Easy Thrifty Fall Centerpiece: Using Waste Not Seasonal Plants

The best way to create an easy, thrifty fall centerpiece for a table is to use available seasonal plants and other garden items that you have on hand. When we hosted a Fall Campfire Party, I needed an arrangement for the appetizer table. I wanted to create a unique but budget-friendly centerpiece without any waste.

You may remember when I shared Fall Decorations for the Buffet Table for our Fall Campfire Party. Well, I had everything planned for the buffet and dining tables; however, I had failed to prepare for the appetizer table. So here’s what I came up with.

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Thrifty Centerpieces for Table on a Budget

First, if you don’t want to spend much money but want your table to look great, here are some options.

I had purchased some fall plants to add to my planters around the greenhouse, but I have not planted them yet.

So, instead of planting the new plants, I decided to wait until after the party. I could use the plants to make a centerpiece for the appetizer table.

Next, look around your landscape for greenery or flowers that aren’t completely spent.

Most of my flowers had seen better days, but several marigold blooms looked great.

In addition, the nandina plants were starting to turn their color for fall. Since they could use a trim, they were a perfect choice.

Use Multiple Containers For Fall Centerpiece

Finally, decide what type of containers you want your centerpiece arranged in.

I have an abundance of thrifted baskets and decided to use them, along with a large terra cotta saucer, dough bowl, and vintage mason jar.

I began by arranging the marigolds and nandina stems in the mason jar to add height to the centerpiece.

If you have purchased gourds or pumpkins, they are great additions to the fall centerpiece for the table.

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Easy Arrangement for Centerpiece

Before you begin, ensure the soil is moist in all your plants. I soaked all the pots in shallow water until I was ready to make the arrangement. Since you may not be able to water again, it’s best to arrange your centerpiece on the day of your event.

First, I used this large basket to store all the new plants. Since this basket doesn’t have a flat bottom, I placed it on top of a large terra cotta saucer to keep it tilted forward.

Next, begin adding your plants to the basket. Start with your tallest plants and fill in around those.

If your basket is deep, you can add containers to lift the plants and prevent them from disappearing inside. Here, a whipped topping container serves as a riser for the ornamental cabbage and fern.

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Place the Centerpiece on the Table

Once the main centerpiece was finished, I added a second basket to hold another ornamental cabbage.

In addition, a simple box riser was added to elevate the mason jar and marigold arrangement.

I love that the centerpiece appears to be spilling out of the baskets! Instead of placing the baskets at the center of the table, I put them at the back edge. This allows all the appetizers to be within easy reach a the front of the table.

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DIY Budget-friendly Centerpiece

To complete the budget-friendly centerpiece, a vintage brass candlestick with a mason jar candle, and the dough bowl, filled with the gourds & squash, was added.

The Artichoke and Sun-dried Tomato Bites were a big hit, as was the centerpiece.

Reuse The Centerpiece Plants

After the event, each of the centerpiece plants can be placed in permanent containers. You can then enjoy them for the rest of the season.

Everything used for the DIY Budget Friendly Centerpiece was free or something I had planned to purchase anyway. Therefore, nothing is wasted, and the table looks great.

Leftover marigolds and a few lingering zinnias are added to the vintage soda bottles on the outdoor bar.

I hope you enjoyed this Easy, Budget-Friendly Fall Centerpiece Idea! You can see how to make the hand-painted table runners here.

Related Articles

The handpainted table runner’s added to the festive fall table settings. If you missed the Fall Decorations for a Buffet Table, you can see it here.

Thanks for stopping by today! I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you!