Want to create an easy Thanksgiving centerpiece without breaking the budget? Here are a ton of cheap Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas!
Hosting Thanksgiving is a lot of fun, but it can get pricey really quickly.
If you are hosting this year but don't want to spend any extra, you might want some cheap Thanksgiving table decor!
Be sure to check out all of my Inexpensive Thanksgiving Table Decorating Ideas!
It's actually easy to make a DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Let's talk about Thanksgiving centerpieces and what goes into them, and then look at some great Thanksgiving tablescape examples!
Don't miss my best DIY Thanksgiving Wall Decoration Ideas!
What is the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece?
Traditional Thanksgiving centerpieces will incorporate Autumn themed elements. This might include:
- Fall foliage
- Pumpkins
- Gourds
- Woven, natural colored materials
- Brown, red, orange, yellow, or gold colors
What floral arrangements are used for Thanksgiving?
Traditional Thanksgiving flowers include:
- Mums
- Sunflowers
- Yellow or orange roses
- Wheat
- Pampas grass or other similar grasses
How to save money on a Thanksgiving centerpiece
There are a few ways to save money on your centerpiece for Thanksgiving.
Make something yourself
Making a centerpiece is almost always going to be cheaper than buying one at the store. Get creative with free finds from nature (sticks, pine cones), dollar store finds, and small craft supplies or items already around your house.
Re-use something from the past
We all kind of good-naturedly tease my mom that she has a full craft store in her attic. She has wreaths and fake flowers, centerpieces and mantel decor, for every possible holiday and season.
She stores them really well and now even decades after buying them they still look good with a little fluffing.
All this to say, re-use what you already have or if you buy something, save it to re-use next year.
Keep it simple
Simple Thanksgiving centerpieces can be just as powerful as something elaborate. Instead of trying to add a dozen little things to the table, focus on 1-3 larger or bolder items.
Here's my tutorial on how to make a THANKFUL interactive wall hanging!
How do you make a cheap Thanksgiving centerpiece?
When you are designing a Thanksgiving table centerpiece, you want to keep it simple but still have a variety of levels and elements to your DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece.
A centerpiece usually has 3 elements:
- Something flat on the table - tray, table runner, lazy susan, etc
- A show piece
- Small accent pieces
I suggest starting with the showpiece - the thing that you want at the center of the table. Pick something eye catching that goes with your color scheme.
A showpiece could be:
- A large pumpkin
- A bouquet of fall foliage
- Potted plant
- Woven cornucopia
Then, choose something to go under the showpiece. I suggest a tray, platter, or table runner. Pick something that fits your table and goes with your color scheme.
Finally, add accent pieces. For a centerpiece for Thanksgiving this might include:
- Candle holders
- Mini pumpkins
- Small branches
- Faux fruit (or real fruit!)
Here are some of my favorite ideas for thanksgiving centerpieces!
Inexpensive Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas
Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece that won't break the bank? Here are a ton of budget friendly Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas!
This beautiful rustic farmhouse trough is great for a table centerpiece. The wooden trough can be customized for your table length or stained however you'd like. It's a great piece that can be filled with seasonal items throughout the year.
This centerpiece is made completely from dollar store finds. I love the little lights in there!
This is a great tutorial on how to hollow out a pumpkin to turn it into a vase! Great way to use leftover halloween pumpkins!
These DIY velvet pumpkins are surprisingly easy and cheap to make! They are beautiful for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Making roses - or even full bouquets - from fallen leaves is a fun fall craft. Here is how I make Maple Leaf Roses. Great for fall weddings or Thanksgiving decor, too!
This Easy Fall Mason Jar Centerpiece is perfect for displaying on your table from September through Thanksgiving. Using mason jars, chalk paint, and burlap create the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece!
This is a really great tutorial on how to fill a cornucopia with faux fruit and leaves.
Some times places like the Dollar Store don't have a huge variety of decor. If you can only find pumpkins that are too orange for your aesthetic, this a great tutorial for how to spray paint them the right way!
Simple Fall Centerpiece with Pumpkins, Succulents & Magnolia Leaves
Make this simple Thanksgiving centerpiece using magnolia leaves, succulents, and pumpkins. It's so easy! No floral wire, picks, or floral foam needed.
I LOVE how she turned a woven pumpkin into a gorgeous rustic turkey!
This stunning centerpiece proves that neutral colors can work for Thanksgiving, too!
I love the mix of heights in this Dollar Store Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Check out how easy it is to turn a basket into a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece
I love the statement look of pumpkins carved to hold potted mums!
I love the elegant look of this candle wreath centerpiece.
Get out a large wooden bowl and make this bowl centerpiece with natural dried flowers, grasses and leaves.
Check out this tutorial for the easiest way to coat pumpkins in glitter for a glam look!
A great budget saving hack is to mix fresh and faux flowers in your arrangements. This is a tutorial on how to do that!
Make this rustic Fall Centerpiece using mostly Dollar store supplies. Faux leaves and Fall colors create a cozy mood for your Thanksgiving table.
If you have a large pitcher on hand, you can make this centerpiece for free with gathered branches.
This is a great way to make free pumpkins if you don't have any on hand - using scrap fabric to cover toilet paper rolls!
If you have real or faux pumpkins on hand, this is a simple tablescape to replicate.
This simple tablescape proves that you don't need fancy elements for a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape.
Consider filling your vase with something like acorns for an extra autumn element. This is a great tutorial on the easiest way to do that!
How to create fancy pumpkins with clay molds for the perfect Fall centerpiece!
If you like a chinoiserie look, this is a great tutorial on how to get that look on pumpkins!
This is a great tutorial on how to turn mini pumpkins into vases for short flowers! A really fun way to make simple florals feel more fall-y.
Painted jars are the ultimate in upcycled and recycled thanksgiving table decor!
Give your table a whimsical woodland feel with this wooden birdhouse village.
White pumpkins are a really fun play on the typical orange pumpkin.
Love this tablescape centerpiece made from thrifted finds!
Use leftover produce to make this unique centerpiece!
I love the chic white and green look of these white pumpkin centerpieces.
Mums are a fall classic! Here's a great arrangement idea.
What are your favorite inexpensive Thanksgiving table decorations?
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Hello, I'm Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I've transformed three homes and now I'm dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let's turn your house into a home together!
