12 Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas For A Perfect Holiday

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I have hosted Thanksgiving at my house every year for the last 16 years. Cooking a turkey is a lot of work but I love doing it and it’s my favorite holiday of the year.  I love having everyone go around and say something they are grateful for.  

Which by the way, according to Fidelity Charitable, 48 percent of people who grew up “with strong giving traditions” considered themselves to be happy today compared with 33 percent of people who did not grow up with such traditions. 

Was a Thanksgiving centerpiece a tradition for your family?

As grateful as I am, I want to up my Thanksgiving decor game. And that starts with a great Thanksgiving Centerpiece, of which I have one leaf and some apples so far.  I definitely need some inspiration! So, how do you decorate a dining room table for Thanksgiving?  That’s precisely what we answer in this post! 

What is the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece?

When it comes to decorating the Thanksgiving table, the possibilities are endless. But one tradition that always seems to make its way onto the table is a centerpiece. A Thanksgiving centerpiece is typically a cornucopia, vase or bowl filled with layers of fall blooms, fall foliage, or a festive candle arrangement.

Stunning Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

Generally the “tablescape” at our Thanksgiving is plates with glasses and silverware. And the grocery store bouquet that my mom always brings me, which I throw in a random vase.

I guess it’s an upgrade from my average non-holiday table, but clearly there’s room for improvement.

These are some of the ideas I’m mulling. Maybe you’ll upgrade your Thanksgiving centerpiece, too.

Succulents & Pumpkins

diy pumpkin succulent decoration

Ok, I know I don’t really need anything else on this list, do I?

These are GORGEOUS. They are perfect for the entire Fall season and you can just place them on a table runner and be set. I promise. Everyone loves a gorge gourd!

You can find these beautiful Succulent Pumpkins on Amazon.

Mason Jars & Greenery

mason jars painted white with greenery in them

I kind of feel bad following up those Pumpkin Succulents with anything, but this is a really sweet Farmhouse centerpiece. It’s simple and rustic and that’s a great look for Thanksgiving.

A couple of tealights and some white mini pumpkins strewn about this centerpiece and you’ve got a perfectly pretty table.

You can find the Mason Jar centerpiece on Amazon.

Antler Centerpiece

large centerpiece with greenery, fall colored leaves and antler horns

How about this unique centerpiece? Antlers seem to be all the rage this holiday season! Just remind your guests they aren’t real! 

You can find this Antler Centerpiece on Etsy.

Thankful Box

rustic wood box that says thankful and is filled with white pumpkins, flowers, and greenery

This wooden box stamped with the word Thankful is a great choice for your Thanksgiving table. It’s narrow and it’s got a low profile.

A low profile is important for a centerpiece because it means you’ll have a clear view across the table to your great aunt Barbara.

Assuming you want the clear view across the table to your great aunt Barbara. If you don’t, we have that tall wheat option that we just discussed.

You can find one with eucalyptus, pinecones, and white pumpkins on Amazon.

Fall Blooms Centerpiece

fall floral centerpiece, thanksgiving centerpiece ideas

If you love the low profile look but also want something that works for the entire Fall season, then this is a great option for you.

Those colors and scale of these flowers just got me. They are faux which I don’t always love, but I do really like these.

You can find this Fall Floral Centerpiece on Etsy.

Mason Jar Thanks

mason jars painted white with burlap around them and each one has a black painted letter on the burlap spelling out "thanks"

I know we all love our Mason jars and I just could not resist adding this “Thanks” centerpiece from Mason Jars.

I’d like to see some filler in each mason jar, but it’s not completely necessary.  You could even set them on a rectangular wooden tray.

I’d also like to point out the rest of this simple tablescape. The white dishes and woven chargers are perfect for Thanksgiving place settings, but neutral enough for all of Fall. Add a few small pumpkins and this is just lovely.

You can find beautiful filled mason jars on Amazon and diy your own letter on each.

Fall Wheat Grass Wreath

I know, I know. This is a wreath, not a centerpiece.

But lie this flat in the center of your Thanksgiving table with a pumpkin in the middle or a candle with some pine cones in the middle and it is now a centerpiece.

And a beautiful centerpiece, too.

You can find this gorgeous creamy beige Fall Wreath on Amazon.

Classy Fall Garland

Fall neutral pumpkin garland, thanksgiving center piece ideas

I like when I centerpiece travels a good bit of the length of the table. If it’s low profile like this one, then the whole table still gets to enjoy it.

The colors here are spot on for a warm neutral Fall holiday. You can complement this with more white pumpkin decor from this post, too.

You can find this classy Fall Garland centerpiece on Etsy.

Fall Candles

white pillar candles with fall leaves embedded in them

On their own, these candle pillars could do just fine as a simple centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

But I’d really like to see them surrounding a beautiful bowl filled with acorns, pinecones, and berries. I especially like these candles for this because they are flameless.

You can find these Fall Leaves Candles on Amazon.

Teal Pumpkin Centerpiece

Sometimes you want to buck the trends and pick a color scheme that is non-traditional. Especially with the Fall holidays. Orange and brown is not for everybody.

You can still get grateful holiday vibes by using these luxe velvet mini pumpkins in white and shades of teal.  Use them to make your own diy thanksgiving centerpiece. All you have to do is place them on a white platter plate.  

Copper Swag Centerpiece

large thanksgiving swag used as a centerpiece

Technically, this stunning Fall swag is meant for your mantel. It is stunning on the mantel.

But this works on a nice, big Thanksgiving table, too. If you need something that is going to look impressive on a large scale table, this is it.

You can find this extra large Fall Swag on Etsy.

Blushing Fall Centerpiece

thanksgiving centerpiece idea, greenery with blush colored roses and white pumpkin garland for the table

This is really pretty and I love the blush colors with white mini pumpkins for Fall. It’s perfect as a Thanksgiving centerpiece, but it works all season, too.

You can find this Blushing Fall Garland Centerpiece on Etsy.

How do you make a simple Thanksgiving centerpiece?

diy wheat centerpiece for thanksgiving, bundle of wheat held together by burlap ribbon

This pretty and simple wheat centerpiece idea works perfectly.

You can add this to your list of easy diy crafts!  Grab this wheat from Amazon and throw it in a vase or tie a ribbon around it! No floral foam or professional skills required!

This reminds me very much of the wheat wreath from the Fall Wreaths post, if you’re also in the market for a wreath.

How do you decorate a Thanksgiving table on a budget?

You can easily decorate your table on a budget by following these simple tips.

  1. Take advantage of nature and use leaves, pumpkins, fruit, acorns, pine cones, and other gourds as decoration. Arrange these items in the center of your table for a festive and affordable (possibly FREE) centerpiece. 
  2. Use candles to create a warm and inviting ambiance. Choose scented candles with autumnal fragrances like cinnamon or pumpkin spice. 
  3. Use the simple bundle of wheat idea we just discussed. It looks modern and gorgeous.
  4. Set the mood with music by creating a playlist of Thanksgiving-themed songs. This will get your guests in the holiday spirit while they enjoy their meal. 

By following these simple tips, you can decorate your Thanksgiving table on a budget and impress your guests at the same time.

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