The Best Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas to Elevate Your Holiday Dinner

outdoor Thanksgiving tablescape — Ashley Batz; DESIGN: Erica Chan Coffman of Honestly WTF

There's no question as to what to serve on Thanksgiving. The seasonal staples—roast turkey, rich gravy, rustic stuffing, buttery mashed potatoes, and obligatory pumpkin pie—are pretty much mandatory. Now, while planning the menu straightforward, decorating the table isn't quite as simple.

So, naturally, we turned to Instagram to source inspired ideas from some of our favorite florists, lifestyle bloggers, and entertaining experts. Whether you're hosting a full-on formal Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings or throwing together a last-minute, laid-back gathering à la Alison Roman, we've got you covered.

Keep scrolling for 15 Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas that will instantly elevate your holiday dinner.

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Opt for Bud Vases Filled With Seasonal Blooms

Rather than opting for a singular centerpiece comprised of a large floral arrangement, consider lining your table with small bud vases filled with flowers in an array of seasonal colors, as in this table captured by Cassandra Lavelle of Coco Kelley. (And don't forget to bring the wine bucket to the table for good measure.)

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Go With a Garland of Dried Florals and Grasses

In lieu of fresh florals, gain inspiration from florist Kristen Cassie of Moon Canyon and set your table with a garland of dried florals and grasses instead. To really embrace the bounty of the season, intersperse pumpkins or gourds of various varieties and hues throughout your tablescape, as Cassie does here.

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Arrange Fall Produce Into an Edible Arrangement

Sculptural fall produce lends itself well to an unconventional, eye-catching centerpiece, as lifestyle blogger Sarah Sherman Samuel's table demonstrates here. Arrange produce in a tall vase along with eucalyptus branches for a stunning yet relatively inexpensive Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Try a mix of colorful produce like artichokes, pears, and gourds.

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Incorporate Candles, Candles, and More Candles

Add ambiance to your table's centerpiece arrangement with a plethora of candles. Here, blogger Erica Chan Coffman of Honestly WTF demonstrates the visual impact of mixing tall taper candles with pillar candles. Follow Coffman's lead and opt for neutral pillar candles and autumnal-hued taper candles displayed in tall candlesticks.

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Whet Appetites With a Fall-Inspired Cheeseboard

Forgo traditional arrangements altogether and whet appetites by putting a fall-inspired cheeseboard at the center of your table. Take a page from blogger Karen Chan of Honestly Yum and include an array of roasted chestnuts, apples, persimmons, figs, and pomegranates alongside your favorite cheeses and crackers.

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Bring Laid-Back Vibes With Backyard Branches

Forage for intriguing branches to create a statement-making centerpiece that's virtually free. Gain inspiration from this table set by interior designer Leanne Ford and opt for high-impact, sculptural branches.

Arrange branches in a neutral vase or pitcher to instantly bring laid-back vibes to your holiday table.

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Set the Table With an Asymmetrical Arrangement

Set a table that exudes uncontrived sophistication with an asymmetrical arrangement. Make like florist Sarah Winward and combine fresh flowers like roses and anemones with dried grasses for a high/low mix that makes a striking statement. Scatter small pomegranates throughout to impart a casual air to your Thanksgiving tablescape.

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Create a Makeshift Foraged Foliage Table Runner

Curate a casually elegant table with a makeshift table runner made from foraged foliage. To recreate the table seen here, set by the creative lifestyle bloggers behind The Merry Thought, seek out greenery with structural leaves for a minimalist look. Include seasonal fruit such as pomegranates or persimmons for a pop of autumnal color.

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Let the Food Shine With a Neutral Centerpiece

Take a page from lifestyle blogger Molly Madis of Almost Makes Perfect and keep the focus on your spread by setting your table with a neutral centerpiece. Dried eucalyptus branches, white anemones, and orange dahlias are excellent choices for arranging a neutral centerpiece that won't detract from the pièce de résistance (the turkey, that is).

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Keep It Casual With a Modest Floral Arrangement

For a smaller gathering, keep things casual with a modest floral arrangement the showcases the colors of the season, as Molly Madis of Almost Makes Perfect does here. You can't go wrong with an arrangement of dahlias, banksias, and scabious. To take the centerpiece to the next level, surround the vase with a variety of small gourds.

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Go Minimalistic With an Austere Centerpiece

Make like lifestyle blogger Amy Kim of Homey Oh My and go minimalistic with a simple centerpiece. Here, an austere arrangement of white flowers adds an understatedly elegant air to a modern holiday table.

Add a complementary sprig of greenery to each table setting for a rustic finishing touch.

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Fill a Tall Pitcher Vase With Dried Grass Clippings

Copy photographer Sarah Elliott's subtle, sophisticated Thanksgiving table by filling a tall pitcher vase with tall, dried grass clippings. Simple, understated, and virtually free, this centerpiece is essentially foolproof. Complete the look with white taper candles displayed in neutral candlestick holders for added ambiance.

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Create an Artful Mess of Autumnal Branches

Leave it to entertaining expert Athena Calderone of EyeSwoon to make a compelling case for putting wild autumnal branches at the center of your Thanksgiving holiday table. When contrasted with traditional taper candles, the far-from-fussy arrangement looks downright chic. All that's missing is a bowlful seasonal fruit to complete the rustic tablescape.

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Add a Simple Pop of Green With Gourds

Let's face it: Thanksgiving is a holiday dominated by delicious beige foods. (Think turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing — we rest our case.) Enter: This ingeniously simple green centerpiece created by Athena Calderone of EyeSwoon to add some much-needed color to your table. Top a linen tablecloth with green gourds and branches — and you're done.

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Complete the Look With Colorful Taper Candles

If you're setting the table with an autumnal-hued floral arrangement, why not complete the look with colorful taper candles to match? Follow lifestyle blogger Erica Chan Coffman of Honestly WTF's lead and forgo austere white candles in favor of ones that are a bit more festive for the occasion.