Ideas for Thanksgiving Centerpieces

A proper Thanksgiving centerpiece should call to attention the spirit of joy and thanks for the bountiful harvest season. Decorating with fresh, seasonal items such as fruit, nuts, gourds, squash, or other natural elements like autumn leaves, acorns, or pinecones is a great way to incorporate nature into your home and create an elegant, down-to-earth atmosphere. Instead of doing the traditional flower arrangement or cornucopia, keep these items in mind when planning your thanksgiving centerpiece.

Centerpiece #1: Autumn Candlescape

To create this look you'll need the following supplies:

- 8 by 10 inch or 11 by 14 inch photo frames (preferably those designed for wall mounting so that they do not have the flap in the back)

- various shapes of colorful fallen autumn leaves gathered from outdoors

- candles of varying sizes- such pillar candles with votives and tealights

To put it all together:

Open the back of the photo frames and remove the generic photo insert. Lay the leaves over the inside of the glass so that the entire surface is covered. Replace and secure the backing. Lay the frame on the table so that the surface with the leaves points upward, creating a decorative tray look. Arrange the candles on top of the frame, being sure to leave enough room around the candles so that the leaves show through. For best the best aesthetic, try to arrange candles in odd numbers and choose candle colors that coordinate with your table linens. Also, try to choose candles that are unscented, or lightly scented with fragrances that fit with the season such as pumpkin, apple, or cinnamon. For larger Thanksgiving tables, use multiple frames and candles, and for smaller tables focus on just one centerpiece. This centerpiece is appropriate for a late Thanksgiving dinner with a more elegant flair. The candlelight will illuminate the table and add a peaceful ambiance to the decor.

Centerpiece #2: Tree of Thanks

To create this look you'll need the following supplies:

- a heavy-bottomed vase, preferably an opaque color that coordinates with your linens

- twigs or small fallen branches- choose those which have a lot of tiny offshoots so that you have areas to hang your sentiments

- decorative patterned paper, cut into 1-1/2 inch to 2 inch circles or leaf shapes

- mini hole punch

- colorful skinny ribbon

- felt tipped pens or markers with a fine point

To put it all together:

Place the vase in the center of the table and arrange the branches inside so that they create the shape of a tree-top. Cut the decorative paper into circles or leaf-shaped pieces. Punch a hole in the top of each and string a ribbon through each, tying at the top to secure. Pass out a few paper ornaments to each guest or family member and request that they write down one thing that they are thankful for on each ornament. Have the guests decorate the tree until all of the branches are full. Before you sit down to dinner, go around the table and have each guest share something that they are thankful this year. This is a lovely family tradition to start and is great for large gatherings. Even if you don't choose this as your centerpiece it's something that you can assemble for a side table or buffet table.

Note: if you're worried that your tree will be a little bare looking, and your budget allows, consider getting some fresh mums to intersperse with the branches. This will add color and liveliness to the centerpiece.

Centerpiece #3: Classic Wooden Fruit Bowl

To create the look you'll need:

a large wooden fruit bowl

locally grown apples and pears of different colors and varieties (pick your own to get the best shapes or keep leaves, stems intact)

construction paper, toothpicks, scissors, and double-sided tape if making pear-turkeys

To put it all together:

It doesn't get any easier than stacking the pears and apples into the wooden fruit bowl. If you want to get really kitch (or you have little ones who like to do projects) you can make a few pear turkeys for the top of the stack. Just cut a few feather shapes out of construction paper place a few pieces of double sided tape onto the backsides, and sandwich a toothpick between two of them making sure to leave a little bit of the pick sticking out of the bottom. Lay the pear on it's side so that you can insert the feathers into the widest part Arrange the feathers into the back-side of the pear where a turkeys feathers would be. If desired, you can also cut out a wattle shape (The red part of the turkey that hangs down under the bill), construct in the same way as the feathers, and insert it underneath the narrow part of the pear where the stem end is. This centerpiece is not only festive, but also practical, as it can be eaten during the days following Thanksgiving.

Centerpiece #4: Thankful for Snacks

To create this look you'll need the following supplies:

- a decorative table runner

- multiple pieces of stemware- you can use martini glasses, margarita glasses, compotes, anything with a long stem and a shallow bowl

- assorted types of dried fruit and nuts such as apricots, figs, dates, dried pear or apple slices, walnuts, almonds, spiced pecans, etc

- old small jelly jars

- tealight candles

- festive ribbon (1 inch wide)

To put it all together:

Arrange the table runner down the center of the table. Place a tealight candle into the bottom of the jelly jar and tie a piece of festive ribbon into a bow just below the mouth of the jar. Light candles. Alternate a piece of stemware and then a jelly jar candle down the length of the table. Place one type of dried fruit or variety of nuts into each piece of stemware. This centerpiece is great for people who are having a few guests over and are planning on serving cocktails prior to Thanksgiving dinner.

Centerpiece #5: Bowl of Plenty

To create this look you'll need the following:

- a pedestal style fruit bowl

- locally grown gourds, small pumpkins, winter squash such as acorn, butternut, or kabocha

- pinecones, acorns, and/or autumn leaves that have been preserved

To put it all together:

Place the pedestal bowl in the center of the table. A pedestal bowl is important because you are trying to add height to the table. Place the medium-sized items like the gourds, decorative pumpkins, and the pinecones into the table. Arrange the larger squash and pumpkins around the base of the pedestal bowl so that the result is a bowl that appears to be overflowing with items. Finish the look with a few strategically placed leaves and acorns, to fill in bare spaces or add an extra splash of color. This centerpiece is great for the home cook as it lends itself to having ingredients available after the holiday for soups or pies.