Today, let’s take a look at 15 fall centerpiece ideas on a budget. When changing decorating pieces for a new season such as the fall season there are ways to stay on budget and not have extra cost.
Items to Use for the Center of Tables
Items to Use for the Center of Tables
A few items that can help you build something beautiful:
- Trays – Anything goes! Use wood trays, brass, glass, metal, baskets, and more.
- Bowls – Ceramic, metal, wired, weaved, be creative!
- Candles – These can be tapers, votives, pillars, or flameless. Also, try to remember to have unscented candles. This competes with food
- Linens – This can be anything! Mix it up! Use drop cloths, plaid or rich color blankets on an angle as a table cloth.
How to Add These Elements to the Home
How to Add Elements for the Season to the Home
For the most part, this time of year I decorate with natural elements and neutral colors because these tend to work with our decorating style.
One of the things I especially love about this is using pieces found in nature or natural materials from the food store. Besides being economical I truly believe the food store is our best friend for fall and Christmas time. I have been using painted walnuts in the shell, hazelnuts in the shell, and real acorns for years. These seasonal items remind me of the cooler weather that is coming.
The leaves changing, the smell of fall, fires and comfort food, and my love of baking. I love adding flameless candles all over our home and burning a real scented candle every day. Some say to me the smell of fall? I say fall has a beautiful smell in the air between the leaves on the ground and the crisp air. There’s definitely a certain scent in the air.
Do you know what I mean and agree?
Of course, I can never get enough pumpkin anything, coffee, desserts, appetizer, or soups. You too?
One of the first things I do before decorating for a new season is shop our own home and refresh my memory of what I have and what pieces I used last year. It’s also the perfect time to check my DIY fall decorations to make sure they’re all in great shape.
Doing this is also a great way to add these pieces in a different way and accomplish a different look throughout our home.
What are Great Pieces to Add to the Table on a Budget
Great Pieces to Add to Centerpieces for a Table
There are many great pieces for easy centerpiece ideas.
For Example:
Idea 1
Use a glass vase with fresh flowers such as mums, dahlia, and my all-time favorite hydrangeas.
Idea 2
Also, add white pumpkins to floral arrangements along with fall foliage from your own yard.
As an example, on our dining room table, I filled a French Jardinière with dry hydrangeas and faux pumpkins. These can be easy to find at any craft store and generally don’t cost a lot of money. To finish this off I added antique candle holders on either side of a table runner.
Idea 3
Use tin cans, empty coffee cans, glass jars, or mason jars for a table centerpiece. I share many ideas to use these in home decor and the only item needed is spray paint. Hammered copper is and they look like the real thing. Add flowers in fall colors from the grocery store or fake flowers to a vase or a pitcher already in your home.
More Ideas for the Center of Tables
More Ideas for Tables
Idea 4
For easy fall centerpiece ideas add seasonal fruits such as pomegranates, apples, and dried oranges for an inexpensive fall table look or to a bookshelf. I even used them on a wreath I made this year that takes little time to put together.
Idea 5
Another example I have done on our dining table is buying and painting an assortment of large pumpkins and adding real dried stems. This is a game-changer and a great DIY project to do because all that visited thought these were the real thing!
Idea 6
On our kitchen table, I keep the fall centerpiece simple because we use this every night so I use this beautiful tray. I filled a small white pitcher with pheasant feathers. First, I added a few dishes to the base to add a bit of height. So then, I filled in the rest with assorted small pinecones and walnuts.



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Ideas to Add Touches to Accent Tables
Ideas for the Center of Accent Tables and a Hutch
Idea 7
One of my favorite areas to add small centerpieces is our china cabinet in our kitchen. I add a white platter. with small pitchers and real preserved acorns and mini pumpkins. I even added a branch I preserved to this centerpiece.
For the most part, when decorating an autumn centerpiece for my accent tables I generally use crates, wood or plaster risers, and wood slabs along with old books antique, and from thrift stores. Books add tons of interest bundled together with satin ribbon or twine. These also can be found for great prices and I recommend checking garage sales and estate sales too. Add a dried flower or a pheasant feather for a great fall accent.
