Cheap Thanksgiving Decor: 15 Budget Ideas That Make Your Table Look Expensive

Cheap Thanksgiving decor can look every bit as lovely as the fancy tables you see online, and this year more people than ever want to prove it. Searches for cheap Thanksgiving decor doubled in the past week on Google Trends, and searches for easy Thanksgiving table decor jumped 170 percent in the seven days up to October 29. With food prices on everyone’s mind, nobody wants to spend a fortune on the table too. The good news is that the prettiest holiday tables often start with things you already have: brown paper, a few mini pumpkins, fallen leaves, old bottles and a ball of twine. Below are 15 simple ideas that cost very little, take an afternoon at most and still make your guests stop and say wow. Grab a basket, take a walk outside and let’s decorate..

Cheap Thanksgiving Decor Starts With a Brown Paper Runner

Roll out a long strip of plain brown kraft paper down the middle of the table and the whole room feels warmer right away. It costs a couple of dollars, it catches any gravy drips and you can simply recycle it at the end of the night. Write each guest’s name at their seat in your best handwriting, or let the kids sketch little leaves and acorns along the edges. No wonder budget table ideas are climbing fast on Google Trends this week. Add a few pumpkins and a jar of branches and you have a full table that looks planned and pretty. This is the base for everything else, so let’s start here..

You will need: A roll of brown kraft paper, scissors, washi tape or small weights, a white or black paint marker and a ruler.

How to make it: 1. Measure the length of your table and add about 12 inches so the paper hangs over each end. 2. Cut the paper and tape the ends under the table so it stays flat. 3. Write guest names at each seat with the paint marker and add small doodles of leaves if you like.

Mini Pumpkins as Place Card Holders

Mini pumpkins are one of the best deals of the season, and they make adorable place card holders. Each one sits right on the plate and tells guests where to sit without any fancy name tags. Use white, orange or speckled ones, or mix them all. A small slit in the stem holds a little paper card, and after dinner the pumpkins can move to a windowsill or the porch for weeks. Cheap Thanksgiving decor does not get cuter than this. Which color pumpkins would you pick for your table?

You will need: Mini pumpkins, small pieces of cardstock or kraft paper, scissors, a pen and a small kitchen knife (adult only).

How to make it: 1. Cut cards about 2 by 3 inches and write a name on each. 2. Have an adult make a small slit in the top of each pumpkin stem with the knife. 3. Slide a card into each slit and set a pumpkin on every plate.

Foraged Leaves and Branches in a Glass Jar

Nature puts on its best show in November, and it is completely free. Take a walk in your yard or a local park and gather a few branches with bright red, orange and yellow leaves still attached. Put them in the biggest glass jar or vase you own and set it in the center of the table. It gives height and color in a way that store flowers rarely do, and it lasts for days. Only cut from your own trees or pick up fallen branches, and give everything a good shake outside first. Ready for a little leaf hunt?

You will need: Fallen or trimmed branches with autumn leaves, pruning shears (adult help), a large glass jar or vase and water.

How to make it: 1. Collect branches of different lengths and shake them well outside. 2. Trim the stems at an angle so they drink water. 3. Fill the jar with water and arrange the tallest branches in the middle and shorter ones around the sides.

Dried Corn Husk Napkin Ties

Napkin rings can cost more than you think, so skip them and reach for corn husks instead. A pack of dried husks costs very little in the baking aisle, and one pack can tie napkins for a whole crowd. Soak them for a few minutes so they bend without cracking, tear them into strips and tie a simple bow around each rolled napkin. Tuck in a sprig of wheat or a small leaf for a finishing touch. The pale golden color looks soft and rustic next to white plates. Would you leave them plain or add a little sprig?

You will need: Dried corn husks, a bowl of warm water, cloth or paper napkins and small sprigs of dried wheat or leaves.

How to make it: 1. Soak the husks in warm water for about 10 minutes until they bend easily. 2. Tear them into long strips about one inch wide. 3. Wrap a strip around each rolled napkin, tie a bow and tuck in a sprig.

Cheap Thanksgiving Decor With Thrifted Brass Candlesticks

Thrift stores are full of old brass candlesticks, often for just a few dollars each, and they look amazing grouped together. Do not worry about matching. Different heights and shapes look more collected and expensive than a perfect set. Give them a quick polish, then add battery LED taper candles so you get a soft glow with no flame near the paper runner, leaves and napkins. This kind of cheap Thanksgiving decor looks like a family heirloom collection. How many candlesticks will you hunt down this week?

