Easy and Inexpensive Thanksgiving Table Decorations

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday decor! While elaborate Thanksgiving spreads seen on social media and in magazines can seem daunting, having a beautiful and festive table doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. With a little creativity and some simple DIY inexpensive Thanksgiving table decorations, you can create a gorgeous Thanksgiving tablescape to wow your guests, without breaking the bank.

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Farmhouse Chic Table Runner

One easy way to dress up your Thanksgiving table is with simple DIY inexpensive Thanksgiving table decorations. Farmhouse chic burlap runners add cozy texture and fall flair. Here’s how to make one:

What You Need:

• Burlap fabric (1-2 yards depending on table length)
• Fall colored fabric (1/4 yard)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut your burlap fabric to the length of your table, adding an extra 12 inches on each side to allow for overhang. Use pinking shears to prevent fraying.
2. Cut your fall colored fabric into 1-2 inch wide strips. Make them varying lengths.
3. Arrange the strips randomly down the center of the burlap runner, leaving a few inches margin on each side. Play around with the placement until you’re happy.
4. Once placed how you like, hot glue the strips to secure them to the burlap. Press firmly to adhere.
5. Trim overhang and any stray fabric strings with scissors.

That’s it – you’ve got yourself a beautiful fall runner for your Thanksgiving feast! The neutral burlap lets your autumnal dishes and centerpieces shine, while adding festive color. Plus using fabric strips makes it super easy and budget friendly.

Autumnal Fruit Centerpiece

Nothing says fall bounty like a harvest fruit centerpiece! This nature-inspired DIY centerpiece is simple to make and offers a burst of autumnal color and texture.

What You Need:

• Assorted artificial fall fruits (apples, pears, mini pumpkins, etc.)
• Artificial autumn leaves and flowers
• Glass bowl, vase or candle holder
• Floral foam block

Instructions:

1. Soak your floral foam block per package instructions. Once soaked, place it in your glass vase or bowl.
2. Insert the stems of your artificial flowers and leaves sporadically around the foam. Mix up the placement with different heights and clusters.
3. Next, begin arranging your faux fruits, pushing the stems into the soaked floral foam. Vary the colors, sizes and placement to create an organic look.
4. Continue layering stems of greenery, flowers and fruits until you achieve your desired full, bountiful look.
5. Make any final tweaks to the arrangement, fluffing stems and leaves as needed.
6. Display your autumnal fruit centerpiece prominently on your Thanksgiving table for a seasonal showstopper.

The best part is you can reuse these artificial elements year after year, simply refreshing the arrangement each season. And feel free to get creative with your container – try a metal basket, ceramic jug, or upcycled wooden bowl!

DIY Napkin Rings

Custom napkin rings are a thoughtful final touch that can elevate your holiday tablescape. And they couldn’t be easier to DIY for Thanksgiving with inexpensive craft supplies.

What You Need:

• 1″ wood beads with holes
• Twine, baker’s twine or ribbon
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Cut your twine or ribbon into 48-60″ lengths (12-15 per napkin ring, depending on table size).
2. Thread your twine through the hole of a wood bead, pulling so the ends are even.
3. Tie the twine ends together in a knot close to the bead. Apply hot glue over the knot for extra durability.
4. Continue threading and knotting the twine on either side of the remaining beads.
5. To use, simply tie your napkin around the twine. The bead keeps the ring in place.
6. For a personalized touch, use a paint pen to write each guest’s name or table number on the beads.

The natural twine and wood beads fit with any Thanksgiving decor, from traditional to farmhouse. Bonus: your guests get to take home a handmade favor! For a more polished look, use ribbon or faux leather cording instead. Get creative with painted beads, stencils, or other embellishments – the options are endless!

Harvest Sign Place Cards

Nothing makes guests feel special like customized place cards. For Thanksgiving, faux mini pumpkins turned into harvest sign cards offer a warm, personalized touch.

What You Need:

• Faux mini pumpkins (real or craft pumpkins work too)
• Paint markers or acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Twigs or wooden skewers
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Clean any dust or debris off your mini pumpkins if needed. Use a damp cloth.
2. Write each guest’s name directly onto pumpkins with paint markers, spacing out letters evenly. Or, paint names onto skewers to insert.
3. Let paint fully dry before continuing.
4. Hot glue a twig or skewer at an angle into the top hollow of each pumpkin to use as a place card stand.
5. At each place setting, display a labeled pumpkin sign with menu or table number.

