42 Beautiful Centerpiece Ideas That Are Perfect for Thanksgiving

Unexpected Arrangement

Instead of a classic flower arrangement, create a dramatic Thanksgiving centerpiece filled with pumpkins, fresh produce, and gourds. Anchor the arrangement with 3 to 4 large pumpkins in a wooden tray. Fill in the display with bosc pears, artichokes, decorative cabbage, and small gourds. Finish the centerpiece with cut seasonal flowers like mums.

Edible Centerpiece

A festive cheese board, fruit, and a few foliage-filled Mason jars provide this Thanksgiving centerpiece with laid-back charm and a pre-feast noshing station. Plus, it's a cinch to swap the cheese board for turkey when you're ready to serve the main attraction. To create a mini banner for your cheese platter, fold a piece of paper in half and cut triangles along the fold. Write the word CHEESE, one letter per triangle, and staple the folded triangles in place over a length of twine. Suspend the banner from wooden skewers.

Editor's Tip: Be sure to follow food safety guidelines when setting out your centerpiece.

Fresh Fruit Centerpiece

This stunning Thanksgiving fruit centerpiece showcases the beauty of in-season pears, clementines, and grapes. When thinking about your decorations, use things you already have, or can use later. Dress up your easy centerpiece with a few heads of curly cabbage.

Make a Magnolia Garland

This show-stopping Thanksgiving table decoration is made with fresh magnolia leaves, seeded eucalyptus, and other seasonal greenery. Add color with bright orange clementines, golden yellow billy balls, and red hypericum berries. This gorgeous magnolia garland idea is easier to make than you think!

Tall Glass Centerpiece

Get this Thanksgiving table decor look with fall foliage and clear vessels. Fill and cluster in the center of the table, then hang berry sprigs from the arms of the chandelier for a whimsical tone. We love this simple approach to Thanksgiving decorating.

Dried Flower Arragement

This beautiful dried floral centerpiece brings in the flowers and colors of fall. Start with a clear glass vase ($6, Bed Bath & Beyond) and fill it with brown nuts. Cut the stems of sunflowers shorter than the other foliage so they sit at the bottom of the arrangement. Fill in the center of the vase with fall grasses and leaves.

Fill a Centerpiece Box

Display a variety of pumpkins and decorative foliage in this handmade centerpiece box. Once you've created the box, you can use it as a Thanksgiving centerpiece and continue to refill it as the holiday season goes on. When you're done with your holiday decor, use it as a pretty planter.

Squash Centerpiece

Give butternut squash and sugar pumpkins a stylish new look with an oversized metal cake stand and fresh flowers. To create the centerpiece, cut and hollow out butternut squash and pumpkins. Fill with water and seasonal flowers like chrysanthemums, coreopsis, and goldenrod.

Make a Succulent-Filled Pumpkins

This gorgeous succulent pumpkin decoration will last all holiday season. Use a faux pumpkin to create a planter that's filled with easy-to-care-for succulents. Use it as a Thanksgiving centerpiece and then keep it on display through the New Year. Mist the succulents occasionally to keep them fresh.

Use Unusual Containers

On any other day, a soup tureen is a purposeful addition to dinnertime. But its expansive interior and accents make it a good place to display your centerpiece efforts. Here, this footed version is filled with water-soaked florists foam; dried gourds, viburnum berries, and a variety of flowers (dahlias, mums, scabiosa centers) add both texture and color.

Tiered Centerpiece

The height of this centerpiece is the real wow factor. Use a cake stand or tiered dessert display to showcase fall's prettiest natural ingredients. Inspired by farmhouse-style decor, we filled a galvanized stand with oranges, pomegranates, eucalyptus leaves, and yellow straw flowers.

Fall Catch-All

Go simple with this Thanksgiving decoration. Use a woven tray as a vessel for a collection of pumpkins and gourds at the center of the table. Place a vase filled with fall florals on the tray, either cornered or in the center, to complete the look and add height.

Make Mason Jar Snowglobes

Sprigs of faux greenery sparkle in this Thanksgiving Mason jar centerpiece. Use decorative foliage from the crafts supply store, glitter, and a collection of Mason jars ($11 for 12, Target). Scatter them along the center of the table for a shimmery look that you can use all holiday season long.

Use Seasonal Flowers

Transform that grocery store flower arrangement into a stunning pumpkin decoration with just a few simple steps. Hollow out a pumpkin, and fill it with soaked floral foam. Press your stems into it and add sprigs of decorative foliage. Choose a fall color scheme like cream and orange.

Editor's Tip: Use a faux pumpkin to make the vase reusable.

