As Thanksgiving, the beloved American holiday, approaches, it's time to spruce up your home with festive decorations. But here's the catch: some of those decorations can cost a pretty penny, and a few are just plain complicated to put together. However, do not worry, dear decorators and DIY enthusiasts! We are here to save your Thanksgiving aesthetic without breaking the bank. Get your crafting supplies ready as we share some budget-friendly and easy-to-make DIY decor ideas for this Thanksgiving season.
Delight Your Guests With Mini Pumpkin Place Cards
For those who appreciate organization and charm, these mini DIY pumpkin Thanksgiving place cards are a perfect addition to your holiday table. Utilizing mini white pumpkins, gold metal floral wire, twine or ribbon, and paper, you can effortlessly create elegant and purposeful name cards, enhancing the Thanksgiving ambiance. This adds a cute touch but also serves as a brilliant way to ensure everyone finds their seat at the dinner table.
Especially if you have any leftover pumpkins from Halloween, you can just repurpose them. Cut each name out into a leaf shape and tie it onto the pumpkin stems, and you're all done!
Decorate Acorns With Glitter for an Elegant Touch
This Thanksgiving decor offers the perfect blend of modern sophistication and seasonal charm. Instead of diving headfirst into pumpkin-themed decorations, consider the stylish subtlety of these golden acorns. You can achieve this look in a few different ways. Use a touch of gold spray paint, or smear glue on the acorns, and then pour glitter on it! You can even purchase glitter glue from a craft store to make it even easier.
Then, you can sprinkle these around your house or put them in a bowl for a sparkly touch to your home decor that's in the Thanksgiving spirit.
Easy-To-Make Napkin Rings Using Paper Towel Rolls and Twine
If you're hosting a family gathering for Thanksgiving, you're likely looking for simple ways to make your table extra special without added stress. These DIY Thanksgiving napkin rings are a budget-friendly solution to add a personal, homemade touch to your holiday table. You'll need paper towel rolls cut into four even pieces measuring around 2.75 inches each. Wrap them with jute twine vertically, securing the ends with hot glue. Attach fall leaves and acorns using hot glue, and voila – you have beautiful fall napkin rings.
These easy-to-make rings are perfect for adding an elegant touch to your table decor without straining your budget, leaving more room to spend on that Thanksgiving turkey.
Fun Acorn-Filled Decorative Bowls to Liven up Your Tables
Enhance your fall decor with this quick and budget-friendly DIY project, crafting natural wood bowl fillers perfect for the autumn season. Whether you gather real acorns or opt for wooden acorns and mini pumpkins from a craft store, this project is a breeze. Paint them in rich brown and gleaming gold shades and let them dry. Select a bowl that complements your nature-themed decor, perhaps a wooden one for that rustic touch.
Before adding the fillers, lay down preserved sheet moss at the bottom, providing a lush green contrast to the earthy browns and gold. Fill the bowl with the painted acorns, and you're all done.
A Turkey Centerpiece Made Out of Pumpkin
Fall brings a pumpkin obsession for many, especially kids. A creative solution to putting these pumpkins to good use and having them double as decor is by using them as a cute pumpkin turkey centerpiece for Thanksgiving. All you need is a pumpkin from your local grocery store and any readily available craft supplies you have. You can print out turkey templates and trace the head and feathers on colored construction paper.
Just cut out the feathers, head, and beak shape of the turkey, draw on it like the photo, and tape it to the pumpkin. Then, you have a super easy and adorable turkey centerpiece.
Make a Wreath for Your Door Out of Wheat
Give your front door a warm Thanksgiving greeting with a homemade wheat wreath. The natural appeal of wheat exudes a cozy, rustic charm, setting the perfect tone for the season. Its golden hues evoke the abundance of harvest, symbolizing Thanksgiving's spirit. Plus, crafting this DIY is super simple and will really step up your decorating game. Just gather bundles of wheat in the shape of a circle and use rubberbands to keep it in place!
You could even add a burlap bow for a rustic touch that ties it all together, and voila, you're welcoming your guests in with style and simplicity using this DIY wheat wreath.
Make Thanksgiving Decor With Painted Leaves
When it comes to Thanksgiving decor, sometimes simplicity can speak volumes. If you're looking for a subtle way to adorn your home, here's a simple idea: consider painting leaves. This delightful DIY project allows you to embrace the season's spirit without overwhelming your space with traditional decorations. Here's how to start: collect dry autumn leaves and pick up oil-based paints in various shades. Take a leaf, choose your paint color, and start applying it!
To take your painted leaves to the next level, attach wire hangers. This makes it simple to hang them on doors, tables, or any surface you choose!
Create Your Own Garland With Acorns
While twinkling lights are delightful, a DIY Thanksgiving Garland with Acorns adds a personal and stylish touch, perfect for creating a warm Thanksgiving atmosphere in your home. It might seem difficult to make, but they're actually straightforward! All you need are a suede cord, acorns, scissors, a paintbrush, and a hot glue gun. You can decorate the acorns and paint them as you wish! Then, use the hot glue to stick them to the cord.
With these simple tools, you can bring the warmth and beauty of fall and Thanksgiving to life in your home.
Try This Unique DIY Dried Fruit Wreath
Take your home decor to the next level with this easy-to-make natural dried fruit wreath, combining homemade dried fruit slices with faux greenery. Utilizing nature's beauty in your decor is always a winning choice. For the wreath base, consider a grapevine wreath you can make from vines and twigs found outside. Then slice the fruit thinly and dry them in a low-heated oven, around 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping slices every 30 minutes for about 2 hours.v
Once you have your wreath base done and the fruit is dried and ready, glue the fruit into place and add some faux greenery to brighten it up.
Elevate Your Entryway With These Simple Touches
If plain pumpkins at your doorstep sound dull, we've got the perfect DIY solution. Transform your entryway into the ultimate Thanksgiving space with some simple touches. In addition to pumpkins, consider a welcoming wreath, a friendly sign, and perhaps a cozy folding chair featuring autumn-themed throws and pillows, especially if you like to sit on your front porch! You can even add a few welcome mats layered together to create a chic and fun look.
These additions will take your entryway from mundane to a warm, inviting space perfect for the holiday season.
Simple 'Give Thanks' Banner
It's time to the spirit of Thanksgiving by creating an easy and stylish "give thanks" banner. You won't need much time or effort; you can make it uniquely yours. Start with burlap, wood chips, and sticker letters as your banner's foundation. If you can't find pre-cut burlap sheets, you can easily make your own by just buying some burlap fabric from a store and cutting it into 6x5-inch squares.
Next, add the sticker letters to the center of the circles and attach them to the burlap sheets using fabric or E-6000 glue. After allowing it to dry, hang the banner with twine and add extra decorations, such as autumn leaves, with clothespins.
Create a Beautiful Pumpkin Bouquet
Enhance your Thanksgiving decor with a personal touch by crafting a lovely pumpkin bouquet. Whether you choose real or artificial small to medium-sized pumpkins as your base, this DIY project is a charming little addition to your celebrations. For real pumpkins, carve a hollow and add wet floral foam to keep your arrangement fresh. Arrange taller flowers in the center and shorter ones on the sides for a balanced look.
Secure everything in place with floral wire or tape, and you'll have a beautiful and unique flower bouquet! People will be incredibly impressed that the vase is a pumpkin.
Make This Gorgeous Rectangular Wreath
If you're aiming to blend the timeless charm of tradition with a modern twist, try creating a DIY rectangular wreath. It's a fresh departure from the usual round designs, sure to capture attention. To craft this piece, begin with a rectangular picture frame. Cover it entirely with burlap, providing that rustic backdrop. Then, use a hot glue gun to affix faux fall leaves in warm autumnal tones and some flowers.
This wreath will grace your home with a unique Thanksgiving charm; everyone will think you spent so much on it at a home decor store!
Create a Rustic Ambiance With Budget-Friendly DIY Box Shelves
Creating a warm and inviting Thanksgiving atmosphere doesn't have to break the bank. This is where DIY box shelves come in, a wallet-friendly solution that beautifully complements a rustic Thanksgiving theme. To craft these charming shelves, gather some wooden planks, nails, glue, and paint if you're feeling artistic. You could fill each shelf with dried flowers, leaves, pumpkins, and even homemade signs. This budget-friendly, homemade decor will create a cozy Thanksgiving ambiance.
This simple yet effective touch brings the Thanksgiving spirit into your space and really gets everyone in the mood for the holiday season!
A Centerpiece Is a Must and Here's How to Make One
Setting your table with a plain white tablecloth is so yesterday. It's time to spruce it up a bit, but with a beautiful centerpiece. But sometimes, it can feel like a lot of work and cost a ton of money! That's where this DIY trick comes into play. You just need a wooden box, and then you can begin to fill it with flowers, pumpkins, and candles. Place it in the middle of your tables, and it's done!
This is a super simple DIY project that makes it seem like you spent hundreds of dollars on a fancy centerpiece when you can indeed make it yourself.
DIY Feather Wreath for Fall Vibe
Why settle for ordinary fall decor when you can create a truly unique and elegant feather wreath? It's the perfect statement piece to adorn your front door or grace your wall. You can choose to buy a pre-made wreath crafted from twine or twigs or unleash your creativity by making one from cardboard or styrofoam, forming it into a donut shape, and then adorning it with glued sticks and twigs.
The beauty of this project is in the details – collect various feathers wheat bundles and consider adding elements like dried twigs, pinecones, tiny acorns, or mini pumpkins for an extra organic touch.
Gold-Dipped Feather Garland for Simple Elegance
For a touch of elegance on a budget, try this DIY gold-dipped feather garland. Gather various feathers in different sizes and textures. Get some metallic gold paint or spray paint and painter's tape. Dip the lower part of each feather in the gold paint and let it dry or spray the bottom. Gently remove the painter's tape to reveal the gold-dipped edge, then dab hot glue on the feathers and stick them to the string.
Attach your garland to your mantel with gold thumbtacks to add a touch of luxury to your decor.
Effortless Cinnamon Stick Napkin Holders
For a personal and aromatic touch to your Thanksgiving dinner decor, consider crafting an easy cinnamon stick napkin holder. With only cinnamon sticks and napkins in your toolkit, there's no need for paints or markers. This DIY decoration not only elevates your dinner table's aesthetics but also infuses your home with the delightful scent of autumn. Roll your napkin, place two or three cinnamon sticks on top, and use yarn to tie everything together.
It's a simple and effective way to elevate your Thanksgiving table setting, but it looks like you put a ton of effort into decorating.
Stylish DIY Golden Black-White Pumpkins
For a decorative project that offers timeless elegance, a bit of extra time is well worth the effort. You'll need pumpkins, black and gold spray paint, and a dash of patience. First, give each pumpkin a base coat of black, white, or gold paint, then proceed with a dash of a different colored paint than the base, adding an exquisite touch. You can even put some glitter on them so they feel very chic and classy.
This affordable and sophisticated DIY will enhance your home decor, elevating it to new heights that most guests never thought about!
Charming Thanksgiving Wreaths Using Pumpkin, Zucchini and Squash
As the season changes and Thanksgiving approaches, it's time to infuse your home with warm and inviting decor. While pumpkins are the star of the season, why not give zucchinis or squash a chance to shine and bring a touch of rustic charm to your Thanksgiving decor? Craft unique Thanksgiving wreaths using this unconventional twist on traditional ornamentation. This DIY project is refreshingly simple. Gather veggies of your choice, an old wire hanger or cardboard, and a dash of creativity.
You can use a hot glue gun to stick the veggies to the circle-shaped cardboard and glue the wire to the cardboard, and you have an easy DIY wreath.
