20 easy fall centerpieces to inspire you! Find endless creativity for your table centerpieces, including tips, tricks, and resources for flowers and so much more.
For me, fall entertaining brings forth images of sparkling twinkle lights on charming patios. I think of candle light on rustic farm tables, cozy throws, s’mores by the campfire, and so much more. It’s a season of endless inspiration thanks to the sights and sounds of nature!

I love bringing the outdoors in during this season, and gathering inspiration from our surroundings. Whether it’s flowers from our autumn garden, branches from local crabapple trees, or grocery store blooms purchased on a whim, I love to give our tables a little of the season’s bounty!
It’s so much fun creating inspiring content for you! Don’t miss this guide to Outdoor Fall Decorating Ideas, as well as Natural Fall Decorating! More of a minimalist? Check out my Minimalist Fall Home Tour.
Don’t skip Fall Living Room Decor inspiration for a few more of my favorite autumn ideas.
These centerpieces can work beautifully for Thanksgiving or any time you’re creating a special fall look. Be sure to check out my guide to How to Host a Virtual Thanksgiving if your holiday will look a little different this year!
In this often busy season, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with ideas and expense. It doesn’t have to be that way! That’s what inspired this collection of easy fall centerpieces that you can make yourself!

Love appetizers as much as we do? Don’t miss my complete hors d’oeuvres round-up, as well as the 30+ Thanksgiving Appetizers!
Inexpensive Fall Centerpiece Ideas
One of my best tips for creating an affordable centerpiece during any season is to shop your own home! I bet you’ve got items that can be used to create an interesting, creative centerpiece and you won’t need to spend anything to get started!
A few items that can help you build something beautiful:
- Trays – Anything goes! I have used wooden trays, brass, glass, metal, basket style, and more.
- Bowls – Ceramic, metal, weaved, get creative!
- Candles – These can be tapers, votives or pillars. Keep in mind that they should never be scented for a centerpiece, as that can compete with the fragrance of food and overwhelm your guests while you’re entertaining.
- Linens – This can be anything! I like to mix it up! I have used dish cloths as napkins, cheese cloth from the grocery store as a table runner, a paint canvas as a table cloth, and even blankets to add color across the backs of chairs.

Fall Centerpiece Tips and Tricks
I’ve spent years honing my floral skills and practicing (and failing) so that you don’t have to! I’ve discovered countless techniques and florist secrets that will save you time and money and turn you into a total pro!
But first, learn where to buy flowers, everything you need to know about Trader Joe’s flowers and find a flower vase for every occasion!
You can even learn how to revive wilted hydrangea! They are one of my favorite blooms to use in the fall and this tip has saved me so many times.

