Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape + Centerpiece


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Thanksgiving flower arrangement designed by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

I put together this simple Thanksgiving flower arrangement centerpiece for Hy-Vee, and I loved it so much that I wanted to share it on my blog, too. I’m always so captivated by big grand centerpieces, but they’re just not practical for our dinner table, especially on Thanksgiving. They obstruct the view of other guests at the table, which makes talking awkward, so I prefer to stick to lower condensed centerpieces that people can easily see over. Fortunately, this mason jar-nested-inside-a-hyacinth-basket combo is a handy solution (check out my newest Reel for a quick tutorial!). I highly recommend testing it out at your next dinner party! Plus, once the party’s over, I scatter the individual mason jars throughout our home to add pops of seasonal color to different rooms!

Keep reading for simple fall tablescape details, including a step-by-step Thanksgiving flower centerpiece tutorial!

DIY Thanksgiving Flower Arrangement

Blogger Stephanie Ziajka shows how to put together a simple Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with magnolia branches, white roses, alstroemeria, and hypericum berries on Diary of a Debutante

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Materials

I’m a big fan of grocery store flower arrangements (check out my Grocery Blooms Instagram account if you haven’t already!), so I ran to Hy-Vee to see what their Thanksgiving flower selection looked like. Not surprisingly, I wasn’t disappointed. Hy-Vee has such an amazing floral department– and if you ever want specialty flowers, you can call or email them ahead of time. They’ll order them for you and everything. Also, I prefer to make my own, but they have a bunch of pretty, pre-designed Thanksgiving centerpiece arrangements available online, too. Click here to check out their top fall arrangements!

Here are all the fall flowers I used to make this Thanksgiving flower arrangement–

  • 4 magnolia branches
  • 3 long-stem white roses⁠
  • 6 stems burgundy alstroemeria⁠
  • 6 stems white alstroemeria⁠
  • 1 dozen white spray roses⁠
  • 6 stems red hypericum berries⁠
  • 5 mason jars
  • Hyacinth basket

I also used my handy Chikamasa curved scissors to cut the stems at the right angle. They’re pricey (just under $40), but so worth it if you enjoy floral design! Another product I highly recommend is Crowning Glory Flower Spray. It’s totally clear, leaves no residue, and extends the life of my flower arrangements significantly (specifically those with roses and hydrangeas)!

Thanksgiving Flower Centerpiece Tutorial

Blogger Stephanie Ziajka shares ideas for easy Thanksgiving floral arrangements on Diary of a Debutante

To recreate this simple Thanksgiving flower arrangement, start by filling five mason jars with water and flower food and then nesting them inside a hyacinth basket. I found this one at Home Goods, but I found a set of baskets on Amazon. For reference, mine is roughly 12×8″.

Next, cut the magnolia branch stems with clippers at a 45 degree angle. Chikamasa curved scissors have trouble with thicker branches, so you may need actual gardening clippers. As far as length goes, I like to cut them so that the leaves start about an inch or two above the rim of the mason jar.

Repeat with the rest of your fall flowers, making sure to cut the stems at 45 degree angles to maximize water intake. Be conservative with your trimming, though– you can always cut them shorter later on! Also, to avoid contaminating the water, remove any leaves or smaller buds below the water line. 

Now comes the fun part– the floral design! Arrange the magnolia branches around the four corners of the arrangement. Then, place the long stem roses (the statement flower) near the center of the arrangement. They’re meant to stand out, so they should be slightly taller than the rest of the flowers. Now, add in the white filler flowers– in this case, the alstroemeria and spray roses. Use these to create volume.

To create fun pops of autumn color, arrange the burgundy flowers (alstroemeria and hypericum berries) throughout the arrangement. I spread them evenly around the sides and middle and also tuck a few at the very bottom to hide any visible mason jar lids.

DIY Thanksgiving floral centerpiece tutorial by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

Finally, spray the arrangement with Crowning Glory Flower Spray and change the water every day to keep your arrangement as vibrant and fresh as possible. I like to add fresh flower food daily, as well. 

