. I also wanted a white one to contrast against the weathered elm tabletop, so it stood out more. So we decided to make our own…

6 Steps to Make Your Own Rustic Box Centerpiece:

First you’ll need to buy some wood. We used rough-sawn timber from Home Depot to ensure it had more of the rustic look we were wanting.
We cut the wood to size. You can make these box planters any size you like, ours was just under 8 feet.
We then painted the wood in white paint, roughly.
Next we screwed all the pieces together to form the box shape. We left the screws exposed to give a more rustic feel. Tip: When screwing the pieces together do this on a hard flat surface to ensure all the angles are perfectly 90 degrees.
Then we sanded the edges and the face of the wood to give it that well-worn feel. Because the timber was rough-sawn, the sanding gave a lovely effect as it revealed the wood grain underneath.
Finally we added some rope handles to add another element of rustic charm. To do this we drilled two holes at either end of the planter then threaded some rope through the holes and tied a knot at each end to secure it in place.

I then filled the box centerpiece with an assortment of berries and Christmas greenery and added mason jars with candles in and scattered fairy lights throughout to give some extra twinkle.

You can switch up the contents for whatever season it is. Hydrangeas would look equally nice in a spring / summer display. Or fill it with acorns and pine cones and Fall colors for a Fall-themed display. You can really be as creative as you like!

Ready-Made Options:

However if you’d rather buy one ready-made there are lots of options on Etsy, here are some of my favourites: