Our 70+ Favorite Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

What would a beautifully set Thanksgiving table be without the star of the show: the centerpiece?! Crafting and elegant centerpiece doesn't have to be hard or expensive, keep reading for our best ideas for budget-friendly floral arrangements, flower-free Thanksgiving table decorations and even ideas for DIY centerpieces you can eat. When you’re done creating your centerpiece, check out our clever place card ideas, tips for setting up a buffet and find Thanksgiving games and activities the whole family can play.

First up: A pair of fresh floral arrangements of tangerine lilies and bright orange roses are embellished with fall leaf accents that infuse the setting with eye-popping color.

An old dough bowl or wood trencher makes a great low centerpiece when filled with seasonal pumpkins, gourds, pinecones and flowering branches. Our step-by-step instructions, below, make it easy to recreate this oh-so-trendy, rustic look.

Give new purpose to a small stoneware sugar bowl, that's missing its lid, by using it as a low vase for flowers. Filled with seeded eucalyptus, chrysanthemums and pears — all picked up on a grocery run — it makes a pretty presentation in a small amount of space.

A pair of nested baskets, floral foam and a few blooms from your local market or backyard are all you need to craft this florist-quality stunner.

Can you believe this gorgeous centerpiece cost less than $20 to create?! For the cranberry-filled vase, we employed an easy trick: Place a smaller dollar-store glass cylinder inside a larger one, then pour fresh cranberries into the gap between the two vases. For the flowers, we mixed a few grocery-store blooms with dried millet and faux dill blooms. Silk and dried flowers can be used year after year, making them a great way to stretch your holiday decorating budget.

Easy to assemble and always eye-catching, a horn-of-plenty basket is probably the most classic Thanksgiving decoration of all. Although the tradition of the cornucopia is ancient, its meaning is still relevant today. Because it symbolizes the bounty of life, it can help remind us of the bounty and blessings we've received throughout the year.

Try a fresh take on Thanksgiving's traditional cornucopia by serving up healthy and not-so-healthy bite-size treats on a series of stacked servers. No need for guests to leave the table to grab dessert at the end of the feast, the perfect ending to their meal is within easy reach.

Floral designer Lindsay Coletta gave the idea of a traditional Thanksgiving cornucopia a modern twist with this sumptuous arrangement. She used wet floral foam to anchor an assortment of greenery scavenged from her backyard along with splashes of color courtesy of ornamental cabbage, dahlias and persimmon branches.

To really wow your guests, skip a standard vase and use a beautiful vintage container instead. Antique tins, teapots, pitchers and storage containers, like this pressed-glass biscuit jar, make charming stand-ins for a modern vase while adding a hand-me-down touch of family history to your table.

A teal ginger jar adorned with a maple leaf motif holds rusty orange silk hydrangeas and fall berry branches in muted hues. This free-form arrangement can be endlessly varied with your choice of twiggy branches and fall flowers.

Skip the florist and craft this pro-looking centerpiece yourself with fresh citrus, flowers and greenery picked up at your local grocery store. Our step-by-step instructions, below, share the trick for creating the lime-lined vase.

Designer Camille Styles pairs rustic elements like beeswax candles, gourds and a salvaged wooden board as a table runner with a porcelain footed dish overflowing with greenhouse blooms. Her arrangement contains roses, hydrangea, dahlias, copper amaranth and ranunculus with a few sprigs of fall greenery, grasses and berries to signify the season.

Hollow out a butternut squash, then fill with fresh flowers for a creative seasonal centerpiece. Tip: Waste not; want not: Cube the removed squash and roast in the oven for a healthy side dish.

Give leftover Halloween pumpkins or gourds a glamorous makeover with gold, silver or copper leaf. Faux pumpkins are best because you can store them to display year after year.

If your centerpiece will consist of more than one arrangement, position them symmetrically for a balanced look. Here, designer Marian Parsons created an edible centerpiece with two stacked cake plates in the center flanked by two slightly shorter floral arrangements in white stoneware pitchers that have a similar shape but aren't matchy-matchy.

While a perfectly balanced, symmetrical table is certainly beautiful, asymmetry lends a more dynamic look. For our centerpiece, we created a layered effect that incorporates the romance of candlelight with the rustic textures of wood and lots of fall color via an assortment of fresh and faux gourds, silk sunflowers and dried seed pods.

