Getting ready for Turkey Day? If you’ve read my recent post on modern Thanksgiving decor ideas, you know that I’m preparing to host my first Thanksgiving–yes, it’s official! Each day, I’ve been trying to check one item off my “to-do list.” Yesterday, I created a DIY wall hanging that will be the perfect backdrop to my Turkey Day gathering. Today I’m experimenting with Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas, and I think I’ve come up with a design that I can easily duplicate next week. Keep reading for all of the photos and details…
DIY Centerpiece Supplies
Let’s start with some basic centerpiece supplies. To begin, find a vase to hold your Thanksgiving floral arrangement. I purchased this spherical ’80s Southwestern vase for a few dollars at one of my favorite thrift stores. I love the look of globular vases and tall greenery.
Speaking of greenery, do you have any fall foliage in your yard? I cut some Loropetalum branches from the shrubs out back–the leaves are turning such a lovely shade of red!
Another on-trend ingredient for your Thanksgiving centerpiece: mixed metallic tones. Silver and gold can beautifully combine at your Turkey Day table. I spray painted small pumpkins with chrome paint, then added some brassy accents such as pinch bowls and candleholders from CB2. Very affordable and chic!
Finally, you can finish everything off with a touch of neon. Later in the post, you will see how I incorporated neon orange washi tape into my DIY Thanksgiving table runner.
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Basics
The heart of my centerpiece this year will be the fall foliage. Luckily, I’ve got an amazing supply of Loropetalum in my backyard. If you don’t have branches at the ready, don’t fret. Choose dried eucalyptus or other low-maintenance greenery that will stand tall in your vase.
I made sure to cut a variety of branches, including some pieces featuring very vibrant red leaves:
Don’t stress about the arrangement. The beauty of sticking with one type of greenery is that you really can’t go wrong. Have fun trying different configurations, and let the branches speak for themselves:
A Neon Twist
Do you enjoy using a table runner at your holiday gatherings? While my dining room table can extend to seat up to 10, it’s not super wide. In other words, it’s awkward for me to try and fit placemats and a runner on the surface of the table. Since I’d like to use placemats, I usually keep the runner simple. This one is shorter than usual (maximizing your table space), and it’s disposable. Gotta love that!
Simply line up pieces of silver and gold cardstock and join them with neon washi tape. Easy and colorful!
The combination of mixed metallics and neon really has the power to punctuate a Thanksgiving centerpiece, don’t you think?!
In addition to the floral arrangement, try adding other items, such as brass accents and pumpkins. I spray painted the pumpkins below in mere minutes, and I love how they contrast the warm tones of the brassy bowls:
Another great table runner idea: Cut the runner from a roll of brown kraft paper, and use white paint to embellish it with a design, as shown in this post from Oh Happy Day.
Simple and Classic
The neon accents on the table runner above are a great way to make your centerpiece pop, but sometimes the most striking centerpieces are the simple ones. Here are some images of the floral arrangement and metallic accents, sans runner.
I had fun experimenting with the positioning of the pumpkins and the bowls, making sure that guests on either side of my table will have a great view of the centerpiece.
For added drama, include some taper candles and shiny candleholders, but make sure to keep the flames away from the greenery! My final decision: skipping the table runner and letting the floral arrangement take center stage. The candles will be on a nearby surface–I think the vase of foliage, the bowls and the shiny pumpkins will speak for themselves, especially since the neon orange yarn in my DIY wall hanging will form the backdrop to my table. There will be plenty of color in the room!
What about you? What are you planning for your Thanksgiving centerpiece! Thanks for letting me share. I wish you and yours the loveliest of Thanksgivings!
