Martha Stewart’s Stunning Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas Transform Simple Bouquets Into Elegant Seasonal Statements You Can Create in Minutes

Martha provides two stunningly delicate centerpiece looks that are perfect for giving your table an added flourish this Thanksgiving

Martha Stewart
(Image credit: Peter Yang/ABC via Getty Images)

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.

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.



Eleanor Richardson
Interior Design News Editor

I am the Interior Design News Editor at Homes and Gardens, covering mainly US-based designers and trending news stories. My love for interiors began when I interned in an interior design studio, working on commercial and private spaces. My passion grew while working in production, where I sourced beautiful locations for photoshoots and campaigns. Outside of work, I enjoy collecting antique decor and mid-century furniture for my home.

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