17 fall centerpiece ideas that you can make in 5 minutes or less as welcoming fall table decor, plus the most realistic artificial fall flowers.
You know what’s the best fall activity? EATING! (You thought I was going to say leaf peeping or pumpkin carving, didn’t you? Maybe I’m just hungry; I don’t know.)
But considering all of the gatherings our family has around the dining table in the fall, it seems fair to say cozy evening dinners are prime fall activities, right? I can’t believe it’s already right around the corner.
Even if I don’t have the house all decked out for fall, one thing I love to do is put together a simple DIY fall centerpiece quickly before a nice family dinner this time of year.
I realized, I’ve shared a lot of DIY fall centerpieces over the past decade, so if you have some entertaining plans ahead of you for hosting friends and family in your home, here are some of my favorite fall table decor ideas that you can assemble in a jiffy.
Some of the best realistic fall branches and artificial fall flowers are at the end of this post too so that you can set up your centerpiece and forget it for the rest of the season, if buying/cutting real stems isn’t your thing.
Simple DIY Fall Centerpiece Ideas
1. Eclectic Candle Centerpiece
If you have some random candle holders hanging around different places in your house, gather them all together to make this centerpiece. I find them at thrift stores all the time.
Use a scarf as a makeshift table runner, and scatter some leaves from your yard in the middle.
2. Gold Aspen Leaf Centerpiece
The yellow leaves on these aspen stems brighten a room with a punch of color so beautifully! I love how the leaves are sparse and the stems are very pliable for a natural look.
Just stick ’em in a jug and you’re done. I used two stems here.
3. Pumpkin and Eucalyptus Centerpiece
Place fresh or dried eucalyptus around the center of your dining table and plop a simple pumpkin right in the middle. Easy peasy.
Flank it with candles and accent it with copper, if you want, but it’s cute all on its own too.
Source | Fall Back Porch & Choosing the Best Capsule Decor
4. Sunflower Centerpiece
In early fall, sunflowers are often still in bloom. They’re so easy to create a floral arrangement without any need for extra fuss. This large vase came from IKEA that I stuck them in; using a clear understated vase lets the bright flowers take the spotlight.
Source | Patio Dining Al Fresco Table Decor
5. Fall Pear Centerpiece
Snip some fall colored leaves from a bush, rinse them and give them a good shake. Then weave them through a randomly placed taper candle holders. Evenly distribute pears throughout that you can pick up in the produce aisle (or go the faux pear route to last longer).
Source | Simple Thanksgiving Table Decor Done in 10 Minutes
6. Trio on a Tray Centerpiece
This works well on a coffee table, but I love this DIY fall centerpiece setup on on a dining table too.
Place a tray in the center of your table, add a vase with leafy fall branches, flank it with a candle, and accompany with a stack of antique books and/or decorative object.
Source | Earthy Fall Living Room & My Favorite Budget Fall Decor Capsule
7. Rustic Toolbox Centerpiece
Keep an eye out for an old wooden toolbox at antique stores or thrift shops! They’re great for filling up with ornamental cabbage, eucalyptus, gourds, pine cones, or any other fall foliage.
(Use a plaid throw blanket as a repurposed tablecloth too.)
Source | Gather Leaf Place Card Printable
8. Pumpkins and Leaf Platter Centerpiece
Start with a large platter, fill it with fall leaves, and nestle a couple of pumpkins together for a festive fall centerpiece that’s simple to make.
9. Olive Branch Centerpiece
Since olive leaves are a muted green, they work beautifully for fall. Stick a few faux olive branches in a terracotta vase and you’re done.
Source | Neutral Fall Faux Greenery
10. Ginkgo Leaf Centerpiece
We have a pretty ginkgo tree in our front yard that turns bright yellow every year around Thanksgiving. But if you don’t have a real one, these fake ginkgo branches are really convincing.
Source | 8 Capsule Staples for an Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape
11. Burgundy Stem Centerpiece
Another case for simple fall stems in a vase, but I love this rich, moody burgundy. Flank it with a bowl of fruit and a small candle on your breakfast table.
Source | Scalloped Bowl Trend Alert + Thrifted Makeover with White Spray Paint
12. Milk Glass Centerpiece
You can find milk glass everywhere in antique shops, consignment shops, and thrift stores, and they’re perfect for filling with leaves for a quick fall centerpiece. Accompany it with a pumpkin or two and some old brass candlesticks.
Source | Beer Garden Table Makeover and Alfresco Thanksgiving
13. White Pumpkin Centerpiece
If you don’t love the color orange, place a simple white pumpkin or painted pumpkin in the middle of your table instead. Spread a runner of eucalyptus underneath with a plaid tablecloth. Make it extra sweet with a mini pumpkin at each place setting.
Source | Neutral Color Palette Thanksgiving Centerpiece
14. Antique Shutter Centerpiece
If you have an old shutter lying around in your garage, repurpose it as a quirky table runner and fill it up with real or faux pumpkins and copper painted votive candle holders. I love the green and copper pops of color.
Source | Green and Copper Thanksgiving Tablescape + “Thankful For” Printable
15. Plum Leaf Centerpiece
The more wild your fall branches, the better, because they’re a cinch to arrange. These plum leafy fall branches are some of my absolute favorites this year.
Source | Fall Living Room Decor Ideas That Save Money and Time
16. Dried Hydrangea Centerpiece
If you have a hydrangea bush in your yard, dry your hydrangeas to use in a simple flower arrangement bundle in the middle of your dining room table that will last all season.
Source | How to Dry Hydrangeas for Fall Decor
17. Charcuterie Board Centerpiece
I know this one has nothing to do with fall flowers or fall branches, but sometimes all you need is a smorgasbord of food as a focal point to welcome loved ones around the dinner table. 😉
Source | Simple Formula for Dinner Table Setting at Any Occasion
Best Artificial Fall Flowers and Fall Branches
There are so many gorgeous artificial fall flowers and fall branches available these days that look just as convincing as the real thing. As much as I love snipping real fall stems or buying real fall flowers, the clean up and spending money on more after only a week isn’t all that fun.
So I’ve been adding to my faux fall branch collection over the years with several of these that I love.
Click any image below to shop.
Have you put together any cute DIY fall centerpieces in the past that you’ve been proud of?
There are so many creative ones out there, but when I’m in a rush in prepping our house and cooking a dinner for guests, I always need quick and simple. So I hope this list helped.
More Fall Decor Ideas
