Thanksgiving Table Runners: 15 Cheap DIY Ideas That Make Any Table Look Like a Magazine Spread
Thanksgiving table runners are the cheapest way to make a holiday table look styled, and you can make one this weekend for a few dollars. A store bought runner often costs 30 to 60 dollars, yet a strip of fabric, a few boards or a handful of leaves can do the same job. Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, so there is still time to test a few ideas before the family arrives. Below you will find 15 runners we love, from rich velvet and thrifted flannel to pressed leaves, lace and golden wheat. Each one comes with a short supply list and simple steps, and most use things you already have in a closet, a garden or a thrift store bag. Pick one, or mix two for a layered look that feels like a magazine spread..
Rust Velvet Thanksgiving Table Runners
Velvet is the fabric that makes people stop and touch the table. A rust orange runner catches the daylight in soft waves, and it pairs with almost every plate you own. Buy a yard or two from the remnant bin and you can finish this in one evening without a sewing machine. Thanksgiving table runners like this one need very little styling: add mini pumpkins and a few eucalyptus sprigs and you are done. For more ways to dress up pumpkins for the day, see our faux pumpkin makeovers. It is a simple start that sets the tone for everything else..
You will need: 2 yards of rust velvet, iron-on hem tape or fabric glue, an iron, a pressing towel, scissors, a ruler, mini pumpkins, eucalyptus sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Cut the velvet 14 inches wide and 18 inches longer than your table. 2. Fold each long edge under 1 inch and press it with hem tape on low heat, with a towel between the iron and the pile. 3. Fold the short ends into a point or a straight hem and glue them. 4. Lay it down the center and add pumpkins and greenery.
Fringed Linen Runner With a Bowl of Apples
A canvas drop cloth from the hardware store is one of the best kept secrets in budget decorating. It is heavy cotton, it costs very little, and once it is washed it softens into a relaxed linen look. Pull a few threads at each end and you get a fringed edge like the one in this photo. A bowl of red apples and a jar of dark flowers finish it in seconds. Match it with handmade napkin rings for a set that looks planned from the start.
You will need: A canvas drop cloth, scissors, a ruler, a fabric pen, fabric glue, a bowl of red apples.
How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the drop cloth so it softens and shrinks. 2. Cut a strip 15 inches wide and as long as your table plus 20 inches. 3. Run a thin line of glue along the long edges and fold them under. 4. At each short end, pull out the cross threads for 3 inches to make a soft fringe.
Plaid Flannel Runner From a Thrifted Shirt
That old flannel shirt at the back of the closet has one more job to do. Cut the back and front panels into long strips, stitch them end to end, and keep the button placket as a cozy detail at one end. Plaid feels warm and homey, and it ranks among the coziest Thanksgiving table runners for a family style dinner. It is a fun project to make with teens, and it pairs well with our Thanksgiving crafts for adults if you want a grown up craft night too.
You will need: 1 or 2 large flannel shirts, scissors, pins, a sewing machine or fabric glue, an iron, a plain cotton backing strip.
How to make it: 1. Cut off the sleeves and collar, then open the shirt flat. 2. Cut rectangles 13 inches wide from the back and both front panels, keeping the buttons on one piece. 3. Join the pieces end to end with a half inch seam. 4. Back the strip with plain cotton, turn it right side out and press.
Thanksgiving Table Runners Made of Mini Pumpkins
Sometimes the runner is not fabric at all. A simple line of small pumpkins and gourds down the center makes a living runner that costs a few dollars at the farm stand. Mix orange, cream and striped ones, vary the sizes, and leave small gaps for serving dishes. Thanksgiving table runners made this way also double as take home favors for guests. Need more ideas for that farm stand haul? Our pumpkin flower arrangements use the very same pumpkins.
You will need: 10 to 20 mini pumpkins and gourds, a long wooden board (optional), a few fall leaves, a damp cloth.
How to make it: 1. Wipe each pumpkin clean and dry it well. 2. Lay a long wooden board down the center if you want a base. 3. Place the largest pumpkins first, spaced evenly. 4. Fill the gaps with small gourds and tuck leaves between them.
Reclaimed Wood Board Runner
A wood runner gives a farmhouse feel and doubles as a trivet for warm dishes. Three or four old fence boards or leftover planks from the garage are all you need. Sand them smooth, join them with small cleats underneath, and add a soft gray stain. Set it on a white cloth and top it with mini white pumpkins and wheat in small glass bottles. Love that rustic wood look? See how we used it for Thanksgiving porch decor too.
