50 DIY Thanksgiving Centerpieces for the Dinner Table

Pumpkins are the classic Thanksgiving symbol, of course—and they make for festive carved vases as well! Give yours a glam look by painting the outside with liquid leaf paint. Fill them with floral foam to hold classic fall flowers like mums, pom-pom daisies, and dahlias in place.

SHOP LIQUID LEAF PAINT

Colorful candles, white pumpkins, and greenery come together to make the cutest centerpieces. Mix and match orange, pink, and red candles for a seasonal vibe. Fill the mini pumpkins with floral foam to keep the leaves and candles upright.

Yes, that's a butternut squash "vase"! What better way to welcome Thanksgiving than with a living ode to the fruits of the season?

Make the vase:

1. Use a carving knife to carve a channel 1 inch wide and 1 inch deep down the length of a butternut squash. Scoop out the insides with a spoon.
2. Soak floral foam in water and trim with scissors to fit in the channel. Push the foam into the channel.
3. Working from one end of the channel to the other, poke the flowers (delphinium, mini carnations, stock, button mums, and wax flowers are all good options here) into the foam.

Household items work beautifully as vases—and will save you some money, too. This galvanized steel pitcher is a perfect option: It fits taller flowers and branches well.

Make the centerpiece:

1. Place branches in the back of a galvanized metal pitcher and hydrangeas in the front so the stems crisscross. This will create openings where you can insert other flowers.
2. Place the focal flowers like roses and ranunculus toward the front of the pitcher.
3. Work some purple millet grass and leucadendron into the openings toward the back of the arrangement for added height.

One of Ree's favorite flowers takes the spotlight here: sunflowers! Fill spaghetti squash with the yellow blooms to create a charming centerpiece.

Make the Squash:

1. Use a carving knife to carve out a circle around a spaghetti squash’s stem and set aside. Scoop out the insides with a spoon.
2. Soak some floral foam in water and trim with scissors to fit inside the squash.
3. Poke the flowers into the foam starting with the sunflowers, spacing them out evenly to create focal points. Add alstroemeria, then fill in any gaps with goldenrod.

SHOP YELLOW FAUX FLOWERS

Floral prints are more than welcome on a Thanksgiving table—especially if they're painted onto a pumpkin in a lovely autumnal shade!

Make the pumpkin:

1. Cut out and tape a large leaf stencil to a white pumpkin with painter's tape.
2. Using a foam pouncer, lightly dab orange paint onto the pumpkin to fill in the stencil. Let dry, then remove the stencil and repeat in several other spots.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with other floral and leaf stencils, working from bigger stencils to smaller ones.

Show off a bouquet of sunflowers by tucking them into a rustic wooden box. Decorative corn and yellow and orange flowers give the final centerpiece a full, lush look.

Make the centerpiece:

1. Place a container liner in a wooded box, then soak floral foam thoroughly in water and trim with scissors to fit inside the liner.
2. Cover the foam with seeded eucalyptus and milkweed, then add decorative (or dried Indian) corn with the stem side facing in.
3. Work the flowers (seeded eucalyptus, spray roses, roses, milkweed, yarrow, sunflowers, and lilies) into the foam starting with the largest and working toward the smallest (except for the lilies, which are delicate and should be added last).

How adorable is this? Simply scoop out a few mini pumpkins to create this fun centerpiece. Each of the cute arrangements involved are quick and easy to make, and they require very little watering to boot.

Make the centerpiece:

1. Cut off the tops of a few mini pumpkins using a carving knife and scoop out the flesh.
2. Plant a succulent in each pumpkin, then cover the soil with sheet moss.
3. Add stems of billy balls and seeded eucalyptus; place on a live edge wooden serving platter.

Like the idea of the mini pumpkins but want to be one and done? You can follow the same instructions to create a larger centerpiece. Just be sure you select larger succulents that will fill it up and make a statement.

Repurpose those kitchen colanders by stacking and filling them with mini pumpkins and berry springs. The key to giving them height is to layer floral foam in between so have enough space to display your gourds.

SHOP FLORAL FOAM

Love a minimalist decorating scheme? Top faux greenery with lots of candles in various sizes to achieve your simple yet dreamy look. The candles will look just as pretty whether you decide to light them or not!

Get the tutorial at Almost Makes Perfect.

One of the benefits of using a vintage wooden toolbox as the base of a centerpiece is that there's so much room to fill it with decorative goodies! Here, pretty white pumpkins and floral sprays give the whole table such rustic charm.

See the tutorial at Sarah Joy.

Calling crafters! Learn how to make crepe paper flowers and the art of arranging to create this stunner of a centerpiece. You can also layer in fresh greenery for added dimension.

Get the tutorial at Lia Griffith.

Thanksgiving is all about that harvest! So, put a spotlight on autumn accents with this idea. Use natural-edged woodcuts as trays for the produce and woodblocks to hold the candlesticks. Intersperse gourds and herbs to add to the earthy vibe!

Get the tutorial at Delia Creates.

If you want a non-traditional pop of color on your Thanksgiving table, a turquoise pumpkin goes a long way! Surround it with white or off-white mini pumpkins to make the cool tones stand out. Matching glasses tie the look together.

Get the tutorial at The Turquoise Home.

SHOP TURQUOISE PUMPKINS

Here's a centerpiece that's just as stunning as a still-life painting! If you want to skip the florals this year, you can create a harvest spread that's just as pretty with finds from your local farmers' market.

Get the tutorial at Spoon Fork Bacon.

Hello, vintage vibes! If you have an old antique bowl lying around the house, use it as a centerpiece filled with muted fall-tone pumpkins! A few vintage-looking candlesticks complete the tablescape.

Get the tutorial at So Much Better With Age.

Ree just loves sunflowers, and it's easy to see why! With their large open faces and bright coloration, they're the perfect centerpiece flower! Pair them with pussy willow branches, cat tails, and other natural fall finds that have deep colors or funky shapes.

Get the tutorial at Made by Carli.

Who says your Thanksgiving table can't be pretty in pink? Forage green and orange leaves from your yard, and pair them with pastel pink flowers and dried grasses to copy this big, beautiful, and oh-so-whimsical bouquet!

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.

This one counts as a table decoration and an icebreaker! Rather than going for one large centerpiece, opt for a gold leaf garland table runner. It’s a subtle look that will still center your spread and connects your other decorations. Plus, each leaf has a conversation starter underneath!

Get the tutorial at Home Made by Carmona.

SHOP TWINE