Easy DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece idea! Turn pumpkins into vases for a rustic Thanksgiving aesthetic with this simple tutorial.

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, sharing a delicious meal, and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home. A beautifully decorated table sets the stage for a memorable gathering, and a stunning centerpiece can really tie everything together.

But who says centerpieces have to be complicated or expensive? This year, let’s skip the traditional floral arrangements and embrace the rustic charm of a pumpkin vase! It’s surprisingly simple to create, and the result is a unique and elegant display that captures the essence of the season.

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Simple Centerpiece Idea for Your Thanksgiving Aesthetic

Gathering Your Supplies

Ready to give it a try? Here’s what you’ll need:

Getting ready to make a Simple Centerpiece Idea for your Thanksgiving Aesthetic

    Creating Your Pumpkin Vase

    Prepping the Pumpkins

    Give your pumpkins a quick clean. Then, carefully cut a circle around the stem to remove it, just like you’re carving a jack-o’-lantern (but maybe with a little less mischief in mind!). Now, I’ve learned a thing or two about pumpkins over the years. My first attempt at a pumpkin vase was a gorgeous masterpiece… until it wasn’t. Let’s just say I learned the hard way about the lifespan of a carved pumpkin and the importance of protecting the surface underneath!

    Carving the pumpkins to make Simple Centerpiece for a Thanksgiving Aesthetic
    removing the top of the pumpkin to hollow it out to make a simple thanksgiving centerpiece for dining table
    Removing the pumpkin flesh to make pumpkin soup for my thanksgiving aesthetic

    Creating the Vase

    Scoop out the insides of your pumpkins. You can compost the seeds and pulp or save them for roasting later. Now, here’s where the plant saucer comes in. This is our secret weapon to prevent any pumpkin mishaps (and trust me, you don’t want to experience the “Pumpkin-pocalypse” I went through!). The saucer acts as a barrier to keep the pumpkin from rotting within.

    I also recommend using one underneath the actual pumpkin on your table to protect your table from potential leaks. This happened to me once and it was AWFUL. Here’s what happened. (Feel free to skip down to the next step if you don’t want to read it!)

    The Mistake I’ll Never Make Again

    Several years ago, I made a gorgeous centerpiece for my Thanksgiving aesthetic and it was a huge hit. I spent almost ALL DAY making it the day before Thanksgiving that year. Because I picked up the pumpkins so late in the season, the nursery gave them to me for free.

    And I purchased fresh flowers from the market. Now I realize this picture does my arrangement no justice because it is so old, but trust me…it looked so amazing at the time! I even tucked in a few gorgeous leaves from my oakleaf hydrangea.

    Vintage centerpiece idea using fresh pumpkins and flowers

    So I hosted Thanksgiving the next day and my guests loved it. Anyway, we were leaving the next day for Vermont to get an early ski weekend with some friends and their kids.

    Chris and I packed the family up and we left first thing Friday morning. When we returned on Monday, the house SMELLED SO BAD!!!!

    Like…really bad.

    And when I say it was bad, you couldn’t even breathe it in bad because you’d get physically ill. I immediately ran to the dining room and discovered the pumpkins rotted over the weekend, leaked, and totally ruined my wood farmhouse table.

    UGH!!!! It was such a mess! I learned a BIG lesson from this first one. Always, always, ALWAYS protect the surface underneath if using fresh pumpkins. Because trust me when I tell you, rotting pumpkins are NOT worth the risk. So if you make this pumpkin and flowers centerpiece, be sure to protect the table beneath and keep and eye on it after the event.

    Adding a plant saucer to hollowed out pumpking before adding flowers to simple dining table centerpiece idea for my thanksgiving aesthetic
    Not the roundest of cuts to the top of the pumpkin, but it will be hidden by the flowers. LOL!

    Adding the Flowers

    Determine the right height for your mums. You can adjust the height by adding or removing some of the stems. Give those mums a good drink of water before tucking them inside the pumpkin. Place the water-filled saucer inside the pumpkin, and then arrange your mums on top.

    Simple Centerpiece Idea for your Thanksgiving Aesthetic

      Caring for Your Pumpkin Vase Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea

      To keep your centerpiece looking fresh and avoid any pumpkin disasters, keep an eye on the water level in the saucer and add more as needed. You can tell if it needs water by gently touching the soil or using a soil moisture meter. And remember, if you’re using real pumpkins, they have a limited lifespan. Keep an eye out for any signs of softening or mold, and maybe keep a can of air freshener handy, just in case!

      Variations and Ideas

      • Go big or go home: While I used three mid-sized pumpkins, you can use one large pumpkin or even mini pumpkins for individual place settings.
      • Floral foam for the win: If you’re feeling adventurous and want to create a more elaborate arrangement, floral foam is your friend. It’ll help you achieve a professional-looking design.
      • Embrace the neutral: For a more modern aesthetic, consider using white pumpkins or painting them to match your Thanksgiving decor.
      Simple Centerpiece Idea for Your Thanksgiving Aesthetic

      Final Thoughts About Making a Pumpkin Vase For a Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea

      With its simple elegance and rustic charm, this pumpkin vase centerpiece is the perfect way to bring a beautiful Thanksgiving aesthetic to your table. It’s a beautiful reminder of the abundance of the season and a testament to the joy of gathering with loved ones. So go ahead, give this easy DIY a try, and create a centerpiece that’s as unique and special as your Thanksgiving celebration. Happy crafting!

      Have you ever made a pumpkin centerpiece before? Do you make your own centerpiece for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving? How do you like to make yours? Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Please tell me more in the comments below.

      Thank you for visiting the blog today!

      Enjoy your day! xo

      Stacy Ling bricksnblooms logo
      thanksgiving decoration ideas for the table with pumpkins, chrysanthemums and diy thanksgiving decorations
      Thanksgiving aesthetic

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      Getting ready for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving? CLICK HERE to get my free 25-page downloadable Thanksgiving Essentials Ebook that shares decorating ideas, hosting tips, recipes, and ways guests can support hosts.

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      25 Comments

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      4. Stacey!!! I love your mums and pumpkins!! I can’t believe that pumpkin from years past rotted so fast!! It did look gorgeous though!! So glad you shared that experience, so I can keep an eye on my pumpkin flower arrangement haha!!! So glad you were able to join us for this hop!!

        1. Thank you so much! Oh yes – I think because we were away it was worse than if I was home, but def keep an eye on it. It wrecked my wood table top! Thanks so much for hosting such a great blog hop! xoxo

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      6. I LOVE this idea, Stacy. I’ve always wanted to try it but never gotten around to it. Thank you for sharing. It looks beautiful and I’m definitely going to give it a try now. Pinned!

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      8. What a pretty centerpiece idea, Stacy! Love how the fresh pumpkins look with the mums. And ugh, ruining a table with rotten pumpkins is awful! I’m sorry that happened but thank you for sharing your lesson because that’s TOTALLY something I would do…

      9. Can you believe I am this many years old and have never hollowed out a pumpkin!! This looks so pretty!!

      10. What a beautiful and unique pumpkin centerpiece Stacy!! I love this idea! And seriously never would have known about protecting your table underneath them! But now that you say it – I was like ohhhh yea… ;)! Your table looks gorgeous my friend!!

      11. Stacy I have always wanted to try one of these! Yours are beautiful and your tutorial was just wonderful. Thank you for the inspiration!

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      13. This is such a great centerpiece idea, Stacy! Thanks for sharing your pumpkin “lessons learned” tip. I would have never even thought about that.

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