10 Easy DIY Thanksgiving Decorations

Decorate with Gratitude

There’s a lot to be thankful for: your health, the roof over your head, and the loved ones who surround you at Thanksgiving. This year, celebrate your gratitude by welcoming guests into a festive atmosphere, one that reflects the special qualities of autumn.

Down-to-earth and beautiful, these DIY Thanksgiving decor projects are as accessible as they are affordable, and each one promises to help make your holiday more memorable.

1. Craft a grapevine pumpkin.

Whether you’re an occasional craft-store visitor or a frequent, preferred-status customer, you’ve no doubt seen grapevine for sale on the shelves. For little more than $3, you can combine grapevine with floral wire to create a decorative pumpkin or other gourd that’s the perfect accent for a side table or centerpiece.

These can be assembled in several styles, from elegant to rustic (like the ones from Etsy seller MaddysCreativeMarket). Pair these with small real pumpkins and other gourds for a very festive display.

2. Hang a grateful banner.

Nothing says “give thanks” quite like a banner that actually spells out the phrase. In about 20 minutes—using thick paper, scissors, glue, ribbon, and a downloadable template for the letters—you’ll be able to make and hang your own loud-and-proud declaration over a doorway or across the mantelpiece.

To get more inspiration and an idea of what’s possible with banner crafts, take a look at the banners available from PaperStuff4u. These banners are an easy addition to Thanksgiving decor and celebrations.

3. Arrange a centerpiece.

For many, DIY Thanksgiving decor preparations would never be complete without a centerpiece on the dining table. For this holiday centerpiece project, gather a loose collection of painted pinecones, raw birch wood, and gourds in a clear vase or a patterned bowl.

Up your holiday decor game even further and display fall flowers in a medium-size, hollowed-out pumpkin. Keep it small and elegant, like the centerpieces from PetalsBySarah, or go over the top with a larger size pumpkin stuffed full of fall flowers and festive items.

4. Count fall days on a homemade calendar.

Count down to turkey day with a Thanksgiving-themed calendar. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, consider adding pockets, like this one from MyGrowingSeasonShop. A simpler version has a burlap backing and 30 felt squares in autumnal colors, glued to the burlap to form pockets. Insert Thanksgiving trivia cards, daily Thanksgiving activity prompts, or small treats inside the pockets.

5. Make a wreath.

If you’re shucking any corn in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, set the husks aside for this wreath project that’s a charming welcome for any fall feast or get-together. For those who don’t have husks on hand, head to the nearest farmer’s market or online to buy husks by the pound (available on Amazon). Then use them to make a corn-husk Thanksgiving wreath and hang it on the front door. Add wheat, pinecones, or leaves to really make it pop. For some inspiration, take a gander at this wreath from AccidentalFarmGirlCo.

6. Personalize al fresco pumpkins.

Your guests will know they’re at the right house by the personalized pumpkins among your Thanksgiving outdoor decorations. All you need for this simple DIY are pumpkins and acrylic paint, which is forgiving and enables you to wipe off any imperfections or start again.

Paint pumpkins with your family name, as PBCreativeDesigns does, or paint pictures of Thanksgiving turkeys, pilgrim hats, and leaves. If painting pumpkins freehand seems too daunting, consider making a stencil using fonts and clip art you find online.

7. String up a Thanksgiving garland. 

With some felt, hot glue, and string, you can whip up some tasty looking decorations. Celebrate Thanksgiving desserts with this easy-to-replicate garland from SheFeltLovelyDesigns.

Use purple and orange triangles to form the base of the berry and pumpkin pies. Create a crust by hot-gluing braided beige felt to the short side of the triangles, and decorate with strips of beige felt to imitate a lattice crust. The pumpkin pie uses white felt circles, pinched and glued in the shape of whipped cream swirls. These Thanksgiving garlands are a treat!

8. Design name cards for dinner guests.

If there’s one thing we love about Thanksgiving, it’s a beautiful table setting. It takes only moments to add a little something extra to the table to make your guests feel special.

Even if you’re not super savvy on the computer, there are plenty of beautiful fonts and free art you can use to print a napkin band – just make sure to use a heavier paper like cardstock to give it a more sophisticated appearance. Take some inspiration from PithandPenDesigns to create some crisp and beautiful name cards.

9. Create rustic string art.

String art is easy to produce, even if you don’t consider yourself an artist. To get an idea of the finished product, take a look at this pumpkin string art from knotreallyart.

All you need for this DIY Thanksgiving decor is a wood board that’s at least 0.5-inch thick, nails (we recommend 1-inch nails), a hammer, a paper pattern with a Thanksgiving or autumn design, and colored crochet thread (though any kind of string will do). Nail the pattern directly to the board, rip it off once the nails are secure, and use the thread to weave in and around the nails. Voilà! Simple and stunning holiday art.

10. Stencil a wood Thanksgiving sign.

No matter your favorite Thanksgiving saying, you can put it on a sign. Whether it’s Gather, Give Thanks, or Happy Turkey Day, a good-looking font and nice piece of wood easily becomes a sign you can put up year after year. If you have a Cricut, it’s simple to make a vinyl stencil that’s just the right size for a board.

Stain or paint the wood and let it dry before applying the vinyl and painting your saying, like these understated signs from BlondeBearSignStudio. Just remember that outdoor Thanksgiving wood signs are exposed to the elements and will need to be sealed for protection.