A Thanksgiving Pinecone Craft for All Ages
Here's a delightful Thanksgiving project suitable for everyone, especially the little ones – the pinecone turkey craft. It's a piece of cake, requiring no special skills, and you can find the materials without breaking the bank. Collect pinecones, feathers, orange paper, or felt cut into small triangles for the turkey gizzard and googly eyes. Then, use glue to stick the materials to the pinecone so it looks like a turkey! It's super easy and fun to make.
There you have it – your very own pinecone turkey, ready to be proudly displayed as a cherished Thanksgiving decoration.
A Succulent Pumpkin Planter Is the Coolest Thanksgiving Centerpiece You Could Have
Transforming a faux or real pumpkin into a rustic succulent planter is the ultimate twist to your Thanksgiving table. This living centerpiece adds natural beauty to your fall or Thanksgiving table. To create it, apply spray adhesive to the pumpkin's top. Gently layer on clumps of moss, at least half an inch thick, wherever adhesive was applied. Carefully snip succulent rosettes, each with a 1-2 inch stem, and use hot glue to attach it to the moss.
Repeat until your arrangement looks perfect. Place the new succulent centerpiece in a sunny spot with pinecones, nuts, and gourds for a complete fall vibe.
DIY Place Cards That Double as Golden Keepsakes for Thanksgiving
Add a touch of elegance to your Thanksgiving table with gilded leaves! These DIY gold leaf-dipped place cards double as charming keepsakes. First, press leaves in a book for a few days to flatten them. Then, apply a thin layer of gilding adhesive, letting it dry for around 15 minutes. Gently press gold leaf (you can choose aluminum or copper) onto the adhesive. Seal with a thin layer of metal leaf sealer.
Now, you can create place cards by writing your guests' names or craft decorative pieces with holiday sayings and expressions of gratitude. Your friends and family will cherish these handcrafted treasures.
Give Your Door a Makeover With a Homemade Wreath Made of Maple Leaves
Looking to add a touch of originality to your outdoor Thanksgiving decor? Try your hand at crafting a captivating DIY wreath made of maple leaves. With just dried maple leaves or fake ones from the craft store and a dab of glue, you can create this decor piece. While the classic autumnal reds and oranges work like a charm, don't shy away from experimenting with shades of green for a unique twist.
Cut some black-painted paperboard or cardboard into a circle, glue the leaves on and any other fun things you'd like to add, and there you have a maple leaves wreath.
Create Your Own Paper Pumpkin Lanterns
Crafting festive paper pumpkin lanterns is a delightful way to embrace the fall spirit. With some simple materials and a bit of creativity, you can light up your home. Start by cutting ten orange paper strips and punching holes at both ends. Secure them into a round pumpkin shape using paper fasteners. Top it with a green paper leaf and a brown pom-pom as the stem. The final touch? Insert a tea light to make your pumpkins glow at night.
These DIY lanterns are an excellent addition to your fall decor, whether for a party display or a table centerpiece, adding warmth to your home. And they're so easy to make your kids can help!
Create a Wreath With a Twist by Using Chestnuts
A chestnut wreath isn't confined to just Christmas; it can also lend its rustic charm to your Thanksgiving decorations. To create this simple yet versatile decor piece, you'll need shelled chestnuts and a piece of styrofoam in a donut shape. Arrange the chestnuts on the styrofoam, securing them with a touch of glue at their edges. For an extra touch of sophistication, mix in seasonal nuts like walnuts and hazelnuts, allowing them to complement the chestnuts.
This easy and cost-effective craft not only elevates your seasonal decor but also helps you save money, making it a win-win for your festive decorating adventures.
Adorable and Budget-Friendly Homemade Wheat Bundle Centerpiece
For a delightful yet straightforward Thanksgiving centerpiece, consider this wheat bundle creation that's both charming and cost-effective. To make one, start by gathering the amount of wheat you desire. Beforehand, cut a generous length of jute twine. Wrap it around the wheat several times, pull it tight, and secure it with a double knot. Trim any excess twine. Do it again so you have two bundles, then tie the two wheat bundles together using more jute twine or burlap ribbon.