Thanksgiving flower centerpiece designed by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

Simple Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Yield: 1 centerpiece
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $40

This DIY Thanksgiving flower arrangement is elegant yet attainable! All you need are five mason jars, a hyacinth bin or basket, magnolia branches, and a variety of your favorite fall flowers (we used white roses, white and burgundy alstroemeria, and dark red hypericum berries). Sub florals in or out to make it your own!

Materials

  • 4 magnolia branches
  • 3 long-stem white roses⁠
  • 6 stems burgundy alstroemeria⁠
  • 6 stems white alstroemeria⁠
  • 1 dozen white spray roses⁠
  • 6 stems red hypericum berries⁠
  • 5 mason jars
  • Hyacinth basket

Tools

  • Chikamasa B-500SRF Curved Scissors
  • Crowning Glory Flower Spray

Instructions

  1. Fill 5 mason jars with water and flower food and then nest them inside the hyacinth basket.
  2. Cut the magnolia branch stems with clippers at a 45 degree angle to maximize water intake and position them around the corners of the arrangement. As far as length goes, I like to cut them so that the leaves start about an inch or two above the rim of the mason jar.
  3. Cut all your fall flower stems at a 45 degree angle to maximize water intake and remove any leaves or smaller buds below the waterline. Be conservative with your trimming, though-- you can always cut them shorter later on!
  4. Arrange the long stem roses near the center of the arrangement. These should be slightly taller than the rest of the flowers.
  5. Add in the white filler flowers-- in this case, the alstroemeria and spray roses. Use these to create volume.
  6. To create fun pops of bold autumnal color, arrange the burgundy flowers (alstroemeria and hypericum berries) throughout the arrangement. I spread them evenly around the sides and middle and also tuck a few at the very bottom to hide any visible mason jar lids.
  7. Spray the arrangement with Crowning Glory Flower Spray, change the water, and add new flower food daily to keep your arrangement as vibrant and fresh as possible.

Notes

There's no exact formula when it comes to floral design. Feel free to arrange the flowers in different order or use different fall flowers altogether. Your Thanksgiving flower arrangement will still come out stunning!

This mason-jars-nested-inside-a-basket formula is my default, but it can be tough to see where the stems are actually going. Once you're done arranging the flowers, do a quick visual sweep to make sure all stems are actually sitting in water.

Simple Fall Tablescape Details

Simple fall tablescape ideas and DIY Thanksgiving flower arrangement tutorial from blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

I also wanted to share quick simple fall tablescape details with y’all in today’s post. What I love about this particular table decor is that it’s so understated that it allows the Thanksgiving arrangement to really shine. Here’s everything I used to create this simple Thanksgiving tablescape–

  • Hyacinth Chargers– I’m absolutely obsessed with these hyacinth chargers. You can see them styled in about 75% of my tablescapes. This blue and white Italian tablescape and this simple Easter tablescape are my favorites, though!
  • Green Plaid Napkins– I wanted some color on the table outside of the centerpiece, so I used these green plaid napkins. They’re great for Christmas, too!
  • Gold Flatware– I use this gold flatware whenever we have company over. People always think it’s super expensive, but the whole set sells for under $40 on Amazon. 
  • Scalloped White Dinner Plates– These were a wedding gift from my mom, and I love them. The scalloped rim makes them feel special, even though they function as our basic white dinner plates. 
  • White Pasta Bowls– We use these white bowls so much more often that we thought we would, especially in the fall. They’re great for serving pasta dishes and soups. 
  • Glass Champagne Coupe Glasses– I always like to bust out the champagne coupe glasses around the holidays. They’re so fun and great for so many different cocktails (my personal favorite is a French 75). 
  • Old Fashioned Goblets– Our etched goblets were a gift from Kyle’s grandma, but I found a nearly identical set on Amazon. 
  • White Tablecloth This white tablecloth’s nothing special, but it is stain resistant, easy to iron, and washes well!

Thanks so much for reading, y’all– and please let me know if you have any questions about this Thanksgiving floral arrangement or tablescape. I love hearing from you guys, and I’m happy to help!

Just so you know, I was reimbursed for the cost of these products as part of a sponsored social campaign with Hy-Vee. I loved this Thanksgiving flower arrangement so much that I decided to feature it on my blog, as well, although I had no obligation to do so. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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