Get an assist from the kiddos to craft this easy focal point. Use our free template to cut leaf shapes from colorful card stock you can attach to bare branches gathered in the backyard. Before dinner, ask your guests to write what they're most thankful for on the leaves or just leave them blank.

A centerpiece you can eat? Yes, please! Make an edible bread cornucopia for your Thanksgiving table using refrigerated bread dough, aluminum foil and a single egg. Fill with sweet and savory nibbles for an impressive centerpiece that’ll keep your guests happily nibbling while they wait for dinner to begin.

In just a few steps, you can transform a faux or fresh pumpkin into a rustic planter for assorted succulents. Surrounded by other fall elements, this garden craft makes a charming, living centerpiece for your fall or Thanksgiving table.

Centerpieces don't have to be complicated. For a casual look, just place a few blooms, in fall shades, in a clear water glass. For a fuller look, create several small arrangements to line the center of the table.

Really bring the outdoors in by turning a log into a rustic vase or candleholder. Our instructions, below, will walk you through each step.

Maximize your centerpiece's impact by spreading the flowers and greenery among multiple vases. But, don't worry, more centerpieces doesn't have to mean more $$$. Large blooms like chrysanthemum, sunflowers, dahlias and roses provide a lot of impact with just a few stems. Fill in with greenery, either from your backyard or local grocery or florist, and finish with a few berry stems and bare branches.

For a centerpiece that'll last all through this fall season (and for many more to come), swap fresh elements for faux. For this rustic-meets-refined centerpiece, Chelsea Faulkner filled a doughbowl with faux mini pumpkins and greenery, interspersed with cotton stems, dried grasses and pinecones.

Turn either a fresh or faux pumpkin into a pitch-perfect seasonal centerpiece by sliding a flower-filled vase or mason jar inside the hollowed-out gourd.

There are no hard-set rules that state you MUST use only oranges and golds for your Thanksgiving centerpiece — mix it up and choose flowers in whatever color you choose. Here, designer Manvi Drona Hidalgo used copper amaranth, white astilbe, silver brunia berries, echinacea, gomphrenia, Dutch hydrangea and sweet Annie artemisia to create a real show-stopper.

Our step-by-step instructions, below, show you how to put fall's bounty on display by covering a foam topiary form with sprigs of fresh greenery and apples or pears.

To complete this modern take on a cornucopia, the editors at HGTV Magazine surrounded the candles with a lush spread of seeded eucalyptus, topped by gilded acorns and assorted fruits and veggies.

Skip the standard vase and get creative when choosing a container for your arrangement. Vintage pitchers, teapots and watering cans are perfect for tall arrangements, especially if they contain heavy blooms or long stems that require a heftier base.

For an earthy focal point, skip the flowers and instead stack heirloom variety blue, green and gray pumpkins in graduated sizes to create a rustic topiary. Remove the stems from all but the top pumpkin to create a stable base.

Go thrifting — or raid your china cabinet — for vintage steins or stoneware or earthenware mugs to fill with fall flowers. For this outdoor centerpiece, we stacked rustic wood slices for height, then filled an antique stoneware pitcher with fresh-cut sunflowers, dried wheat stems and baby's breath. A vintage stoneware stein filled with mounded German chamomile doubles the flower power.

Putting together a gorgeous centerpiece may seem intimidating but, really, it's far simpler than you may think. Before shelling out big bucks at your local florist; check out our tips, below, from a floral-arranging pro.

Vintage teacups and saucers are excellent candidates for mini arrangements. Tip: Green ball dianthus (available at your local grocery store or florist) makes a wonderful base for DIY flower arrangements. Just fill your container with dianthus, then slide in cut flowers, the mossy green base will anchor the blooms while lending a bright background of vibrant green.

When it comes to centerpieces, we're big believers that more is more. After all, why settle for a single arrangement when you can line the center of the table with several small bouquets? For this long and low arrangement, a vintage gravy boat filled with green ball dianthus, white hypericum berries and blue sea holly complements the table's blue-and-white theme while adding texture and visual interest.