Make a sturdy bow with the burlap and stand your wheat bundle upright, adjusting it as needed. For a finishing touch, add decorative elements like ceramic white turkeys at the base.
Crate Boxes Can Be Used for Decor and Storage
Don't overlook the power of decorative crates to enhance your Thanksgiving ambiance. These crates offer a versatile solution, bridging functionality and style. They serve as practical storage wizards, making extra decorations, essential utensils, and non-perishable foods easily accessible if you want to store things in them. Or they can simply be decorative and filled with flowers and pumpkins. For a creative twist, consider spray-painting them in festive shades like red or gold, adding autumn-themed decals for a charming touch.
Alternatively, their natural look adds rustic elegance to your decor. Whether you opt for a DIY makeover or embrace their simplicity, these sturdy crates infuse a fresh and functional vibe into your Thanksgiving setting.
Personalized Pumpkin Greetings at Your Doorstep
Welcoming guests to your home this fall can be an artful experience with a simple DIY project. Gather a group of pumpkins and gourds and arrange them by your front door. Take a marker and inscribe a warm message like "Welcome Friends" on the pumpkins. This personalized touch adds a unique DIY charm to your decor, making your guests feel extra special. Plus, it looks like you put in hours of effort, and it only takes a few minutes!
As friends and family arrive, they're welcomed by this thoughtful pumpkin message, setting the perfect tone for a season of togetherness and gratitude.
An All-White Elegant Dinner
No need for a last-minute store run with this delightful DIY project. Simply rummage through your home to find old plates and cutlery to create a captivating candlelit dinner scene. Sprinkle lovely white pumpkins across the table, making them feel like dinner guests. The pièce de résistance? The soft glow of candles. Place them in elegant candlesticks scattered across the table, then dim the lights to set a truly enchanting atmosphere.
Whether you choose to add cute ornaments and decorations or keep it elegantly simple, you'll have all the elements for a magical evening of candlelit pumpkin dining right at home.
Simply Line Your Front Door With Pumpkins and Flowers
Picture your entryway adorned with a neat row of pumpkins and flowers, oozing a sophisticated fall vibe and Thanksgiving charm. This isn't as complicated as it sounds. Just buy a few pumpkins of different sizes and colors and some flowers and arrange them outside of your front door. You don't need a major overhaul; small changes like this are enough to bring a warm and inviting atmosphere to your Thanksgiving celebration.
Now, your front door will look lovely and dressed up for the holidays, and it won't even take that much time, effort, or money!
Line Your Walkway With Candles and Pumpkins
Transform your outdoor space with a simple yet elegant Thanksgiving idea. The ageless combination of pumpkins and candles brings a touch of the season's magic. Line your walkway with different sizes and shapes of pumpkins and place candles on top in various glass vases and bowls. Then, you can light the path with candles to create a warm, inviting ambiance. This makes your outdoor space cozy and picturesque for the celebration.
You can even make it more extravagant by adding vibrant chrysanthemum resilient flowers that can handle the cooler weather and adding them around the pumpkins.
Craft Your DIY Autumn Leaf Fairy Lights
For an effortless, enjoyable, and budget-friendly way to infuse your home with autumn's charm, this DIY project is a must-try. You'll need a string of fairy lights, a collection of beautiful fall leaves, waxed paper, and some glue. Preserving the leaves is a cinch, and we've chosen the quickest method. Simply sandwich each leaf between two sheets of wax paper and apply a hot iron for a few seconds until the leaves are well-coated.
Once your leaves are prepped, use a strong adhesive like Uhu glue to attach them in front of each light bulb on the fairy lights. Hang them on your banister, inside a window, in front of a mirror, or showcase them in a clear vase.
