Imagine a Thanksgiving table decked out with natural, homemade decor—all gathered from your own garden. This year, skip the expensive store-bought items and create beautiful centerpieces, candle holders, and garlands using fall leaves, pinecones, berries, and twigs. These easy DIY ideas will make your table warm and inviting, adding a personal touch that’s simple, affordable, and eco-friendly.
Finding Materials in Your Garden
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the bounty of the harvest season, and what better way to decorate your home than with natural materials from your garden? Here are some ideas for finding materials in your garden for DIY natural decorations.
Harvesting Fall Leaves
Fall leaves are a beautiful and colorful addition to any Thanksgiving table. Look for leaves that have fallen from your trees, or gently pluck them from the branches. You can use them as a table runner, scatter them around your centerpiece, or even make a wreath. If you want to preserve the leaves, you can press them between the pages of a heavy book for a few days.
Collecting Pinecones
Pinecones are another great natural material for Thanksgiving decorations. You can find them on the ground under pine trees or even purchase them at a craft store. They can be used as a filler in a vase, basket or bowl, or you can attach them to a wreath or garland. If you want to add sparkle, spray paint them gold or silver.
Gathering Branches and Twigs
Branches and twigs can add a rustic touch to your Thanksgiving decor. Look for units with exciting shapes and textures, such as birch or curly willow. You can create a centerpiece or arrange them in a vase. Twigs can also be used to make a wreath or garland. If you want to add color, spray paint them in fall hues like orange, red, and yellow.
DIY Decorations
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with loved ones and give thanks for all the blessings in life. One way to make the occasion even more remarkable is by creating DIY decorations using natural elements from your garden. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Foliage and Pinecone Candle Holder
Create a warm, autumnal ambiance with this foliage and pinecone candle holder. Gather an assortment of fallen leaves, acorns, and pinecones from your garden to craft a rustic ring around a simple glass jar candle for a Thanksgiving glow.
Leaf Garlands
Bring the beauty of fall indoors with a handmade leaf garland. Select a variety of leaves from your garden, focusing on a mix of colors and sizes to add visual interest. Pierce each leaf with a needle and thread them onto a strong string or yarn, creating a natural decoration that celebrates the season's bounty.
Twig Candle Holders
Enhance your Thanksgiving table with the rustic charm of twig candle holders. Collect twigs of similar thickness from your backyard and cut them to uniform lengths to fit around a glass votive holder. Bind them together with twine or ribbon for a simple yet elegant centerpiece.
Mini Thanksgiving Tree
Craft a miniature Thanksgiving tree to capture the season's essence inside your home. Assemble small branches in a vase to create a tree structure, and then adorn the branches with vibrant leaves, acorns, berries, or even tiny pinecones for a festive touch.
Apple Place Setting
Add a touch of orchard elegance to your Thanksgiving table with an apple place setting. Choose a bright, firm apple and attach a name tag around its stem using a simple loop of twine or ribbon for a personalized touch.
Foliage Swags for Chairs
Dress up your dining chairs with Thanksgiving foliage swags to create an inviting atmosphere for your guests. Combine a selection of autumn leaves, twigs, and berries and secure them into a swag with floral wire.
Woodland Tealight Holder
Start with a simple glass jar. Layer the bottom with lush moss from your garden, then nestle a tealight inside. The soft candlelight will glow beautifully through the moss, creating a serene and magical ambiance on your holiday table.
Foliage Napkin Decorations
Cozy up your table with a symphony of autumn touches that evoke the season's spirit. Accent the setting with a sprinkle of colorful leaves and a cinnamon stick at each place for a sensory feast that complements the delicious meal.
Wheat and Cranberry Vase
Layer golden wheat stalks with rich red cranberries to transform a simple glass jar into a vibrant vase. This natural display captures the essence of the harvest season and adds a pop of color to any table. To complete the look, tie a coordinating ribbon or piece of twine around the neck of the jar for a charm.
DIY Pine Cone Wreath
For a touch of winter wonder, craft a festive wreath by intertwining cones, cotton, nuts, and eucalyptus against a white wooden backdrop. This elegant creation blends the textures and tones of nature for a sophisticated seasonal welcome. Hang it on a door or wall to celebrate the holiday spirit with a natural, handcrafted accent.
Acorns & Mums in Vases
Celebrate the season with a charming display of acorns and mums in simple vases. This arrangement pairs the rich textures of acorns with the bold hues of mums, encapsulating the essence of Thanksgiving.
Succulent Cornucopia
This unique take on the traditional horn of plenty creates a lush, green centerpiece that's eye-catching and easy to maintain. Nestle this succulent cornucopia among your holiday spread for a conversation-starting piece that marries tradition with contemporary style.
Turkey Vases
For a playful nod to Thanksgiving's iconic bird, craft turkey vases using a mix of fresh-cut flowers and foliage. These charming vases feature blooms that resemble a turkey's plumage, bringing a fun touch to your holiday decor.
Berry Branch Centerpiece
Vibrant berries add color and texture, making them an effortless focal point for any gathering. This centerpiece is both easy to assemble and delightful to behold, perfectly capturing the abundance of the season.
Leaf Mason Jar
Place a candle within to cast a soft, inviting glow, perfect for enhancing the holiday ambiance. This simple yet festive decoration is a tribute to the thankful spirit of the season.
Embracing Nature's Gifts for a Memorable Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, bring the season’s warmth and beauty indoors with simple, garden-inspired decor. These natural touches create a cozy, welcoming table that celebrates both the harvest and the memories made around it. Embrace the charm of handmade, heartfelt details and enjoy a truly meaningful holiday!