6 Eco-Friendly DIYs That Make Lovely Thanksgiving Decorations

October has skeletons, ghosts, and of course jack-o’-lanterns. December is full of Christmas trees, menorahs, and lights galore. But November? A beautifully set table full of fresh-from-the-oven dishes usually upstages any sort of Thanksgiving-themed decor that might make its way onto the walls. 

It doesn’t have to be like that, though. November doesn’t need to be the ugly stepchild of the holiday season! Decorating your home for this fall favorite can be easy, eco-friendly, and super cheap. Take these six simple DIYs, for instance.

Pinecone Turkey

Grab a giant, fallen pinecone from the backyard, some construction paper, and a hot glue gun. Try to pick a pinecone that’s already opened up a bit—you’ll want a place to stick in the “feathers”. Cut feathers out of the construction paper and glue them in a fan shape at the base of the pinecone. The pointy end of the pinecone will act as the face of your turkey, so cut out a beak, eyes (or swap in some googly eyes for a goofy bird), and a gobble. Voila! The perfect vegan turkey for your holiday celebration.

Pumpkin Centerpiece

Take advantage of the fact that pumpkins go on sale after Halloween and scoop up as many as you can—they make for fresh, festive decor that stays good for up to three months. You can go uber fancy and paint them with metallic paint for a luxe look, or make a beautiful dining table centerpiece to hold your favorite autumnal blooms.

Simply cut off the top quarter of the pumpkin, scoop out as much flesh as possible, and fill with flowers that are trimmed down so only the bloom is visible.

Fall Foliage Rubbing

This is an easy (and pretty) project for kids of all ages. Grab a handful of fallen leaves from outside, and lay flat over a piece of newspaper. Take a second piece of paper, preferably in a lighter weight, and using a crayon or pastel, lightly rub over the leaves. You’ll be left with a delicate fall foliage rubbing, which makes lovely name cards for the holiday table, fridge decor, or even placemats.

Potted Herbs Tablescape

Go green. Potted herbs are an inexpensive way to make your dining room table look (and smell) incredible. Find a few varieties at your local nursery—we love the look of rosemary, sage, mint, basil, and thyme. Get crafty and paint their pots in autumn-inspired hues, or go earthy and surround them with colorful little pumpkins and gourds to make your Thanksgiving table feel like a cornucopia of earthly delights! Plus, you can replant this tablescape in your garden once the holidays are over.

Corn Husk Wreath

Upcycle those old dried corn husks with this simple and beautiful corn husk wreath. All you need is a round base, some glue, and corn husks—working in a circle, wrap the corn husk around the base, leaving the end to point outwards. The result? A sunray-like wreath you can hang on your door to welcome your Thanksgiving dinner guests!

Mulling Spices

Sometimes the most effective way to evoke the holiday spirit isn’t with decor you hang on the wall. Enter mulling spices. The sweet scent of traditional spices wafting through your home is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. Drop a handful of these dried herbs and spices into cider, tea, or wine and simmer to release flavors, then strain into mugs for a warming holiday drink.

Photo credit: Alicia Cho