Holidays & Entertaining Thanksgiving 20 Ideas for Easy Thanksgiving Decorating By Midwest Living editors Midwest Living editors Midwest Living's experienced editors create best-in-class travel, lifestyle, food, home and garden content you won't find anywhere else. We're loudly, proudly Midwestern, and we're passionate about helping our audience explore and create through award-winning storytelling. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 19, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Decorate your home for Thanksgiving with our ideas for centerpieces, mantel displays, Thanksgiving craft projects, wreaths and more. 01 of 20 Harvest Mantel The focal point of this harvest-inspired mantel is a collection of inexpensive melamine plates attached to the wall with easy-to-use adhesive disc hangers. Casually arrange an assortment of pumpkins and gourds between two bundles of dried wheat on the mantel. Include a blackboard or two where you can write an inspirational quote or even your Thanksgiving menu! Fall Mantel Ideas 02 of 20 Leaf Tags A pair of holly leaf shapes—one cut from kraft paper and one from metallic paper—make festive drink or gift tags. Tiny bells stand in for berries. 03 of 20 Message Board As family or guests arrive for Thanksgiving, have them write what they are thankful for on a paper leaf and pin it up. This frame was constructed using a linen-covered foam core and an old frame. Cut paper leaves from old books or scrapbook paper in different fall shades. 04 of 20 Center of Attention For a bountiful centerpiece, cover a cake stand with fanned out corn husks. Then pile on gourds, leaves and ornamental corn. 05 of 20 Creative Candleholders Helen Norman Use repurposed candleholders for easy fall displays of small pumpkins and gourds. Look for inexpensive candleholders in varying heights at a garage sale or antiques store, then spray-paint black for a unified look. 06 of 20 Natural Tones Wreath Kim Cornelison For a wreath that lasts from fall through Christmas, try this brown and gold arrangement. Wire dried artichokes, lotus pods and pinecones to the bottom of a grapevine wreath. Tuck brown- and gold-tinted magnolia leaves (from a crafts store) between twigs. If needed, secure leaves with hot glue. A glittery bird ornament perched on a pinecone (and secured with wire) adds shimmer. Create Fabulous Fall Wreaths 07 of 20 Cozy Glow Wrap glass votive holders in textural flair. Tie raffia around three or four overlapping moistened corn husks trimmed to fit. A spotted guinea fowl feather (available at crafts stores) adds a flourish. 10 Dried Corn Projects for Fall Decorating 08 of 20 Bottle Display Show off bittersweet berries in gold, green and clear bottles on a windowsill or shelf. Tiny gourds between the bottles add another shape to the seasonal mix. 09 of 20 Cornucopia Small pumpkins and gourds spilling out of a cornucopia create a lush seasonal look on your tabletop. 10 of 20 Corn and Leaf Wreath Red silk leaves give a color pop to this fall wreath. Start with a premade twig wreath. Fluff husks and arrange ears around the center of the wreath (mini ears work best). Attach corn with wire or hot glue, then add silk leaves with a dab of glue. 11 of 20 Feathered Thanks This thankful turkey can be a decoration all month long or constructed just before your Thanksgiving dinner. To create this project, begin with a large pinecone. Cut feather shapes from scrapbook paper, crease them in half lengthwise and fringe the edges with scissors. Construct the turkey's head by cutting out an oval and a circle and adding googly eyes, a beak and a wattle. Have family or guests write what they're thankful for on the feathers and tuck feathers into pinecone. 12 of 20 Thanksgiving Card Tray These simple cards send seasonal messages or identify where guests sit. Cut cardstock with pinking shears and decorate with rubber-stamp designs and handwritten messages. Choose tone-on-tone or metallic ink for a sophisticated look. 13 of 20 Nut Votive Place these pretty votives on your Thanksgiving dining table, mantel or coffee table. Just gather unshelled nuts and layer in a glass cup around a small candle. Save a few nuts to scatter near your display. 14 of 20 Thankful Tree Invite family or guests to write messages of thanks on paper ornaments. Tie ornaments to tree branches anchored in sand in a pitcher. They make a memorable keepsake if guests sign and date their ornament. 15 of 20 Moss and Rocks This table arrangement works perfectly for a quick and easy Thanksgiving decoration. Arrange rocks and bits of moss around small candles in tiny flowerpots. Switch in tiny ornaments and sprigs of evergreen to keep it on your table into December! 16 of 20 Appreciate Your Ancestry Holidays are the perfect time to teach young ones about their heritage. Make it an activity by cutting out copies of vintage baby photos and arranging them on the wall in a "family tree." Family members can guess who's who. 17 of 20 Acorn Tree A coat of paint transforms acorns into tiny ornaments. Hang them from a branch with twine loops glued to the caps. The long serving tray, filled with more acorns and a bowl, visually balances the display. Adjust the colors of the paint to coordinate with your table linens. 18 of 20 Pen Your Thanks Make the holiday meal more meaningful by giving each guest a personal note of appreciation. Present the notes in envelopes as place cards. Or turn them into keepsakes: Print each message on colorful paper and wrap it around a candleholder. (But don't leave lit candles unattended.) 19 of 20 Give Thanks For quick and easy homemade place settings, start with brown craft paper and create space for each guest to write a list of things they're thankful for. The lists will make great dinner conversation, too! 20 of 20 Pinecone Tree This pinecone tree is worth showing off until winter is past. Stand branches in a clear cylindrical vase, adding small pinecones and glass or plastic balls filled with greenery to support the branches. Hang small pinecones and tiny snowflake ornaments from the branches. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit