by Gail Kavanagh

Created on: December 22, 2011   Last Updated: December 26, 2011

A string of battery operated LED Christmas lights is a great way to create a centerpiece for your table without the smoke and fire hazard of candles. You can get strings of LED lights in multicolor or sparkling white versions. These lights run economically on AA batteries, with the battery holder and switch attached so you can tuck it into your display out of sight.

The simplest way to create a dazzling centerpiece is to place your string of lights into a beautiful glass bowl. A bowl in a strong color such as red or blue will glow like magic when you turn the lights on. Pack brilliant baubles around the strings and the battery holder so that they are hidden. When you turn on the lights, the bowl, lights and baubles will create a fantastic display.

If you don't have a bowl, a large Mason or preserving jar will do just as well. Feed the string of lights into the jar a section at a time, add a layer of Christmas tree baubles, and continue until all the lights are in the jar. Keep the battery holder and switch close to the top of the jar so you can reach them easily to turn on the lights. Try a huge brandy balloon glass, a crystal jug, or a favorite clear vase as well. All will look equally as good.

A more dramatic and elegant look can be achieved with a simple cardboard or styrofoam cone, available from craft suppliers. These come in all sizes, but one about 12 inches high would be a good fit for most tables. Wind green tree tinsel round the cone from top to bottom, then wind a string of battery LED lights around the cone - you can stand the cone on a small box in which you can conceal the battery holder and switch. 

Flowers make a beautiful centerpiece, especially a magnificent poinsettia in a pot. But white and red carnations and roses look just as spectacular, and what could be more festive than a bowl of fresh green holly? All a beautiful plant needs is a special setting, and this can be achieved by winding a string of battery LED lights around the pot or bowl to give your floral centerpiece a glamorous new look.

If you would love to have a chandelier over your Christmas table, why not create your own with a string of lights? You can use a hanging mobile, a wire coat hanger bent into shape, a Polish straw mobile, or make this fabulous shape. Cover your mobile with a string of lights, and use another string to create a fringe of lights around the bottom. It won't matter so much about concealing the battery holder and switch as you will need to be able to reach them easily. Fix a hook over your dining table and hang the light mobile to provide elegant illumination and a conversation piece.

A simple string of lights can really make your Christmas table sparkle, so why not try one of these tips this year?

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