This project allows you to infuse rustic homemade touches into your decor for a personalized feel. And your guests will love the unique keepsake favor! For a more polished look, print names onto cardstock and adhere to the pumpkins instead. Accent with burlap, raffia or fall embellishments. The pumpkin place cards can also double as creative table numbers.

Mason Jar Candle Centerpieces

Nothing sets a warm, welcoming ambiance like candlelight. For easy DIY inexpensive Thanksgiving table decorations, try this mason jar candle arrangement. The neutral jars allow your autumnal colors and textures to stand out.

What You Need:

• Glass mason jars (any size)
• Assorted candles (votive, pillar, taper, etc)
• Autumn decor filler (leaves, acorns, etc)
• Twine, raffia, burlap

Instructions:

1. Clean your mason jars thoroughly and let dry.
2. Place candles in the bottom of your jars, centering and straightening them. Choose varying heights.
3. Fill in gaps around candles with faux autumn leaves, acorns, pinecones, etc.
4. Tie twine, raffia or burlap around the jar rims for an extra fall touch.
5. Display the finished mason jar candles in clusters down your table or buffet.
6. Surround with additional autumn decor like pumpkins, greenery and berries for a seasonal display.

You can find inexpensive candles and fillers at any craft store this time of year. Combine different sized mason jars for visual interest. For ambiance, use battery-operated flameless candles and scatter them around your autumn decor. Simple, yet so stylish!

DIY Woven Placemats

Handmade placemats lend a crafty, personal touch to your Thanksgiving table. And they couldn’t be easier thanks to this braided fabric technique.

What You Need:

• 3 coordinating cotton fabrics, 1/2 yd each
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Coordinating thread
• Large-eye blunt needle

Instructions:

1. Cut your 3 fabrics into 1.5″ x 36″ strips. Make about 15-20 strips per placemat.
2. Arrange fabric strips side-by-side, alternating fabrics as you go.
3. Once arranged how you like, sew the long side of the strips together into one long piece.
4. Press seams to one side with an iron. Trim any uneven edges.
5. To braid, take your sewn fabric and separate into 3 equal sections. Begin braiding the sections together.
6. Braid until you reach your desired placemat size, about 18″ long.
7. Stitch the ends together by hand with a blunt needle and thread. Trim any excess.
8. Repeat braiding process with remaining fabric strips to make more placemats.

These woven placemats add artisanal texture and customized color to your Thanksgiving table. Try matching the fabrics to your dinnerware or overall color scheme. For a kid-friendly touch, use fun holiday prints or bright colors! You can whip up a whole set of placemats in no time.

Rustic Wood Chargers

Charger plates instantly amplify place settings into a polished look. But quality chargers can be pricey. For an affordable option, try DIY wood chargers with this easy technique:

What You Need:

• 1/4″ plywood circles or squares
• Smooth sawtooth picture hangers
• Stain, paint or mod podge
• Hot glue gun
• Decorative paper (optional)

Instructions:

1. Stain, paint or decoupage your plywood shapes as desired to get your background color.
2. If using paper, mod podge on first then seal with another coat to prevent bleeding.
3. Glue sawtooth hangers evenly around the back perimeter of the plywood, with hooks facing out.
4. Hang your dinner plates from the hooks to display as festive chargers!

These rustic wood bases provide the polished charger look for a fraction of the cost. Staining the wood adds organic texture that pairs nicely with casual Thanksgiving settings. For a more vibrant look, decoupage with scrapbook paper or wrapping paper before sealing. You can customize the size, shape, color and design to match your tablespace.

Baked Pumpkin Pie Place Cards

If you’re baking pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving dessert, save some creative extras to use as edible place cards! Here are some fun ideas:

• Cut out name initials from pie crust and place on pies before baking.
• Brush names or initials on pies using milk or egg wash before baking.
• Shape tiny pastry pumpkins and engrave guests’ names with a fork.
• Decorate cooled pies with piping gel names, autumn leaves, or monograms.