You will need: Three to five thrifted brass candlesticks, battery LED taper candles, a soft cloth, warm soapy water and a few autumn leaves.

How to make it: 1. Wash the candlesticks in warm soapy water and dry them well. 2. Buff them with a soft cloth to bring back the shine. 3. Set in the LED tapers, group the candlesticks at different heights and scatter leaves around the bases.

Cheap Thanksgiving Decor From the Fruit Bowl

Some of the prettiest centerpieces come straight from the fruit bowl. Pile shiny red apples and green pears into a long wooden bowl or tray, then tuck in a few small gourds and leaves. The colors look rich and warm under the lights, and nothing goes to waste because you can snack on the fruit all week. If you do not have a wooden bowl, a baking tray lined with a tea towel works just as well. It is a smart choice for anyone hosting on a tight budget. Will you go all red or mix in some green?

You will need: A long wooden bowl or tray, 8 to 12 apples and pears, a few small gourds and some autumn leaves.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the fruit so it looks shiny. 2. Lay a base of leaves in the bowl. 3. Pile the fruit in, larger pieces first, then tuck small gourds into the gaps.

Cheap Thanksgiving Decor From Twine Wrapped Bottles

Those empty glass bottles in the recycling bin are about to get a second life. Wrap them in natural jute twine from bottom to top and they turn into farmhouse style vases that look like they came from a pricey home shop. Fill them with dried wheat, a few stems of orange flowers or even branches from the yard. Group three or four of different heights on a sideboard or along the table. It is a relaxing project to do while you watch a game or a movie. Which bottles will you rescue first?

You will need: Clean glass bottles with the labels removed, a ball of jute twine, white craft glue, scissors and dried wheat or flowers.

How to make it: 1. Soak the bottles in warm water and peel off the labels. 2. Dab glue at the bottom and wrap the twine tightly upward, adding glue every few rows. 3. Glue the end at the neck, let it dry and add your stems.

Gratitude Tree From Branches and Paper Tags

A gratitude tree is decor and a family tradition rolled into one. Stand a few bare branches in a pot, set out small paper tags and a pen, and ask everyone who walks in to write one thing they are thankful for. By dessert the branches are full of sweet notes, and reading them out loud can be the best part of the day. It costs almost nothing and kids love it. Save the tags in an envelope and you have a lovely keepsake for next year. This is cheap Thanksgiving decor with real heart, so what would you write on your tag?

You will need: A few bare branches, a pot or vase, small stones or sand to hold the branches, kraft paper tags, twine and pens.

How to make it: 1. Fill the pot with stones or sand and push the branches in firmly. 2. Thread twine through each tag. 3. Set the tags and pens beside the tree and invite guests to write and hang one.

Wheat Bundles Tied With Ribbon

Dried wheat has been part of harvest tables for generations, and it still looks beautiful today. A small bundle tied with ribbon and laid across each plate feels simple, golden and very thankful. You can find dried wheat at craft stores in the fall, and one bunch makes plenty of little bundles. Choose a ribbon in rust, mustard or deep green to match your colors. After the holiday, stand the bundles in a jar on the kitchen counter for the rest of the season. Which ribbon color fits your table best?

You will need: A bunch of dried wheat, scissors, wide satin or cotton ribbon and a small rubber band.

How to make it: 1. Gather six to eight stalks and trim the stems to the same length. 2. Wrap a rubber band near the middle to hold them. 3. Tie a ribbon bow over the band to hide it and lay a bundle on each plate.

Cloth Napkins From Fabric Remnants

Fabric stores sell remnant pieces for a fraction of the price, and they are perfect for cloth napkins. Mixing plaid, mustard and rust prints gives your table a cozy, collected look that matching sets cannot copy. If you sew, a straight hem takes just minutes per napkin. If you do not, iron on hem tape works fine. Cloth napkins feel special for guests and you can use them again every year, which saves money on paper ones. Do you have a scrap bin waiting to be used?

You will need: Fabric remnants, a ruler, fabric scissors, an iron, pins and a sewing machine or iron on hem tape.