Luckily for you, I think you’ll find inspiration for every occasion this fall! Gather your autumn bounty and let’s get started!
20 Easy Fall Centerpieces
Find all the inspiration you need to create a fall centerpiece that captures the essence of this fleeting season. Get inexpensive ideas for any event!
A fresh pumpkin table runner that is simple, and so easy to put together you'll be done in five minutes.
These pretty little mini pumpkins are usually available in the produce section of your local market. The girls love having mini pumpkins in their rooms and often decorate them, which would make a fun Thanksgiving after dinner activity before they are tossed in favor of Christmas decor.
If you don’t see eucalyptus at your grocery store floral department, just ask. These pretty stems are often kept in their cooler for making flower arrangements since it’s considered greenery along with the hypericum berries.
You can almost always find beautiful branches in your own backyard. We have a few crab apple trees that offer rustic branches with a pop of color, but you can use any branch to recreate this everyday centerpiece.
For fall, I highly recommend anything with “berries” or those with changing colors. Either will create a memorable, everyday centerpiece that you can enjoy for weeks. The beauty of fall is that they only look more rustic and beautiful as they dry.
Learn how to create an edible centerpiece. Flowers may fade, but everything from this table setting can be enjoyed throughout the following week with the exception of lettuce!
You may even catch me nibbling on the grapes.
To make this centerpiece, you'll need the following ingredients:
4 heads red leaf lettuce
3 beets
3 eggplant
5 artichokes
3 small red cabbage
2 lbs black grapes
7 red pears
5 taper candles
Click through for the full tuturial - it's so much simpler than you think!
There’s something beautiful about picking from your own backyard rather than spending a fortune on flowers, it feels easy and thoughtful.
This recipe for fall flowers is slightly different than my others – it might take a few more minutes {10 in all} but it can be made with items from home and the store.
Bonus for being edible, right? You know how I love infusing function to eliminate waste!
I put together another simple centerpiece, with candles, some inexpensive eucalyptus, and plumcots, but any fruits and foraged finds will do!
In fact, as we were driving around the cove, I spotted very similar leaves. Olive branches would be beautiful as well, but, they’re not accessible in the midwest.
I think I spent $6 and of course, it took about five minutes to create. Ready?
I always adore big, beautiful centerpieces that take center stage, but when I’m hosting guests, I like them to take center stage. A significant piece in the middle of the table blocks your view of each another and conversation becomes and awkward game of peek-a-boo.
You may have noticed that I tend to lean toward low lying centerpiece.
Low lying centerpieces are not only great for conversation, but can also be very budget friendly. Smaller groupings of arrangements are often less expensive to make than one large centerpiece
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little height. I love using taper candles at varying heights to draw the eye up and fill the space.
One of my most popular centerpieces ever, this apple table runner is a classic and so easy to create.
To make the table feel special, I chose ingredients inspired by the food. This apple centerpiece takes just 5 minutes to make and lasts for weeks!
To create this look, you’ll need:
- apples
- cheesecloth {found at the grocery store}
- bunch of seeded eucalyptus
- pillar candles
This is an elegant, unexpected fall table setting that celebrates a classic print and a bountiful gathering of wildflowers.
Learn the keys to creating a beautiful table setting with a Kalamkari table cloth. This timeless Block Print Fabric is fresh and traditional for any time of year!
It’s easy to decide what’s currently in season – simply look around outside! Whatever’s blooming outdoors is what’s currently in season, so why not bring it in? Before I purchase anything, I try to bring the outdoors in or use it to accent.
Natural and neutral fall flowers that will bring your table to life and allow for easy conversation.
These flowers are displayed in a muted, unexpected color palette for autumn, including shades of blush, cream, tan and a hint of red are perfect for a table, island or buffet.
You can create this centerpiece in less than 20 minutes for less than $20.
Wildflowers also symbolize the end of summer and onset of fall to me. The golden hues as they blow through the fields and effortless beauty of just being.
For this fall table setting, I wanted to incorporate a little of that effortless fall style integrating kale and wildflowers {also available at select grocery stores}.
Learn how to set an effortless and casual table dressed with wildflower arrangements.
Like most of my other flower arrangements, this mum centerpiece is easy and inexpensive to recreate.
To recreate this fall mum centerpiece, you’ll need:
- mums in 2 colors
- spider mums
- greenery
- 2 -3 large flowers
- shears
- vase
- Read on for all the details!
I love fruit for fall and Thanksgiving centerpieces! It's a centerpiece that will last for days and won't go to waste!
I’m often scurrying before guests arrive and don’t always have the opportunity to run to the store to pick up flowers and groceries. More often than not, I’m working with what I have.
I managed to make a quick trip to the store into inspiration for this centerpiece! I bought a few things, including a bag of apples, a bag of pears and a $2.99 bunch of eucalyptus. I LOVE gorgeous flower arrangements, but to get anything substantial, it’s often expensive, and doesn’t last long.
This centerpiece cost less than $10. A floral centerpiece of it’s size would cost $50-100 to create. An edible centerpiece makes a statement when your guests arrive, but also allows guests to help themselves for breakfast or a snack! Even better, you can create one in less than 5 minutes. Yes, a colorful fall centerpiece is 5 minutes.
Pine cones, pillar candles, clementines and touches of greenery. This is a bright fragrant centerpiece not to be missed!
Orange is an expected fall color, but you don’t often find the fruit in fall decorations. This table setting was simple, all natural and the most beautiful color palette.
Why not set the kids' table with a charming place setting of their own?
You always hear about the dreaded Thanksgiving kids’ table, but I like to make it special, too! I want to create a table that any adult would be honored to sit at, but make it so special that kids would proudly say “this table is just for us!”
Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about being thankful. Despite having a separate dining table for them {for ease of space and accessible height}, I want them to feel included.
This easy last-minute Thanksgiving centerpiece can be created in just 5 minutes, with a trip to the grocery store. You'll just need a platter, pears, and pillar candles with touches of greenery.
I put together another simple centerpiece, with candles, some inexpensive eucalyptus, and plumcots, but any fruits and foraged finds will do, in fact, as we were driving around the cove, I spotted very similar leaves.
Olive branches would be beautiful as well, but, they’re not accessible in the midwest. I think I spent $6 and of course, it took about 5 minutes to create. Ready?
Another centerpiece idea featuring pears, pine cones and antlers in a pretty brass bowl.
One problem I have faced when creating centerpieces is keeping the cost to a minimum. It’s easy to create a breathtaking centerpiece with $100+ of blooms, but I can’t justify that for dinner.
When we’re having guests, I want to make our table feel special, especially for Thanksgiving! To create a homemade Thanksgiving centerpiece, I start by gathering. The first resource I look to is our home. What can I use that I already have? Last year, I found a beautiful brass pedestal bowl on Etsy.
Read on to learn more about this rustic fall centerpiece!
This gorgeous pumpkin centerpiece is low, intimate, and full of charm. It's also inexpensive!
Ingredients:
seeded eucalyptus
pumpkin {I used a fairytale pumpkin, also known as Long Island Cheese}
roses
A simple centerpiece sets the mood and takes just a few minutes! We set the table as a family, adding pumpkins and candlelight to make our time together feel special.
To recreate this simple centerpiece, place the largest candle in the middle and stagger the rest of the pumpkins and candles throughout the table, being mindful of where plates will go to leave plenty of room to dine.
I always try to design a beautiful Thanksgiving table that is inexpensive and doesn’t take a lot of effort. This year was no exception. In fact, I spent $3.99 + tax – for the flowers.
Come on over and see how we did it!
This classic plaid fall table came together with inexpensive dishes, candlelight, and seasonal gourds and pumpkins.
The fabric underneath this charming spread helps pull the color scheme and look together!

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Hi, Julie. I am the editor/publisher of my community’s newsletter (Mariemont Town Crier), and we just started a home column with a wide variety of topics surrounding the home. Our writer loves your blog, and in our upcoming November issue on Holiday Decor, she refers to your blog and idea for a “changeable” fall-to-holiday centerpiece. We would love to include a photo of your apple-to-pumpkin centerpiece, and would include a credit to you/your blog. Could we have your permission and the credit copy as you would like it to appear under the photo? And if approved, could you send me a .jpg or .png of that centerpiece – I don’t seem to see it in the Sept. 2020 blog post about centerpieces. Our November publication is currently in the layout stage, so if you could respond this week, that would be terrific. If you’d like to see our most recent (Oct.) issue, here is a link: https://issuu.com/mariemonttc/docs/oct_21_towncrier_online. Thank you so much!
Hello,
Unfortunately, that image is not available to be licensed for print at this time. Thanks so much for your inquiry!
Julie