Backyard blooms are a natural candidate for centerpieces — in addition to the cost savings of using free flowers, you can also show off your green thumb. Shown here, Veronica (AKA speedwell), dahlias and chrysanthemum are excellent cutting-garden blooms that look equally beautiful brightening up your backyard as they do as the star of your table. Tip: Cut flowers early in the morning when the air and ground temps are cooler and plants are least stressed. And, be sure to place the cut blooms directly into a bucket of water to prevent any moisture loss. When arranging, re-cut the stems at a 45-degree angle before placing into a vase with added floral preservative.

In place of a tall central centerpiece, keep the conversation easily flowing with a low, natural runner made up of a mix of faux greenery, like seeded eucalyptus, dried millet and dried lotus pods. The floral aisle at your local craft store should carry a wide assortment of dried materials or you can even dry summer's backyard blooms, like hydrangea, celosia or strawflower, then repurpose the papery pretties as part of your fall decorations. Learn more about drying your backyard blooms, below.

Add a bit of textural contrast to your arrangement by hot-glueing a found pine cone onto a wood skewer or chopstick, then slide the skewer into a bouquet of blooms. For even more variety, attach mini bunches of fruit or veggies, like the black grapes and artichoke, seen here, onto skewers too. Play around with combinations of natural materials to take your arrangement up a notch.

From the Latin cornu copiae which translates to horn of plenty, a wicker cornucopia has long symbolized the bounty of the fall harvest. Wicker cornucopias are easy to source at your local craft store in the fall or score one on the cheap by scouring thrift stores or estate sales. Fill the horn with assorted small pumpkins, gourds, fruits, veggies, shelled nuts and berry sprigs for a traditional look.

Color isn't the only consideration when picking greenery and blooms for your Thanksgiving centerpiece, texture is another element pros rely on for appealing arrangements. For this centerpiece, we mixed stems with tiny, green berries (seeded eucalyptus) with larger, red hypericum berries. Large blooms, like the bright orange pincushion protea, contrast beautifully against smaller seasonal flowers like mums while the long, deep burgundy leaves of 'safari sunset' leucadendron are striking against the silvery blue spikes of spiral eucaplyptus.

An informal Thanksgiving buffet calls for a laid-back centerpiece. Designer Camille Styles filled an earthenware jug with fall-blooming grasses, leaves and berries for a quick and colorful arrangement.

Weather permitting, celebrate Thanksgiving in the great outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature's changing scenery. Find a scenic setting in a valley, a grove of trees, a pretty field, an orchard, or even a quiet corner in your own backyard. Use a lightweight or folding table and chairs to create the wow-factor without the heavy lifting, and ask guests to contribute to the day's menu to cut down on the amount of items you need to pack in.

Designer Layla Palmer surrounded trendy pheasant feathers with layers of nuts and moss to create a centerpiece that's autumnal, rustic and, unlike flowers, requires no maintenance to keep its good looks.

For a fuss-free centerpiece, take a cue from the editors at HGTV Magazine and round up houseplants in coordinating containers, then stagger the pots to create a long, low, living arrangement.

Upcycle a leftover Halloween pumpkin by wrapping it in an old or thrifted sweater. Tie with a bit of coordinating yarn, then place on a vintage cake stand, surrounded by pinecones or acorns for an easy centerpiece that uses items you already have on hand.

As our table's centerpiece, we chose this massive hollow chocolate turkey. A real kid-pleaser, offering a sweet treat they can break into after the meal provides a tasty reward for good behavior. Easy-to-peel mandarin oranges, that top each plate, provide a sweet treat that kids can break into while they wait for the meal to start.

For most families, setting up a separate kids' table is as much a Thanksgiving tradition as turkey and pumpkin pie. When setting up their space, don't forget the centerpiece — fill vases with sweet, savory or healthy snacks to keep little pilgrims happily munching.

To create a show-stopping arrangement, rely on contrast. Designer Erinn Valencich contrasts both color and style by pairing magenta cockscomb, dahlia and calla lilies with chartreuse mums for pop, then sliding this sophisticated arrangement into an earthy birch-bark container.

Silk flowers have come a long way, often making it difficult to tell the difference between fresh and faux. (Honestly, can you tell which of these blooms are silk?) Combine the best of both worlds to create a centerpiece that looks lush and — best of all — incorporates a few faux elements that can be used year after year.