How to make it: 1. Cut squares about 18 by 18 inches. 2. Fold each edge under twice by about a quarter inch and press with the iron. 3. Sew a straight line around the edge or fuse it with hem tape, then press flat.

Acorn and Pine Cone Bowl Filler

Next time you take a walk, bring a bag. Pine cones, acorns and nuts in their shells make a beautiful bowl filler, and they are completely free. Pile them into a wide wooden bowl and set it on the table, the coffee table or a kitchen island. The mix of browns and textures looks earthy and warm. Bake the pine cones and acorns on a low oven setting first to dry them out and send any tiny bugs packing, and let an adult handle the hot tray. Simple cheap Thanksgiving decor like this can stay out until the first snow. What will you find on your walk?

You will need: Pine cones, acorns, walnuts or pecans in their shells, a baking tray lined with foil, oven mitts and a wooden bowl.

How to make it: 1. Brush off dirt and spread the cones and acorns on the foil lined tray. 2. Have an adult bake them at about 200 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes, checking often. 3. Let them cool fully, then pile them into the bowl with a few leaves.

Printable Thankful Cards at Every Seat

Little thankful cards give guests something to talk about before the turkey arrives. Make a simple card with a leaf border on your computer, print several on one sheet of cardstock and cut them apart. Set one in front of each plate with a pencil nearby. Each person can write what they are grateful for, then share it during the meal. It breaks the ice for guests who do not know each other well and gives quiet kids an easy way to join in. What question would you put on your card?

You will need: Cardstock, a home printer, scissors or a paper cutter, a simple leaf border design and pencils.

How to make it: 1. Design a small card with a leaf border and a line like “This year I am thankful for” and fit four on one page. 2. Print on cardstock and cut the cards apart. 3. Fold or prop each card in front of a plate with a pencil.

Stacked Faux Pumpkins on the Porch

Your welcome starts at the front door, and stacked pumpkins give it instant charm. Faux pumpkins cost a little more at first, but they last for years, so the price drops every season you use them. Stack two or three in white, orange and sage green on each side of the door, then add a straw bale, a plaid blanket or a basket of leaves. For more ways to dress up the entrance, see our Thanksgiving porch decor ideas. Keep walkways clear so nobody trips. Will you go bold orange or soft and neutral this year?

You will need: Faux pumpkins in two or three sizes, a straw bale or wooden crate, a plaid blanket and a few leaves or corn stalks.

How to make it: 1. Set the largest pumpkin on the bottom and stack smaller ones on top, flat sides together. 2. Put a crate or straw bale beside the stack for extra height. 3. Drape the blanket and scatter leaves to finish.

Cheap Thanksgiving Decor for the Kids Table

The kids table can be the most fun spot in the house. Cover it with plain white paper, draw simple outlines of leaves, pumpkins and turkeys, and set out jars of crayons. The kids get to color while dinner cooks, and the grown ups get a few quiet minutes. By the end of the day the tablecloth is a colorful work of art you can even keep. It costs next to nothing and works for all ages. This is cheap Thanksgiving decor that keeps everyone happy, so which drawings will you add first?

You will need: A roll of white butcher or craft paper, tape, a black marker, crayons and small jars or cups to hold them.

How to make it: 1. Cover the kids table with paper and tape it under the edges. 2. Draw big, simple outlines of leaves, pumpkins, acorns and turkeys with the marker. 3. Fill jars with crayons and set them down the middle.

Cinnamon Stick Bundles at Each Plate

End your table with something guests can smell as well as see. A small bundle of cinnamon sticks tied with baker’s twine and topped with a dried orange slice adds a warm holiday scent to every place setting. Buy cinnamon sticks in bulk to keep the cost low. Guests can take their bundle home and drop it in a bowl or a drawer. Dry your own orange slices in a low oven the day before, with an adult handling the hot tray. It is a sweet, thoughtful finish and proof that cheap Thanksgiving decor can feel generous. Ready to set yours?

You will need: Cinnamon sticks, red and white baker’s twine, dried orange slices, scissors and a small baking tray (adult help for drying the oranges).

How to make it: 1. Group three cinnamon sticks together. 2. Wrap the twine around the middle several times and tie a bow. 3. Tuck a dried orange slice under the bow and set a bundle on each folded napkin.