Thanksgiving is about much more than food, right? Well, partly about more than food. It’s also about the decorations, and if you’re like me, you tend to decorate for every single holiday. I’ve found a great collection of ways to decorate for Thanksgiving that won’t take much time or money – my favorite type of decorating!
Whether you like creating things from fall leaves or you prefer to gather up pinecones for your holiday decorating, I’m certain that you’ll find something in this collection that will make your Thanksgiving extra special.
You know you really want to impress your Thanksgiving dinner guests with a personalized table setting. Or maybe you just really want to create adorable fortune cookies for everyone in your family. Whatever you are looking to do for the upcoming holidays, there is a DIY project in here that’s perfect for you.
Sit back, browse this amazing collection, and really impress people as they show up for your home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. And of course, let me know which decorating DIY you did and how it turned out!
Jump to:
- 1. Magnolia Pear Thanksgiving Table
- 2. Rosemary Wreath Place Settings
- 3. Thanksgiving Silverware Holders
- 4. Thanksgiving Fortune Cookies
- 5. Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards
- 6. Chalkboard Chargers
- 7. Decorate with Foliage
- 8. Gilded Fruit
- 9. Apple Tea Lights
- 10. Glitter Gourds
- 11. DIY Burlap Table Runner
- 12. Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe
- 13. Make a Thankful Tree
- 14. Make a Pumpkin Diorama
- 15. Make a Pumpkin House Marker
- 16. Fall Up Your Candles
- 17. Create Mini Felt Acorns
- 18. Make Your Own Turkeys
- 19. Fold Turkey Napkins
- 20. Create a Fall Mantel
- 21. Pinecone Turkeys
- 22. Seed Balls Cornucopia
- 23. Thanksgiving Garland
- 24. Traditional Twig Votives
- 25. Thom the Turkey Wreath
1. Magnolia Pear Thanksgiving Table
Create a warm and inviting Thanksgiving table using fresh pears as natural décor accents. Pears can be styled with greenery, simple table linens, and neutral elements to create an elegant yet effortless seasonal display. This decorating idea adds a touch of organic beauty to your table while keeping the look simple, budget-friendly, and perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings.
2. Rosemary Wreath Place Settings
Personalize each place setting with these gorgeous rosemary wreath place cards. Make one for every plate at your dinner table. Not only do they look great, but they also smell fabulous, and they’re so easy to make!
3. Thanksgiving Silverware Holders
Let your guests enjoy personalized silverware holders for each place setting. They can feature each guest’s name or a seasonal design. This is a great decorative detail to look back on in a few years, and they are so easy to make. These festive holders add a thoughtful touch to your Thanksgiving table décor.
4. Thanksgiving Fortune Cookies
These Thanksgiving fortune cookies are entirely too cute. Imagine having a special Thanksgiving fortune for everyone who comes to dinner. You can write something meaningful for each guest, or have everyone write what they’re thankful for and share after the meal. Using printable paper fortune cookies makes this a neat and easy project that adds a fun, personal touch to your table.
5. Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards
These little pumpkins are not only functional, but they’re also gorgeous and easy to make. Simply attach a name tag to each one and place on plates for a personalized table setting. You can also group some in a bowl with a candle or two to create a charming centerpiece. The possibilities are endless with this simple Thanksgiving DIY!
6. Chalkboard Chargers
A little chalk and a DIY chalkboard painted charger are the perfect accessories for the dinner table. You can write the menu out on each one, or use them to give your special message of thanks. Not only are these perfect for the table, but they’re also great to leave Thanksgiving messages all over the house!
7. Decorate with Foliage
Ok, so nothing is cheaper, or more fall-like, than fall foliage, right? Use some of that foliage to decorate for the season. Even if you’re not into making your own wreaths, preserved fall leaves can be used to create simple decorative accents for tables, shelves, or other surfaces around your home. It’s an easy way to bring the colors of fall indoors and make your space feel warm and seasonal.
8. Gilded Fruit
Gilded fruit is elegant and gorgeous! Who wouldn’t want to use this for decorating? And, it’s really easy, so you can have these little beauties all over the house. Pears and apples are, of course, the go-to fruits for fall, but you could honestly use whatever type of fruit you wanted. The goal is to add beautiful golden colors to your decorating, and you can put them in bases, bowls, or whatever you have on hand.
9. Apple Tea Lights
Who says you have to spend a fortune to get festive candles? You can make apple tea lights yourself, and they’re perfect for your Thanksgiving decorating. These apple candle holders look beautiful, smell wonderful, and add a warm, natural glow to your holiday décor.
10. Glitter Gourds
Decorate your gourds with glitter to add sparkle and charm to your Thanksgiving décor! These glitter gourds are perfect for centerpieces, mantels, or accenting your table. Gourds are versatile and inexpensive this time of year at your local farmer’s market, making them a fun and festive DIY for the holidays.