Make a Greenery Garland

This easy greenery garland is sure to bring the ooh's and aah's at your big dinner. Create the Thanksgiving decoration with just a few inexpensive greenery branches and floral wire. Add a few tea candles and you're ready to set the table!

Revamp Your Plain Vases

You don't have to invest in a new set of vases to keep current with decorating or color trends. Instead use lengths of wrapping paper, trimmed and taped around vases you already have. Here, the faux bois, or fake wood, base anchors the organic collection of roses, acorns, and fern fronds for a crisp Thanksgiving floral centerpiece.

Bowl Centerpiece

Keep your Thanksgiving centerpiece simple so you're free to focus on the food! Fill a low concrete bowl with mini white pumpkins, pinecones, stones, and white berry sprigs. Add in cranberries or small clementines for an additional layer of color.

Pumpkin Pots

Create this easy Thanksgiving centerpiece at any scale to fit the size of your table. Start with a terra cotta pot and cut floral foam to size. Place faux moss on top of the foam. Poke a thick wire into the bottom of small faux pumpkins, then place wires into the foam. Make an easy sign with a wood dowel and brown cardstock. This pumpkin decoration is perfect for making with kids!

Put Food on Display

This Thanksgiving buffet proves that the presentation really does make all the difference. Drape harvest-themed table runners across a wooden buffet table. Serve favorite Thanksgiving dishes—sweet potatoes, stuffing, salad, and turkey—in simple, low serving dishes. Use wooden serving spoons to really drive the theme home.

Editor's Tip: Top your homemade pumpkin pie with cut crust letters for a festive touch.

Pinecone Centerpiece

Oversized pinecones and plain pillar candles make a big statement on any table. This look is neutral enough to set up for Thanksgiving and carry over through the Christmas season—just add a few sprigs of red berries to turn it into a Christmas centerpiece!

Artichoke Arrangement

Trade a vase of fresh flowers for a fall arrangement starring artichokes, magnolia leaves, and clementines. Fill a white vessel with mangolia stems and use florists wire ($3, Michaels) to attach artichokes and clementines. Finish the centerpiece with yellow craspedia billy ball stems and small white flowers.

Display Dinner Ingredients

Head to the grocery store for this simple Thanksgiving decoration. Create an easy centerpiece by filling a low bowl with artichokes, pomegranates, and red Gerber daisies. Mix up this Thanksgiving centerpiece with other fruits, like apples, pears, and oranges.

Put Pinecones on Display

Gather pinecones to create this DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece. Simply place four low tea light candles ($7 for 100, Target) on an oval white dish. Fill in the spaces with pinecones, and finish with decorative berries or cranberries. This inexpensive centerpiece idea costs less than $10!

Select a Single Color

Soft white and golden hues dance in natural lighting at this alfresco Thanksgiving table. A vase filled with wheat adds texture to the centerpiece. Fill a tall cylindrical vase with dried white beans. Add a berried branch from a Golden Raindrops crabapple tree to another vase to complete the setting.

Editor's Tip: Don't have a tall cylindrical vase? A wide round vase would hold more beans and wheat for a fuller centerpiece display.

White Pumpkin Centerpiece

Choose white pumpkins for a soft yet stunning arrangement that will stand out amid the Thanksgiving table fare. Place them on display with different shapes and heights of white serving dishes.

Fresh Fall Centerpiece

Golds, reds, olives, and purples shine in these classic Thanksgiving floral centerpiece. Scrounge from your garden, nature, or a floral store for vividly colored blooms; we used bittersweet, green foxtail, amaranth, sorghum, and rust-color chrysanthemums. Arrange them in clear vases in complementary hues.

Metallic Candle Centerpiece

Add an intimate atmosphere to your Thanksgiving table by pairing natural elements (think strategically placed succulents and a bark-on log slice) with glimmering gold mercury glass tea lights. No mercury glass on hand? Not to worry! Making your own Thanksgiving decorations is easy. Get our step-by-step tutorial for faux mercury glass; just use gold glitter spray paint ($8, Target) instead of silver!

Create Drama with Branches

Sweeping plum branches, coleus, and dahlias form these dramatic vertical arrangements, flanked by taper candles and an elegant gold fruit bowl and tableware. A long velvet runner keeps this homemade Thanksgiving centerpiece well-defined. To preserve guest visibility, vary the arrangement heights and keep the tallest element to one side of the table.

Use Candles

Bring your patio hurricane candle holders inside for this quick pumpkin decoration. Simply wrap the bottom of your glass candle holders with wide burlap ribbon ($7, Michaels). Tuck in a few sprigs of decorative foliage and place on a simple table runner. Fill in the gaps with mini pumpkins and fresh fall leaves.