String Art Yarn Leaf Pumpkins for Kids
This project, featuring simple leaf designs, is a fantastic DIY activity, even suitable for young children. The best part? You can leave the hammer behind since pumpkins are more forgiving than wood. Here's how it works: delicately trace a leaf shape on a pumpkin, choosing from various options like maple or oak leaves. Gently insert 3/4" nails into the pumpkin at the leaf's points and dips. Wrap colorful yarn around the nails to fill in the leaf's center.
Introduce additional nails about an inch apart along the leaf's central line and wrap them with a second yarn color to create intricate "veining." Finish the masterpiece by outlining the leaf using a third yarn color, wrapping it around the outer nails.
Set the Table With Some Tansy Flowers
Using flowers as decor might seem boring or overdone, but trust us, you can never go wrong with some gorgeous flowers! Our tip is to use plenty of tansy flowers because they capture the fall vibe. Collect the flowers you like and place them in a vase or water-filled jar, ensuring the stems are immersed in water to keep them fresh. To add an extra rustic charm, wrap a rope or twine around the vase or jar.
These easy and affordable tansy flower decorations add a touch of natural elegance to your Thanksgiving decor.
Create a Cozy Outdoor Thanksgiving Floral Arch
Elevate your outdoor Thanksgiving celebration with a charming floral arch that radiates the warmth of fall. While it may require some dedication, the results are well worth it. For this project, gather fall flowers, tree twigs for the arch structure, wire, and wood. Shape the wood into an arch and secure the tree twigs to create the structure. Bundle the lovely flowers into bouquets and attach them to the arch using wire.
The result is a luxurious arch perfect for capturing memorable Thanksgiving photos in front of a backdrop of natural beauty. Everyone is sure to be impressed with this decor.
DIY Craft Box for Storage or Gratitude Notes
Get ready to take your Thanksgiving celebration to the next level with the ultimate multitasker: the homemade craft box. This DIY gem not only adds an artsy touch but also offers savvy storage solutions for your party. Start with a wooden box, add a splash of rustic chic with acrylic paints and stickers, and you have a stylish container. Use it to store extra decorations, utensils, or even small gifts.
You can even use this as a gratitude box to embrace the holiday and add notes full of things you're grateful for into the DIY box.
Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Decor by Making Acorn People
This Thanksgiving, embrace the beauty of nature with charming, budget-friendly DIY acorn decorations. Gather acorns with intact shells, washi tape, and hot glue for a delightful, family-friendly project. Involve the kids in collecting acorns and then turn these humble nuts into adorable little acorn people. Let their creativity shine as they decorate these acorns with markers, crafting a whole acorn village or a whimsical acorn family. These will be the most unique decorations ever!
Add yarn or twine for a unique touch, and you'll have a fun and decorative Thanksgiving project that the kids will absolutely adore.
A Woodland Inspired Thanksgiving Table Setting
When preparing a special table, inspiration can spring from unexpected sources - a piece of fabric, a napkin, a tablecloth, a placemat, or even a dish's pattern. Often, the occasion or season evokes a particular feeling that sparks creativity. For a Thanksgiving table inspired by the woods, start with a richly colored rusty/coppery tablecloth. Place a charming vintage vase at the center, brimming with curly bittersweet, leafy sticks, a sprinkling of feathers, and a handful of acorns.
The result is a woodland-inspired table setting and centerpiece that captures the essence of the season, making your Thanksgiving celebration even more special.
Use Mercury Glass Decor for a Vintage and Elegant Thanksgiving
For a sophisticated decor display, we've got just the thing for you. This timeless approach blends vintage charm and the warmth of the holiday season. Begin by collecting mercury glass vases, candle holders, and ornaments. Arrange them on your mantel, allowing their reflective, intricate designs to catch and scatter the light throughout the room. To achieve that harmonious balance, introduce natural elements like pinecones and dried flowers into the display.
Using mercury glass specifically invokes a sense of classic beauty for the holiday celebration! And you only need a few pieces to make the space look lively and decorated.