Are you looking to create a simple but classy DIY fall centerpiece? Create modern rustic fall decor for a cozy autumn or Thanksgiving table setting. It’s easy, budget-friendly, but look gorgeous.

A Simple but Striking Fall DIY Centerpiece

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In 2024, we had a kitchen | den reno that went seriously wrong. We were out of commission for about 7 months. That is a long time to be without a functioning kitchen and have your house covered in dust.

So last year, there was no fall decorating happening here. This year, we are all put back together, but that reno took a ton out of me.

My fall table in 2023, the year before our reno, was one of my favorites. But this year, I just didn’t have it in me to that together. After all that, I was just craving simple.

A full tablescape is one thing to create. A centerpiece is so much more doable.

So here’s my take on a 2025 fall centerpiece that you can use for Thanksgiving as well. It’s unobtrusive and allows for plenty of space to put food on the table.

Materials for Fall DIY Centerpiece

Wide hurricane vase (This one is big enough – I recommend 8″ tall x at least 6″ wide for a pillar candle and decor to go around it)

6″ Pillar candle (this remote control set is perfect for this project.

Fall embellishment filler (acorns & pinecones, mini pumpkins, berries – I pulled mine off of fall berry stems!)

Ribbon (I used this 1.5″ ribbon and 0.5″ brown ribbon I had in my craft box. This ribbon has similar beautiful options. Plaid ribbon in fall colors would also look beautiful!)

Glue stick & scissors

Instructions for DIY Centerpiece

This really is so easy, but I’ll spell it out anyhow.

1| Take your embellishments and mix them all together in a bowl.

2| Place your pillar candle in the center of your hurricane vase.

3| Scoop your fall embellishment filler in the vase, surrounding the candle. I went a little more than halfway up the candle.

This is what it will look like at this point.

At first, I only did the hurricane vase, candle, and filler.

However, I felt like something was missing. I added the ribbons as an after-thought – and it was just the right touch!

You can certainly create this without the ribbon if you choose to.

4| Wrap wide ribbon around vase and cut it just a little larger than the circumference.

Tightly wrap the ribbon the vase, overlap the ends, and seal with glue.

Repeat with the second piece of ribbon.

And there it is! So easy, so cute!

Notes:

***This works best with a remote-control candle so you do not have to remove the candle when you want to light it.

***You can also use a standard wax candle but use caution as it burns down toward the filler.

***If you’d like, you can place a smaller cylinder vase inside the large hurricane vase and place the candle inside the small one. Then, place the filler between the 2 vases. You can get cylinder vases inexpensively at Dollar Tree!

How easy is that?!?

I placed this in the center of 2 other pillar candle with wreath candle rings around it.

Here, I used this amber bronze tablecloth, on top of my favorite table runner.

I love this table runner because you can wiggle and adjust it to fit in with place mats or any other way you want to style it. It’s very adaptable!

Here, I also added jute placemats, plastic plates, and fall napkins. This is a very simple tablescape to create if you want to take things up a few notches.

I think this works wonderful for a Thanksgiving table because it’s low profile – you can still see guests across the table.

It takes up very little room, making sure they’re plenty of space for food!

For succinct, printable instructions, you can see that below!

Easy Nature-Inspired DIY Fall Centerpiece

No Ratings

Materials

Wide hurricane vase (8" tall X at least 6" wide)
6" Pillar candle (remote control recommended)
Fall embellishment filler (acorns & pinecones, mini pumpkins, berries)
Ribbons (1.5" & 0.5" for layering)
Glue stick & scissors

Instructions

1| Take your embellishments and mix them all together in a bowl.

2| Place your pillar candle in the center of your hurricane vase.

3| Scoop your fall embellishment filler in the vase, surrounding the candle 1/2 - 3/4 way up.

4| Wrap wide ribbon around vase and cut it just a little larger than the circumference. Tightly wrap, then overlap & glue ends together around vase. Repeat with 2nd ribbon.

5| Display on table and turn on!

Notes

***This works best with a remote-control candle so you do not have to remove the candle when you want to light it.

***You can also use a standard wax candle but use caution as it burns down toward the filler.

***If you'd like, you can place a smaller cylinder vase inside the large hurricane vase and place the candle inside the small one. Then, place the filler between the 2 vases.

Bonus Idea: Modify to Create a Christmas Centerpiece

With just a few tweaks, I repurposed this centerpiece for Christmas!

I removed all the filler but the pine cones, and then I added in dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and faux red berries.

I also removed the ribbon and placed a Christmas candle ring around the base.

I added 2 more Christmas candles with red berries in them on the sides, with layered candle rings around each of them.

This simple craft does double holiday duty!

Below, you can see it on 2 tablecloths that could actually work for fall as well (one is the same one in the pictures above and the other is my Thanksgiving tablecloth!).