11. DIY Burlap Table Runner
You know you love burlap! This DIY table runner is gorgeous, and the burlap really gives it a Thanksgiving look. This is a great project for you or for the kids. Just grab some burlap, a bit of fall colored paint, and get to work creating the perfect Thanksgiving table runner. Do this in a smaller size and put one on your coffee table, too!
12. Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe
This has got to be the most adorable Thanksgiving decoration I’ve ever seen. It’s a tic-tac-toe game made out of pumpkins! It’s such an easy thing to make, and it’s a real game, so it helps to keep the kids occupied during those colder days when they can’t get outside. Just pick up a few mini pumpkins, and you’re all set!
13. Make a Thankful Tree
This Thankful Tree is the ultimate decoration for the holiday. I mean, what’s more Thanksgiving-y than a Thanksgiving tree? Some twigs and a few pieces of construction paper, stationery, paint samples, or whatever you have on hand to use for the messages are all you need. Write down everything you’re thankful for, or have guests write things down as they come in and out over the Thanksgiving holiday period.
14. Make a Pumpkin Diorama
Create this gorgeous Pumpkin Diorama and add a whimsical touch to your Thanksgiving décor. It’s easier to make than you might think, and whether you use a real pumpkin or a craft pumpkin, you can build a miniature fall scene inside. If you choose a real pumpkin, make it just a week or so before Thanksgiving, so it stays fresh while your diorama shines on your table or mantel.
15. Make a Pumpkin House Marker
Just a nice pumpkin and a marker will help you to create this great house number marker that’s perfect for Thanksgiving decorating. You can paint your pumpkin first if you want it to match your exterior, and be sure to give it little pumpkin friends to hang out with, too. Decorate your entire porch with pumpkins!
16. Fall Up Your Candles
Create beautiful autumn candleholders by decorating mason jars with fall leaves. Simply gather colorful leaves and attach them to the outside of a jar using Mod Podge or glue, then place a candle inside for a warm, seasonal glow. These fall leaf mason jar candleholders are perfect for entryways, coffee tables, or as a Thanksgiving centerpiece, and they’re super easy to make.
17. Create Mini Felt Acorns
Decorate anything in the house with these adorable little mini felt acorns. Seriously, you can use these on wreaths, centerpieces, place settings, or just string them up and hang them like lights. They’re versatile, really easy to make, and the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving décor.
18. Make Your Own Turkeys
These little pear turkeys are too cute, and this is a great project for the kids. You’ll need pears, obviously, plus some craft paper and a few basic crafting supplies. You can use these to dress up the entryway table or create a centerpiece. You could also put name tags on them to personalize your place settings for Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, the possibilities!
19. Fold Turkey Napkins
Some cloth napkins and a little creativity are all you need to make these fun turkey napkins for your Thanksgiving table. They’re really simple to fold, and each guest can have their own little turkey at their place setting. Everyone will love them, and they’re a festive way to add charm and personality to your table décor.
20. Create a Fall Mantel
If you don’t have a mantel, you can do this with a coffee table, bar, counter, or whatever you have. Just pick up small pumpkins and gourds to create this beautiful fall display. Add burlap, a few small corn husks, or whatever you can find to make it look really seasonal and textured. Layer in candles or lanterns to add warmth and dimension, and you’ll have a cozy space ready for fall.
21. Pinecone Turkeys
Let the kids help you create these adorable little pinecone turkeys. They’re great for adding to your existing fall décor or for creating a fun centerpiece for the table. Their little googly eyes are too cute, and they’re really simple to make using pinecones and colorful ribbon scraps. Kids are absolutely going to love this project, and you’ll love the cheap and easy décor you get with these little gobblers.
22. Seed Balls Cornucopia
What a beautiful way to decorate for Thanksgiving! If you love the traditional look of a cornucopia, but you want something a little more unique than just gourds and pumpkins, create these little seed balls. You use a variety of beans and seeds in different sizes and colors, and then add them to your cornucopia.
23. Thanksgiving Garland
Some string or rope, a few leaves and other fall foliage, and just a handful of other supplies, and you’ve got the makings of this lovely Thanksgiving garland. Hang this up across the mantel, or anywhere you need to add a little holiday cheer. It’s easy to make and completely customizable. You can use whatever you want. Add in cranberries, cloves, and maybe some cinnamon sticks, and it will also give your home a wonderful Thanksgiving smell.
24. Traditional Twig Votives
You know you’ve seen these, and you know you’ve always wanted to make one. Well, now’s your chance. These twig votive holders are old-school Thanksgiving decorating and definitely something that you want to add to your décor this holiday season. If you’re not into twigs, you can also do this with cinnamon sticks, which will give your home a wonderful holiday smell.
25. Thom the Turkey Wreath
This is by far the most adorable turkey wreath I’ve ever seen. Made from tulle, Thom is colorful and whimsical, and sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face who sees him. Hang him on your door and let him greet all of your guests this Thanksgiving season. He’s easy to create and so much fun to show off!
Cecilia Charlton
Love all the ideas,going to try to use a couple