You will need: 3 or 4 weathered boards about 5 inches wide, sandpaper, 2 flat wood cleats, wood glue, small nails, a hammer, gray stain, felt pads.
How to make it: 1. Sand every board until it feels smooth to the touch. 2. Lay the boards side by side and glue two cleats across the back. 3. Nail the cleats in place once the glue sets. 4. Wipe on the stain, let it dry, and stick felt pads under the cleats to protect the table.
Pressed Autumn Leaf Runner
Fallen leaves are free and they come in the best colors of the season. Press a stack between heavy books for a week, then lay them down a plain runner or straight on the wood. For leaves that last, seal each one with a thin coat of decoupage glue on both sides so it stays flexible and does not crumble. Kids love the search for the brightest red and gold ones, and few Thanksgiving table runners are this free. Make extra for our Thanksgiving place cards, which use the same pressed leaves.
You will need: 30 to 50 fallen leaves, heavy books, paper towels, decoupage glue, a foam brush, wax paper, glue dots.
How to make it: 1. Lay the leaves between paper towels inside heavy books for 5 to 7 days. 2. Brush a thin coat of decoupage glue on both sides and let them dry on wax paper. 3. Arrange them down the center in a loose, overlapping line. 4. Tack a few in place with glue dots so they stay put.
Thanksgiving Table Runners in Tea Dyed Cheesecloth
Cheesecloth costs a few dollars a pack, and a quick bath in strong tea turns it a soft vintage tan. Bunch it loosely down the center and it looks airy and relaxed, like a styled photo shoot. Cheesecloth is a loose woven cotton gauze first used in cheese making, which is why it gathers so softly. Thanksgiving table runners in this style feel right at home on a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving table full of family favorites.
You will need: 2 packs of cotton cheesecloth (about 9 yards), 8 black tea bags, a large pot, hot water, a bucket, rubber gloves.
How to make it: 1. Steep the tea bags in a large pot of hot water for 15 minutes. 2. Soak the cheesecloth for 30 to 60 minutes, checking the color. 3. Wring it out and let it dry crumpled for a natural texture. 4. Drape it loosely down the center and tuck the ends under.
Golden Wheat and Dried Grass Runner
Wheat says harvest like nothing else, and dried bundles are easy to find at craft stores in the fall. Lay the stems head to tail in a long line, or tie small bunches with twine and set them down the center. Dried oat grass adds a softer texture to Thanksgiving table runners built this way. Wheat is light and low, so it never blocks the view across the table. For a sweet matching touch, tie a few stems around each napkin, like the ideas in our Friendsgiving table ideas.
You will need: 4 to 6 bunches of dried wheat, dried oat grass, jute twine, scissors, a strip of burlap or kraft paper as a base.
How to make it: 1. Lay the base strip down the center of the table. 2. Trim the wheat to even lengths of about 12 inches. 3. Tie small bunches with twine. 4. Lay the bunches head to tail along the base, overlapping them so no cut stems show.
Decoupaged Fabric Leaf Burlap Runner
This one is for anyone who loves decoupage. Cut leaf shapes from cotton fabric remnants in orange, gold and deep red, then glue them onto a burlap runner and seal them with a coat of fabric decoupage medium. The fabric leaves stay bright for years and the runner can be spot cleaned after dinner. It is a smart way to use up a fabric stash. If you enjoy this project, try our napkin decoupage ideas next.
You will need: A plain burlap runner, cotton fabric remnants in fall colors, a leaf template, fabric decoupage medium, a foam brush, scissors, wax paper.
How to make it: 1. Trace leaf shapes onto the fabric and cut out 20 to 30 leaves. 2. Slip wax paper under the burlap. 3. Brush medium on the back of each leaf, press it down and brush a thin coat over the top. 4. Let it dry for 24 hours and heat set it with a dry iron if the label says so.
Thanksgiving Table Runners With Pine Cones on Linen
A plain linen strip becomes something special when you scatter pine cones, acorn caps and dried flowers along it. Collect them on a family walk, then dry the pine cones in a low oven so the scales open up. Thanksgiving table runners like this look natural and earthy, and they cost almost nothing. Keep the scatter low so guests can chat across the table. For a full woodland feel, borrow a few ideas from our old fashioned Thanksgiving decor gallery.