Neutral Centerpiece

Let your Thanksgiving menu be the real attraction with this simple yet beautiful centerpiece idea. Fill a natural wooden bowl with one tall pillar candle ($7, World Market) and white flowers like mums and carnations. Fill in spaces with spruce branches and pinecones.

Paint a Gourd (or Three!)

Thanksgiving decorations don't get easier than this! We used milk paint and a quick coat of shellac to embellish these attractively autumnal flower vases. Buy gourds of varying heights for extra tabletop eye appeal. Craft-ready gourds make this centerpiece quick and easy; no cutting or cleaning required!

Pair Gourds and Succulents

Forget the cornucopia—our Thanksgiving table is overflowing with an abundance of fresh, vivid succulents. A long, flat gourd or pumpkin makes a perfect harvest vessel for this striking succulent centerpiece.

Editor's Tip: Post-Thanksgiving, transition your succulent centerpiece into a gorgeous potted plant composition by slicing off the top of the pumpkin and setting it in a container filled with rich potting soil.

Make Pumpkins that Pop

If "easy" and "eye-catching" are the qualities you're seeking, you've found the right pumpkin centerpiece. To craft it, just scoop out the innards from an ivory pumpkin and set a small vase of flowers inside. If you need extra height and texture, just prop the arrangement on top of a log slice.

Look to the Veggie Aisle

Instead of making a pit stop in the floral department, try the produce section of your neighborhood grocery store first. With a fresh eye for texture and color, you'll find lots of inspiration, such as purple cabbage, artichokes, kale, napa cabbage, and curly lettuce. Here, a shallow footed tray becomes the vase. Hollow out the center of the cabbage and replace it with florists foam or a small jar of water. Arrange a few blooms inside; surround with other pretty, colorful vegetables. Add a few accent votives wrapped with leaves from a napa cabbage; tie with string and float a candle in water.

Try Metallics

A bit of metallic spray paint can transform a few natural items into truly distinctive centerpiece elements. Here, a collection of vertical pieces—an oak branch, magnolia leaves, thistle flowers, allium, nigella seedpods—were sprayed with copper-color paint. Place the items in a variety of shapely glass containers down the length of a table. To pick up the shimmery paint tones, try serving pieces or flatware in gold hues, too.

Express Thanks in a Centerpiece

There's a clever way to remind you and your family of the true reason for the season—and create a tree centerpiece in the process, too. Each day of November, have family members write something they are thankful for on a leaf shape, cut from construction paper in fall colors. Punch a hole in the top of each leaf, and tie on string or twine to hang from a branch. You can paint the branch white or leave it natural. Prop the branch in a tall vase filled with acorns, nuts, or small rocks.

Put Spare Spoons to Use

If soup's not on the menu, delicate soup bowls are a pretty way to add color to individual place settings. Simply fill each with water and add a few blooms; feel free to match the blooms around the table or give each person their own color or variety. Mums are a great fall option. Create name cards by taping a piece of construction paper to a spoon handle and propping it in the soup bowl.

DIY Velvet Pumpkins

Craft this twist on the velvet pumpkin trend for a sweet Thanksgiving centerpiece. Find textured chenille fabric in fall colors at a crafts supply store. Wrap faux pumpkins in the fabric, gathering the edges of the fabric at the top stem. Gather the covered pumpkins in a tray or bowl to keep the centerpiece contained at the center of the table.

Make a Pumpkin Planter

Perfect for a big crowd, this pumpkin planter centerpiece idea will steal the show. Bring your Halloween pumpkin inside and create a handmade Thanksgiving decoration. We'll show you how to make it and care for it all season long.

Fresh Herb Centerpiece

For an inexpensive Thanksgiving centerpiece table decoration, turn to your garden. What better way to bring the scents of the season to the table than to create a centerpiece focused on your favorite autumn herbs? Fill distinctive vases or glasses with tall cuts of herbs, including sage, thyme, and rosemary. If the containers are small, try one at each place setting, or space several down the center of a table.

Create a Contemporary Cornucopia

You don't need to be a talented painter to create a unique still life; all it takes is an eye for what's extraordinary about the ordinary. Here, a collection of autumn fruits—pears, apples, plums—tumbles out of a double layer of mesh wrap formed into a cone, secured with a few stitches, and wrapped with a pretty ribbon.

Hang Painted Acorns

Contrasting colors and interesting textures add visual variety to this outdoor-inspired tree centerpiece. Select a few acorns; carefully remove the tops and set aside. Spray-paint the seeds a bright color, let dry and reattach the tops with a bit of hot glue. Secure a twine loop to the top with more hot glue, and hang from an intricate branch (suspended in a pretty vase). Place the vase off-center in a tray, and add more acorns and a complementary bowl to complete the vignette.