Five tips for making your own Thanksgiving flower arrangements

Thanksgiving flower arrangements add a beautiful focal point to any table. And whether you want to make your own arrangement to keep costs down or just want to get creative, we’ve got ideas and inspiration to help.

DIY thanksgiving flower arrangement tips

Tip 1: Decide where the arrangement will go

Where you plan on putting your arrangement will influence its size. If it’s going on a credenza in the hall then a long, sprawling arrangement or a tall and wide style will catch your guest’s attention. But if it’s going on a coffee table or the dining table then a low, compact arrangement that doesn’t stop people being able to see each other is more practical. Three or four small, matching arrangements dotted along a table or around the room also works really well. You could even give them as gifts afterward.

Tip 2: Style your base

Get a fall vibe by sitting your display in a wicker basket, cornucopia, hollowed-out log, or even a pumpkin. The colors of your flowers and plants may also help you decide what container to use.

Tip 3: Find seasonal gifts from Mother Nature

Take a walk through your nearest park or garden a day or two before putting your thanksgiving arrangement together. Seasonal foliage that’s fallen to the ground such as pinecones, acorns, and fall-colored leaves will look great in your display. And they won’t cost you a dime.

Tip 4: Play with color and texture

Plants and flowers that have warm, rich colors or a fuzzy, soft texture suit fall and winter arrangements. Red, orange, and yellow floral centerpieces are the pick of the bunch when it comes to color. For texture, look for large, wide blooms, soft petals, wheat sheaves, and fountain grass.

Don’t want to follow conventions? Then swap the warm and soft trend for fresh and firm. White and cream blooms with a flurry of cool lilac colors and soft blues capture the cooler feel of the fall air and look great when balanced with dark greens and earthy browns. For texture, choose waxy vegetables, berries, cattails, and dried flowers. This will give you more of a feel for fall’s crisp and crunchy side.

In-season Thanksgiving flowers and plants

For the ultimate, eco-friendly Thanksgiving display that’s in tune with Gaia’s natural rhythms, choose from the following plants and flowers that are in season at this time of year.

Fruits and vegetables such as pumpkins, corn, apples, and cranberries add color and waxy textures, while flowering kale, lettuce, and cabbage add leafy softness.

There are lots of late-blooming flowers that prefer cooler temperatures for you to choose from.

• Amaranthus
• Dahlias
• Thistle
• Sunflowers (their season ends in the fall, but they’re still around)
• Cosmos
• Dianthus (great in red or a deep pink for the season)
• Chrysanthemums
• Autumn Crocus
• Gerbera
• Kale
• Roses
• Marigolds

Use extra foliage and greenery to fill out your display and plug any gaps. Their neutral tones also help make the color of your main blooms pop that little bit more.

• Waxflower
• Gypsophilia (a small variety of carnation, commonly known as ‘baby’s breath’)
• Cattails
• Fountain grass

When and how to start your arrangement

Construct your arrangement one or two days before your Thanksgiving celebrations. And if this is your first time making a Thanksgiving centerpiece, start small and simple. Arrangements don’t have to be huge or perfectly formed. After all, fall weather is often wild and unpredictable. Deconstructed arrangements will fit with the feel of the season.

Got the whole family coming over for Thanksgiving, and want something extra special? Visit our Las Vegas store. A member of the Gaia team will help you pick out seasonal flowers for your display and offer tips on creating the perfect arrangement. Alternatively, you can order your centerpiece and leave it all to us.