Designer Susana Simonpietri of Chango & Co proves that simple can be chic with the monochromatic table setting in this eclectic dining room. White hydrangeas are a great centerpiece choice for your Thanksgiving table — you need just a few blooms to create an artful arrangement that'll last for up to two weeks.

Add an edible touch to any centerpiece with fresh fruit. Skewers of grapes are a crowd-pleasing choice and will stay fresh almost as long as the flowers. Other good choices are skewered pears, apples or citrus.

Nuts remind us of the harvest, making them a natural choice for fall decorating. Give this snackable material a sophisticated spin by using them to cover an inexpensive foam topiary. Just attach assorted shelled nuts with hot glue, then fill in the spaces between with dark peat moss. Be sure to leave a nutcracker nearby so guest can help themselves to a healthy snack.

Although it may be hard to accept for those of us who've purged our homes of '70s brass tchotchkes, brass is back big time. Designer Manvi Drona-Hidalgo lined her table with brass elements large and small for a glamorous, glowing effect.

Basic carpentry skills and tools are all you need to turn wood fence pickets or any leftover lumber into a long, low wooden container that's a lovely Thanksgiving centerpiece when filled with greenery, apples and bundles of cinnamon sticks.

Need a centerpiece in a hurry? Then, this trick is for you: Just surround low pillar candles with cinnamon sticks for a glowing centerpiece that'll not only light up the center of your table, but also smells heavenly. Get more tips for easy-to-assemble centerpieces, below.

Compact flowers like ranunculus and roses are the perfect choice for a traditional centerpiece. For added texture, fill in with sprays of greenery or fall-blooming foliage like Scotch heather or 'Autumn Joy' sedum. Image courtesy of Kat Flower.

Head into your backyard or any nearby natural area to gather fall blooms, like echinacea seed heads, hydrangea, goldenrod and assorted leaves, including herbs, like sage. Fun fact: No matter what you’ve heard, you are not allergic to goldenrod, AKA solidago (the bright yellow blooms you see here). Ragweed, which blooms at the same time, is more likely the architect of your fall allergy woes. Get more fall flower foraging tips, below.

Take a stroll outdoors to gather bare branches for a minimal, flower-free centerpiece. Sculptural and elegant, their slim silhouette won't block the view of other dinner guests or distract from the main event: the food.

A scattering of seed pods, pinecones and nuts surround cream pillar candles for this easy centerpiece. The candles' neutral color works with the table's subdued palette.

These sturdy late-summer bloomers look their best when grouped together en masse. As you add sunflowers to the vase, be sure to turn them so each flower faces out. To extend their freshness, add a little floral preservative or bleach to the vase and be sure to change the water every few days.

Incorporate family heirlooms by crafting a sweet centerpiece using an inherited (or thrifted) antique teapot, surrounded by other vintage finds, like this pair of porcelain quail. For a colorful display, we filled our teapot with seeded eucalyptus, fern fronds, large and small chrysanthemums and hypericum berries.

Handcrafted of solid copper, this pretty pail turns fresh-cut flowers or a bunch of branches into an eye-catching arrangement. To keep it's new-penny shine, the copper will need to be frequently polished — or exposure to water and oxygen will cause the metal to take on a rich patina over time.

A footed copper pot is a beautiful container for this mounded arrangement featuring calla lilies, white hydrangeas, gloriosa lilies, freesia, viburnum and green hanging amaranthus. Delicate paper butterflies resting among the flowers add a touch of whimsy and will have guests doing a double-take.

Turn inexpensive silk leaves into a sleek tray that resembles fine porcelain. Fill with fresh fruit or a candle and acorns or pinecones for a fuss-free centerpiece.

Designer Alissa Ditta let organic texture and color be the star of her centerpiece. She filled glass hurricanes with candles, moss and grapevine then surrounded them with potted succulents, votives and twig balls.

Although most people choose traditional fall colors for their arrangements, there's no hard-and-fast rule. So, match your arrangement to your dining room, china pattern, favorite necklace — whatever you'd like. That's one of the great things about flowers; they come in all the colors of the rainbow. Image courtesy of Kat Flower.