8 Insta-Worthy Thanksgiving Centerpieces
We’ve all been there, so we know how it goes. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, your to-dos are multiplying a mile a minute. There’s menu planning, grocery runs, table settings, seating arrangements, and more. In the midst of the madness, may we respectfully suggest bumping your Thanksgiving centerpiece higher up on that priority list?
It’s a small but mighty detail that can set the tone for your event. The right Thanksgiving centerpiece or floral arrangement ties your whole table together and underlines the festivity of the occasion. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. (Really!) To help you host with the most, we’ve rounded up our favorite Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas, from easy-as-pie festive focal points to fall floral arrangements you can make at home. Get inspired below, and cross “stress-free centerpiece” off your list. Whatever’s up next (e.g., honoring each of your sister’s, husband’s and cousin’s different nostalgia-driven potato preferences) is on you.
1. Opt for farm-stand flora
Reinterpret the homegrown Thanksgiving floral arrangement. Floral designer Michaela Hogarty of Days of May Florals recommends sourcing seasonal blooms from a local farm stand for your Thanksgiving centerpiece. “At my farm stand, you can buy premade colorful bunches for $12, but if you ask, they will let you put together your own bunch,” she says. “For fall, I chose lots of feathery celosia to act as a base, added in full-faced flowers like zinnias for variety, and then peppered in delicate cosmos to give the arrangement a loose, airy feel. To top it off, I popped in darker foliage for depth and a bare branch for an interesting line.” A pro tip from Michaela: Incorporate greenery or long grasses (like the miscanthus she uses in this arrangement) to add texture.
2. Cluster potted plants
For a Thanksgiving centerpiece that will last well past Turkey Day, take a cue from Brooke Shields’s Manhattan kitchen, and line your table with shapely topiaries. They’re both short and slender enough to allow for easy conversation across the table. Mix in votive candles to up the ante.
3. Keep it neutral
A monochromatic moment instantly elevates any Thanksgiving table. Cluster white pumpkins of varying shapes and scales with clear glass votives and bud vases filled with white blooms. To really commit to this vibe, consider maintaining the monochromatic theme across your entire table—from a natural-hued tablecloth or runner (we love anything linen) to all-white dinnerware and cream-colored cloth napkins. That way, your food will be the contrasting component that packs the punch.
4. Say yes to veggies
We all know what Thanksgiving’s really about. Aside from counting our blessings and soaking up togetherness with those we love, food is the star of this show. Why not let it step into its rightful spotlight as your table’s centerpiece? Takaya Sato, the head of floral design at New York’s L’Atelier Rouge, incorporates colorful harvest vegetables into an inventive Thanksgiving tablescape. Here he paired carrots and berries with bright autumnal blooms, like Cuban peonies. “The color palette stays away from the traditional fall colors and utilizes shades of coral mixed in with dark hues,” says Caroline Bailly, owner of L’Atelier Rouge. “This design is all about asymmetry and texture.”
5. Bring back the fruit bowl
It’s a classic for a reason. A healthy dose of vitamin C is a good idea for you—and your tabletop! There’s something unexpected and refreshing about a citrus-centric centerpiece in the autumn or winter. Pile navel oranges, tangerines, or clementines into a large wooden or ceramic bowl for a five-second Thanksgiving centerpiece. Or maybe you’ve got apples up to your ears from an autumnal apple-picking jaunt? The same idea applies. Opt for one large bowl in the center, or consider grouping bowls of differing shapes along the length of the table. Again, the addition of flickering candles throughout would make this all the more festive. The best part: This Thanksgiving centerpiece doubles as a welcome addition to dessert hour come pie o’clock.
6. Go for the gourd
For a more seasonal twist on the classic fruit bowl, swap your apples and oranges for gourds and mini pumpkins. These can be found at most food markets, so simply add them to your pre-Turkey Day grocery list and cross off your Thanksgiving centerpiece while you’re at it. To make a more modern statement, line small pumpkins in a single row down the middle of your table, then sprinkle in candlelight.
7. Make it lush
In this Thanksgiving floral arrangement, The Wild Bunch florist Brooke Lucas adds a generous touch of cheery bubblegum pink to a darker fall palette. “Fall is all about abundance and reaping the harvest, so I like my fall arrangements to be overflowing and lush,” Brooke says. “Like most people, I’m crushing hard on pink, so I’ve brought those tones into fall by contrasting them with deep reds and chocolates. For me, dahlias are definitely the queen bloom of the season, but I’m also loving chrysanthemums, which usually get a pretty bad rap. To finish it off, I added in a couple of different silvery grasses, which hint at that harvest vibe.” Pair your arrangement with a tall white vase for contrast and a striking play on height and scale.
8. Rethink the candelabra
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Super short on time? Have no fear, candlelight is here. In the soft, warm glow of flickering candles, we look better, food tastes better, and wine drinks better. Candles have the power to transform any tabletop spread from meh to magic in seconds. We’re big fans. Consider a modern take on the classic candelabra for a quick-and-easy Thanksgiving centerpiece.