You will need: A natural linen runner or strip, 10 to 15 pine cones, acorn caps, dried flowers, a baking sheet, foil.
How to make it: 1. Rinse the pine cones and let them air dry. 2. Bake them on a foil lined sheet at 200 degrees F for about 30 minutes, checking often. 3. Lay the linen strip down the center. 4. Scatter cones, acorn caps and dried flowers in small clusters.
Woven Placemats Lined Up as a Runner
Here is a no sew trick that takes two minutes. Line up round woven placemats end to end down the center, slightly overlapping, and you have a textured runner. Seagrass and rattan mats are easy to find at thrift stores, and they look natural with fall fruit. Top them with small pumpkins and pears. After dinner, they simply go back to being placemats. For more thrift store finds that work together, see our mismatched Thanksgiving table.
You will need: 4 to 6 round woven placemats, small pumpkins, pears, a few fall leaves.
How to make it: 1. Measure the center of your table to see how many mats fit. 2. Overlap the mats by about 2 inches in a straight line. 3. Place pumpkins and pears on every other mat. 4. Tuck leaves into the overlaps to hide the edges.
Lace Thanksgiving Table Runners From Old Doilies
Grandma’s lace doilies deserve a place at the holiday table. Join several of them edge to edge with a few hand stitches and you have a one of a kind lace runner that tells a family story. Mixed patterns look charming as long as they share a color, so stick to white or cream. Lay the lace over a darker cloth so the pattern really shows. For more budget friendly finds, see our cheap Thanksgiving decor ideas.
You will need: 6 to 10 cotton lace doilies, white thread, a needle, pins, spray starch, an iron, a dark tablecloth.
How to make it: 1. Wash, starch and press each doily. 2. Lay them out in a line, edges touching, to plan the order. 3. Join them with 3 or 4 small stitches where they meet. 4. Lay the lace over the dark cloth and smooth it flat.
Hand Painted Stripe Burlap Runner
Plain burlap is cheap, and a few painted stripes make it look like a designer piece. Use painter’s tape to mark wide bands, then dab on fabric paint in rust, mustard and cream. The stripes look modern, but the colors feel like autumn. Leave the ends fringed for a casual finish. Thanksgiving table runners with bold stripes look great with handmade centerpieces on top.
You will need: A burlap runner or 2 yards of burlap, painter’s tape, fabric paint in 3 fall colors, a stencil brush, cardboard, a ruler.
How to make it: 1. Slip cardboard under the burlap to protect your work surface. 2. Tape off stripes 2 to 4 inches wide. 3. Dab the paint straight down with the brush so it fills the weave. 4. Peel the tape while the paint is wet and let it dry flat.
Leaf Print Runner With Velvet Pumpkins
A printed fall runner is an easy shortcut when you are short on time. Look for leaf patterns at thrift stores, or make your own by stamping real leaves dipped in fabric paint onto plain cotton. Pair it with small velvet pumpkins and a bright vase of orange blooms, as in this photo. Keep the rest of the setting simple so the pattern shines. Our Thanksgiving table ideas show more ways to layer a printed runner with plain dishes.
You will need: A plain cotton runner, real leaves, fabric paint in rust and gold, a foam brush, a brayer or rolling pin, paper towels.
How to make it: 1. Brush a thin layer of paint on the vein side of a leaf. 2. Press it paint side down on the runner and roll over it with a brayer. 3. Lift the leaf carefully and repeat in a random pattern. 4. Let it dry for 24 hours and heat set it with an iron.
Twig and Berry Thanksgiving Table Runners for the Buffet
The buffet needs some love too. Lay bare birch twigs, red berry branches and dried oak leaves in a neat line along the sideboard, and it frames the food as if a florist did it. Everything comes from the yard or a quick trip to a craft store. Keep the line slim so serving dishes have room, and choose faux berries if you have curious pets. For the front door, finish the look with a matching Thanksgiving wreath.
You will need: 8 to 12 bare birch twigs, 5 red berry stems (real or faux), dried oak leaves, garden pruners, florist wire.
How to make it: 1. Trim the twigs to similar lengths. 2. Wire small bundles of twigs and berries together. 3. Lay the bundles in a line along the buffet, overlapping each one. 4. Tuck oak leaves along the edges to soften the line.
