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The holidays are right around the corner. As soon as October starts, you’re likely thinking about how you’re going to spend the holidays as they rapidly approach right after one another.
Thanksgiving is squished in between Halloween and the winter holidays, so it’s time to give it a bit more attention. If you want to celebrate the holiday to its fullest, invest in store-bought favorites and make Thanksgiving decor DIY to transform your home for fall.
Store-Bought Decor Must-Haves
If you have a budget to expand your inspirational Thanksgiving decoration options, late October into November is the time to browse the stores. It’s not all about spending, either, and you can easily poach a few fantastic ideas to help you pull your house together in thankful style with a little ingenuity and creativity.
1. Faux Pumpkins
While real pumpkins might rot over time, faux pumpkins will still look as plump as the day you bought them over the years. These 16 fall-themed foam pumpkins will bring the charm of fall into your home.
2. Thanksgiving Dining Sets
Having the proper plates and platters to display the turkey and related fare can help you pull your dining decor together. Plates with images of turkeys or pumpkins on them are an absolute must for the Thanksgiving holiday. This earthenware Thanksgiving-styled dining set is one you don’t want to miss, whether you plan on having guests over or just want to dine with your immediate family. It’s microwave-safe, so reheating leftover stuffing is a blast.
3. Scented Candles
What better way to fully embrace fall than to bring it inside your house? By picking out a candle that reminds guests of fall, you’ll always have a presence of autumn in the home. Cinnamon and pumpkin are familiar fall scents to get candles in, but anything that smells like fresh-baked goods has sentimental value and would be an excellent choice, too. This fall gift set has four flavors, including apple pie and cinnamon.
4. Turkeys
You can’t celebrate Thanksgiving without having at least one turkey decoration. The turkey symbolizes that Halloween is over and that Thanksgiving has finally entered the home. By subtly using the famous 19th-century fowl in your home, you can cause your household to mentally shift toward the next holiday and the end of the year. This traditional turkey has plant elements, woven patterns and vibrant colors, and it’s a perfect centerpiece for your feasting table.
5. Seasonal Florals
Sunflowers are a great option because they bring smiles, hope and light wherever they go and are in season all fall. Faux flowers fit in with just about any centerpiece and would be a great addition to any indoor table arrangement or foyer display.
The bouquet has high-quality silken flowers in various color combinations, and they’ll last a long time if you store them in suitable packaging material like a cotton pillow case.
6. Wheat Bouquets
If flowers aren’t your thing, opt for a solid-colored vase and stuff it with dried wheat stalks, which you can also find at any craft store. It lends the table decoration some height for a clean and polished look. With enough wheat bouquets placed strategically throughout your home, your house will pop straight out of a magazine.
7. Guest Room Essentials
If you have enough in your budget to splurge on a guest room suite, you should. For any family traveling to stay with you during Thanksgiving, seeing the guest room decorated to fit the occasion will add to the season’s joy. Place these elegant containers strategically and fill them with essential products or sweet treats for your guests to use.
8. Decorative Pillows
Your living room’s accessories can completely change how someone sees your home. Something as small as a couple of throw pillows or a decorative blanket can change how people feel about your residence. With just a few Thanksgiving-style pillows, you can go from plain to seasonal.
9. Outdoor Decor
Since it’s fall, you should invest in some outdoor decorations. If you’re hosting a large party, people will inevitably gravitate outside where there’s more room. If you have space outdoors for seating, consider dressing it up for Thanksgiving, too. Bright yard signs are an elegant way to transition from Halloween’s scary trimmings to harvest themes.
10. Tablecloths
Whether you choose a solid-colored tablecloth or a decorative runner, you need something to decorate the Thanksgiving table. Having a gorgeous damask pattern will add to the beauty of the food. If you’re worried about stains, remember to pretreat with a stain-proofing spray.
DIY Thanksgiving Decor Ideas on a Budget
Sometimes, you can’t spend a lot on Thanksgiving decorations because your budget needs to go somewhere else. Even if money is tight, you can still find a way to level up your decorating skills with items you can make yourself.
1. Door Wreath
Make wreaths using items you already own or materials you can easily find. You can find plenty of free or cheap wreath patterns online, and you can make them out of sustainable materials so you can use them year after year. The great thing about making wreaths yourself is learning new skills while making keepsakes that can withstand time.
Clever ideas include:
- Twisting colored strips of burlap together to make your own sunflower wreath in record time.
- Wiring flexible branches together to form the shape and decorating it with dried flowers or seeds, leftover fabric and ribbons.
With a glue gun and your winter branch clippings, you can create terrific ideas to decorate for fall. This video is loaded with ideas that include making a wreath, frame and other decorative elements.
2. Pumpkin Vases
Pumpkin vases let you display flowers and centerpieces in an innovative way that will impress all of your friends and family who come to dine with you. It’s an excellent way to repurpose that Jack-o-lantern pumpkin for the harvest table and may inspire discussion between your guests.
Purchase either a faux pumpkin or a real pumpkin and cut it open. If you opted for a real pumpkin, you’d have to clean it out thoroughly before further use. Fill it up with the items you want, and you have a natural-looking centerpiece without much effort.