However you choose to label them, baked pumpkin pie place cards offer an interactive, tasty way to identify place settings! Your guests will be delighted by the personalized, edible favor. You can also write table numbers or menu items for non-seated dinners. Get creative with pie toppings, decorative crusts, or seasonal stencils.

Simple Fall Sprigs

Mini floral arrangements make for easy yet impressive table accents. For Thanksgiving, create fall sprigs using real or faux foliage:

What You Need:

• Fresh or artificial leaves and buds
• Floral stem wire
• Ribbon
• Florist pins

Instructions:

1. Cut an 18-24″ length of stem wire. Wrap the ends with floral tape or ribbon to cover.
2. Begin inserting leaves, buds and berries into the wire to create a small bouquet or sprig. Alternate placements and turn the wire as you go.
3. Once your sprig is full, wrap the base tightly with wire or ribbon to secure. Trim any excess stem.
4. Bend wire at bottom and pin into a florist foam for stability, if needed.
5. Arrange the fall sprigs sporadically down your table for organic pops of autumn color amongst your place settings.

Accenting your place settings with these mini arrangements adds seasonal beauty without much fuss. Plus it lets your best linens and dishes shine. Try highlighting foliage and berries that complement your tablescape colors. Mix different leaf shapes and textures for visual interest. Change up the flowers and colors for easy holiday decor you can reuse.

Rustic Wooden Spoons

Here’s an easy DIY project if you’re craving natural, farmhouse style decor this Thanksgiving. Create rustic wooden spoons to use as napkin rings or display accents:

What You Need:

• Wooden spoons
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Twine or ribbon
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Paint your wooden spoons in complementary colors with acrylic craft paint. Try muted tones like cream, brown, sage green, rust or charcoal gray.
2. Let the paint fully dry before continuing. Add a second coat if needed for coverage.
3. Tie twine or ribbon around the bowl of each spoon, securing with hot glue and leaving long tails at the end.
4. Tuck napkins into the tied spoons to utilize as napkin holders.
5. Or, display your painted spoons in a glass jar or pitcher, letting the twine tails hang decoratively over the sides.

The key is sticking to natural, neutral tones that enhance the woodgrain for a timeworn, handcrafted feel. Weathered white spoons also work great for writing names or table numbers on with chalk markers! Add burlap accents for more farmhouse flair.

Hanging Cabbage Leaf Garland

Transform humble cabbage into beautiful botanical garland with this easy DIY holiday project! Here’s how:

What You Need:

• Green cabbage
• Floral wire
• Scissors
• Twine or jute rope

Instructions:

1. Remove outer leaves from cabbage. Keep leaves intact with stem attached.
2. Cut stems so they are roughly 12-18″ long. Trim leaf ends into points.
3. Wrap floral wire around the base of each cabbage leaf stem, covering any exposed stem.
4. Shape wire at ends into loops for hanging. Trim excess wire with scissors.
5. Thread twine or jute through hanging loops. Space leaves out attractively as you go.
6. Continue stringing cabbage leaves until you reach desired garland length.
7. Hang cabbage garland along walls, mantels, or ceilings for organic texture and color.

This earthy DIY garland takes advantage of humble cabbage in a decorative way for Thanksgiving. Feel free to intersperse other botanicals like fall leaves, berries or flowers. For variation, try kale or other greens! And the best part is it costs next to nothing to make.

Autumn Leaf Wine Charms

Wine charms are a must for avoiding drink mix-ups at holiday gatherings. For Thanksgiving, make wine charms using real fall foliage for an earthy take on the trend.

What You Need:

• Assorted real autumn leaves
• Hole punch
• Leather cord, yarn or ribbon
• Keychain rings or clasp

Instructions:

1. Gather leaves from outside and sort by size and color. Press flat.
2. Use a hole punch to punch holes near the base of each leaf stem.
3. Cut cord into 4-6″ segments. String one leaf through the cord and knot.
4. At end, attach a keychain ring or jewelry clasp to create the wine charm.
5. Repeat with remaining leaves and cord to create more charms.
6. Link charms onto wine glasses by the rings at each place setting.