Other great pieces for an end table, buffets, and china cabinets are using fall color dishes or dishes that truly bring you joy.
Idea 9
Here’s an example of using a crate on our Bombay chest in our foyer. I added a large fake pumpkin with dried gourds and dried pumpkin stems, dried artichokes, and real preserved acorns. I’m quite addicted to acorns.
In a week I will be sharing our home for a fall home tour and you will be seeing these little things in many areas of our home. By the way, my collection is 20 years old. Can you believe it and it’s so easy to do. Bonus, learn how to clean and preserve pinecones too.
Additional Ideas for Accent Tables
Additional Ideas Accent Tables
Idea 10
Next, for our buffet table, I love using this rustic wood crate, and guess what? Yes, it’s filled with dried hydrangeas too. Think about adding white hydrangeas or deep fall color fake flowers from the craft store or even faded flowers from your garden.
Idea 11
If the traditional fall colors work for your home add the color orange here with leaves from the trees in the yard or found at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or other craft stores.
Creating an Autumn Look with Less Cost for Other Areas in the Home
Creating a Look for Less Cost for Other Areas in the Home
Here are a few more fall table decor ideas
Idea 12
For example, I have a large pitcher with a real flower and I added a basket filled with assorted pine cones and walnuts in their natural state and some painted with champagne and gold craft paint. You can see these on a dried orange wreath I made that is perfect for the entire fall and through the holiday season.
Idea 13
Can you believe this is a new basket? Do you like old vintage baskets too, but, don’t want to pay the price?
I have an especially fast simple technique to add instant charm and age in this post where I share information about baskets and using these in decor.
Idea 14
Also, think about adding some of my decorating books and a great fall-scented candle for warmth.
Idea 15
Here’s another example of how I’m enjoying a coffee table for the season that is so simple and quick to put together. I added a wood riser that comes in a set and the price is great. I also added white wax which takes minutes to complete. Therefore, adds an aged look to a new piece. I added an ironstone pitcher with pheasant feathers and again I add the same grapevine garland and the bottom. You can find these while thrifting or at Home Goods, or even craft stores.
I hope you enjoyed learning 15 centerpiece ideas on a budget for fall. Let me know how you decorate the center of tables or bookcases.
Other Posts of Interest
How to Decorate a Wire Wreath Frame
Click on the Image of Interest and Go Directly to Make a Purchase
Love them all Cindy. Love that you use things from nature in your vignettes.
So many pretty ideas, Cindy…I can’t pick a favorite, but I do love the copper can. It’s such a warm color. Happy Fall!
You are endlessly creative Cindy. So many beautiful centerpieces, but my favorites are number 5 and 7. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you so much Maria. You’re so sweet
The hydrangea in the rustic crate is my fave! They are all so pretty though!
Thanks so much Marie. Shhh don’t tell the others it’s my favorite too!
Just pinned so many of these fabulous ideas, Cindy! I swear you always know just how to highlight bits of nature and to incorporate it around the house in the most beautiful way. Happy fall sweet friend, CoCo
Oh thank you so much. You knock it out of the park always.
Happy fall!
So many beautiful ideas Cindy! I love them all.
Thanks so much Elizabeth!
Such a warm and cosy aesthetic. The painted pumpkins are my favourite.
They were so fun to make. Thanks so much!
Love all the options you shared!
Thank you so much! I hope you are doing well
Everyone of them is so beautiful! I can’t choose a favorite! I’m so glad you joined us for Welcome Home Saturday too!
Thanks so much and it’s always fun joining!
Cindy – there are SO MANY good ideas in this post. I love how you incorporated so many natural elements like acorns, pinecones, dried flowers and more. Pinned!
Thank you so much Anna!
Love how you layered in so many great pieces of nature into your Fall decorating. Looks incredible.
Nature is my favorite items and it’s free! Thank you
Love these centerpieces! Very creative, and pine cones are especially fun to decorate with. Stopping by from Katherine’s Corner. Have a great rest of your week!
Thank you so much Penny. Acorns and pinecones are my favorite!
So many wonderful ideas for centerpieces, Cindy. Love the dried hydrangeas!