3. Embrace Flannel
If you have any flannel garments or blankets you’re not using, consider repurposing them into decorations you can use. A flannel blanket can become a flannel tablecloth. You can add flannel strips from shirts as bows or weave them into your bouquets and centerpieces.
4. Yard Sign
Natural wood signs with fall-themed sayings like “Gather” or “Give Thanks” are beautiful when paired with florals and pumpkins, faux or real. Making your own sign out of stained wood and neatly painting a word or two on it can be a game-changer for the outside of your home.
A fall-themed setup like that can work great alongside some other decor in your yard or right beside your door. Pair it with a wheelbarrow loaded with pumpkins or an ear of corn propped up with a rake and some ribbons. A welcome mat with seasonal imagery and font will complete the look.
5. Dry Foliage
The trees have changed their color, and it would be a shame to leave all that vividness outside! Bring in a couple of leaves and pinecones. Dry out the leaves, and you can place them together in a vase that would go perfectly with your entryway table. You can place pinecones just about anywhere to spice up your fall decor. The best part about using natural items for decoration is that they’re free.
Additional dried plant ideas:
- Use the leaves as a fun photo prop after the meal, throwing a bunch into the air as your family poses together.
- Spray-paint your pinecones in rusts, umber shades and vibrant gold.
- Glue fall leaves together to make a natural table overlay.
- Turn fall leaves into delightful Thanksgiving invitation cards or fold them over cardboard rings cut from toilet paper roll cores for napkin holders.
6. Paper Leaves
If real leaves aren’t your favorite thing, consider making some leaves out of colored paper. Your kids can help you cut out and decorate leaves. You can then fashion these paper leaves into a garland to hang up or even a makeshift table runner. It’s a charming and cute decoration that can be saved for years or recycled after you’re finished with it.
Alternatively, roll out some marzipan icing and cut the leaves from this, and finish the fall look with some edible glitter dusted over each tasty leaf. Decorate the table by gluing the leaves to a small branch that you place on each plate.
7. Gratitude Tree
Keep glass bottles throughout the year and set this aside with paper, pens and bright ribbon. Each guest gets to write what they are thankful for on the paper and inserts it in their bottle, decorating it with a ribbon. Hang the bottles from a tree or your mantle, spreading goodwill all around.
8. Recycled Placemats
If you don’t have place settings for all the guests you’re expecting this Thanksgiving, consider this year the perfect opportunity to create your own sustainable set. To make them, you can try the following ideas:
- Reuse the mesh bags your oranges come in and weave them into a circular placemat. The red and orange colors will complement your decor.
- Weave thick cardboard together and hand-paint turkeys and pumpkins on it.
- Place dried fall leaves on laminate sheets and seal them before decorating with ribbons.
9. Festive Newspaper
If your family regularly spends the holidays together, you likely take many photos. Use photos to make a family newspaper with images and stories from Thanksgiving over the years. You can photocopy the paper for everyone and then stain the pages by running a wet teabag over them for a sepia-toned look.
It’s an ideal way to remember the meals you’ve made in the past and silly moments with friends and family.
10. Fall Flags
Cut flags for a banner or to hang from the porch or by the windows. You can reuse napkins, crepe paper and any other odd fabrics. You’ll need a steady hand to paint some fall-themed icons like turkeys, pumpkins and harvest wreaths on each.
Finding the Right Thanksgiving Decor for You
The type of Thanksgiving decor you want for this year will depend on whether you want to spend a significant sum of money. Decorating for the holidays can be exciting, but what’s most important is that all of your pieces work together to create something cohesive and charming. Make sure that you choose a color palette and stick to it if you want your designs and items to match. Then, as the years go on, you can find even more decor that will fit with your arrangement!
FAQ
What Colors Are the Best for Thanksgiving Decor Ideas?
Warm, earthy tones like burnt orange, gold, burgundy and sage green create a cozy fall atmosphere. For balance, pair these with neutral accents such as cream, beige and wood textures.
How Can I Decorate on a Budget?
Mix store-bought items with DIY projects. Use natural materials like pinecones, acorns and fall leaves to make centerpieces, garlands and place cards. Reuse glass vases or jars for candles and floral arrangements.
When Should I Start Decorating for Thanksgiving?
Early to mid-November is ideal. If you decorate for Halloween, transition easily by swapping spooky pieces for pumpkins, leaves and cozy candles.
[Published 10/4/2021 — Updated 10/30/2025]
About The Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and a dedicated freelance writer with over six years of experience in the home and garden industry. Her passion for landscaping and sustainable practices is deeply rooted in her upbringing — growing up in a family of contractors, she was exposed to the world of construction and design from a young age. This hands-on experience fostered her love for nature and gardening, giving her a green thumb and a keen eye for creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
Throughout her career, Rose has honed her expertise in researching and writing about sustainable construction practices, focusing on innovative technologies that enhance the built environment while minimizing environmental impact. She is particularly interested in green roofing, water-efficient landscaping, and integrating native plants in design, all reflecting her commitment to sustainability. Rose's work has appeared in various publications, where she shares valuable insights and practical tips for seasoned professionals and novice DIY-ers.
In addition to her writing, Rose enjoys collaborating with landscape architects and contractors on projects that emphasize eco-friendly design and sustainable materials. She believes that every garden has the potential to be a vibrant ecosystem and works to inspire others to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also environmentally responsible.