Your guests will love these nature-inspired wine charms. Use leaves that coordinate with your tablescape colors for a cohesive look. Try adding a monogram or name with permanent marker on one side of leaves. You can make these charms in bulk ahead of time for instant Thanksgiving place setting flair.

Rustic Wood Candleholders

Warm candlelight sets a cozy vibe for Thanksgiving dinner. For an inexpensive DIY version, make custom candleholders using wood slices and dowels.

What You Need:

• Wood slices, 1-2″ thick
• Wood dowels, 5-6″ long
• Drill with 1/2″ bit
• Sandpaper
• Tea lights or taper candles
• Stain, paint or mod podge (optional)

Instructions:

1. Drill a hole in the center of each wood slice using a 1/2″ bit, approximately 1″ deep.
2. Sand wood pieces lightly to smooth any rough edges. Wipe away dust.
3. Stain, paint or decoupage wood slices if desired. Let dry fully.
4. Insert a wood dowel into each hole. Add glue inside holes for extra stability, if needed.
5. Place tea lights or small candles onto the wood slices. Rest taper candles inside the dowel holes.
6. Arrange the rustic candleholders down your Thanksgiving table for ambiance.

Let natural wood tones shine for a simple, earthy element. Or give your holders more color by staining, painting or decoupaging the wood slices. Mix and match shapes and sizes for visual interest. Try square or rectangular wood bases rather than rounds. Light candles and scatter holders along the table or food displays.

Sweetened Cranberries in Glass

For an easy DIY table accent, fill glass vases, jars or bottles with sweetened cranberries. Here’s how:

What You Need:

• Fresh cranberries
• Glass containers
• Water
• Granulated sugar

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry glass containers thoroughly. Fill each 1/4 with water.
2. Add desired amount of fresh cranberries to each vessel, depending on size.
3. Sprinkle in granulated sugar over the top, about 1 tbsp per cup of berries.
4. Give the jar or vase a gentle shake to coat cranberries in sugar.
5. Let sit 1-2 hrs until liquid turns red and cranberries appear juicy.
6. Display your cranberry vases down the center of your Thanksgiving table for pops of festive red.

The sugar infuses the cranberries with color and flavor. For more sweetness, add extra sugar or maple syrup. Try other fall fruits like pomegranates or persimmons too! Label jars with guests’ names for a personalized, edible favor.

FAQs

Q1: What are some cheap materials I can use to make Thanksgiving decorations?

A: Great inexpensive materials for DIY Thanksgiving decor are burlap, twine, wood slices, artificial fruits/flowers, fabric scraps, mason jars, and items from nature like leaves and acorns. Shop craft stores for affordable supplies.

Q2: How do I make an inexpensive table runner?

A: An easy DIY table runner can be made using burlap or fabric strips hot glued to a base of scrap fabric or plastic tablecloth. Trim to fit your table and leave overhang on the sides. Use fall colored fabrics.

Q3: How early should I decorate for Thanksgiving?

A: You can start decorating for Thanksgiving 1-2 weeks in advance.Any earlier risks the decor looking stale by the time Thanksgiving arrives. You especially want autumnal decor like pumpkins and leaves to look fresh.

Q4: What are quick and easy Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas?

A: Fast DIY centerpieces include a fall floral bouquet in a vase, a cluster of votive candles and pumpkins, or a bowl of fresh fruit like apples, pomegranates or lemons. Add pops of fall foliage like leaves, berries and flowers.

Q5: How do I make inexpensive DIY napkin rings?

A: Cheap homemade napkin rings can be made from cut up pieces of fall leaves, twine, scrap ribbon, wooden beads, pinecones, empty acorns, or other natural materials. Simply tie or glue embellishments around rolled napkins. Get creative!

At last,

Creating festive and inexpensive Thanksgiving table decorations doesn’t need to be complicated or costly. With a little imagination and DIY spirit, you can craft beautiful fall decor using inexpensive natural materials and basic craft supplies. Discover the perfect pampering gifts for Christmas that embody the same thoughtful spirit as creating meaningful Thanksgiving decor; whether it’s personalized spa sets or homemade wellness essentials, focus on what reflects your own tastes for a truly festive and indulgent holiday season.