With Thanksgiving fast approaching, many of us are on the lookout for easy and impactful ways to decorate our dining tables for the big day. While I’m guilty of keeping it simple when it comes to any kind of occasion (napkins, candles, and a bouquet of some sort usually do the trick), I’ve decided to go for it this year.
After heading over to Martha Stewart‘s blog (my go-to source when I need some inspiration), it didn’t take me long to find what I needed. Surprisingly easy and undeniably impactful, Martha creates two impressive centerpieces (with the help of an expert florist) that couldn’t be more perfect as Thanksgiving decor.
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Martha’s two floral arrangements are the perfect Thanksgiving table decor idea. Each is impactful and easy to do at home, and paired with these stylish accompaniments, it’ll be hard not to impress your guests this year.
Wrightson Handmade Glass Table Vase
Fill this amber vase with seasonal stems for the ultimate autumnal centerpiece that pays homage to Thanksgiving elegantly and timelessly.
Poly Cotton Enrich Twill Cloth Napkins
For a pop of color, place these orange napkins on guests’ plates to subtly nod to Thanksgiving and make the big feast feel even more festive.
Taper Candles – Set of 6 (Dove)
Martha places some chic taper candles on her table, much like these understated ones from Pottery Barn. Pair them with a gold candle holder for a simple but elegant arrangement.
Aara Handmade Glass Table Vase
Martha uses a square, clear vase for the second arrangement, much like this classic style from Wayfair. Ideal for delicate stems, it will happily hold your bouquet for as long as required.
Organic Metal Taper Holders
The perfect touch of decadence, this metal taper holder will pair beautifully with a neutral candle. Style them with touches of orange for the ultimate seasonal table.
Monique Lhuillier Tatum Wine Stem Glasses
Martha’s table features some rather elegant wine glasses with gold rims, much like Monique Lhuillier glasses from Pottery Barn. Elegantly fluted, they will shine year-on-year.
The first centerpiece idea that Martha shows us is the ‘Hybrid technique.’ First, Michael arranges the flowers (he uses orangey red tulips) flat on a table. He says, ‘What you do is you want to lay the heads of the flowers in a straight line, so you curve to the left and you curve to the right.’ He adds, ‘You want to balance it out either way.’
While many of your stems will be curved at the bottom, particularly after removing the bottom leaves, there will be a few straight ones. He suggests, ‘When you find that straight one, put it in the middle, and you strip most of the leaves off your tulips above.’ He adds, ‘We remove all the foliage below the waterline.’ By doing this, there’s no unsightly bulk at the bottom.
A top tip from Martha is to choose unopened stems. She says, ‘And notice the tulips are not really open yet, and that’s a good time to use the tulips, because they will open over a period of time, and you definitely want to take them out of a cool area when they’re closed.’
Michael then says, ‘Next thing I’m going to do is pick up the flowers with both hands, and I scrunch them together and line up the stems so that they’re not all crooked, that they’re lined up next to one another. Then, in this case, I’m putting them in this little water glass.’ Michael then cuts the bases by measuring the approximate height of the vase. Using a ponytail rubber band like these from Walmart, he ties the bouquet together.
Now comes the best part. He then, using a twisting motion, arranges the flowers so the stems twist in one direction. He says, ‘I’m going to take one hand clockwise and the other hand counterclockwise. I’m going to encourage the flowers to get into that spiral shape.’
The next centerpiece is more delicate, perfect for longer stems. ‘Next, we have something called the Matrix’, he says. ‘So we go around in a circle clockwise. I’m going to go to the four corners of the vase.’
Removing all the bottom leaves ensures the arrangement is delicate and elegant. You’ll be using a clear vase, so the base mustn’t be unsightly. Martha advises, ‘Don’t ever get that bunch and dump it right into the vase, right? People make that horrible mistake, and you don’t get as much show.’
After building a general structure in each corner of the vase, Michael moves on to his next step. He adds, ‘I’m splitting the four corners. The next ones I’m going to put straight down, sort of in between this angled stem and the edge of the vase. So then we’re building up towards the centre.’ He adds, ‘And then once you get in about half the stems, then they’re going to go wherever you tell them to because you’ll have this matrix built.’
He adds, ‘So I’m just filling in now where I see spaces to create a nice symmetrical dome.’ He suggests, ‘This is good for snapdragons and Delphinians, and even when you’re doing tall roses.’
Martha’s two centerpieces are so impactful and seasonal. It’s refreshing that they’re so easy to do too, making decorating for the holidays so much easier and far more inspiring.
