How to Transition from Fall to Thanksgiving Decor

Are you ready to plan your Thanksgiving decorations? Soon it will be time to add to the coziness of fall and start decorating our homes for Thanksgiving. I’m here to show how to transition from fall to Thanksgiving decor.

Are leaves falling in your neck of the woods? Are the temperatures dropping? Is an unmistakable autumn chill settled in?

If so, then Thanksgiving is not far off. We usually think of food for Thanksgiving.

But . . . .

Thanksgiving is an understated holiday that often gets overlooked when we think about seasonal decor. Christmas takes over our decorating thoughts in October.

Whereas Christmas decor takes on a completely different look than fall decorating, Thanksgiving is an easy transition. I think it deserves its own decorating season.

It’s amazing how a few simple touches can instantly transform your home into a warm and inviting space for celebrating this special holiday of gratitude.

So, if you’re wondering how to transition your home from fall seasonal decor to Thanksgiving decor, you’ve come to the right place!

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, togetherness, and delicious feasting, and your home decor should reflect those sentiments.

Fortunately, it’s an easy transition from fall touches to turkey day decor.

Do you already have fall colors and fall vignettes in your home? If you. do, you are halfway to creating wonderful festive decorations with a Thanksgiving vibe.

Be sure to get your Thanksgiving Transition Printable below.

What to Do Before Adding Thanksgiving Decorations?

If you still have small hints of Halloween decorations in your home, it’s time to pack up the witches, ghosts, and goblins until next year. This is also the time to check the Halloween decorations for any breaks, cracks or rips.

I usually leave most of my fall decorations up as a foundation for the Thanksgiving decor.

You can also disassemble your fall vignettes and reuse them in new Thanksgiving decor.

Before adding new holiday decor items, I think it’s a good idea to do extra dusting and decluttering.

What Items to Use for Thanksgiving Decor?

Here’s a handy list of items to use in your fall-to-Thanksgiving transition decor:

  • Fall-themed wreath with miniature pumpkins, pine cones, or gourds. Cut out small paper turkeys and add them to the wreath.
rustic fall wreath
  • Warm and earthy table settings, using tablecloths, placemats, and napkins with fall colors or a turkey motif.
turkey plates and tablescape

source: William-Sonoma

  •  Personalized place cards for your dining table with turkey, cornucopia, or pilgrim designs. Check out these easy-to-make turkey place cards.
  • A Thanksgiving centerpiece with fresh fall flowers, fruit, pine cones, or miniature pumpkins.
Thanksgiving centerpiece

source: Meme Hill

  •     Fall-colored candles in autumn-inspired candleholders.
  •     Signs, banners, or chalkboards with heartfelt Thanksgiving messages.
Thanksgiving sign and decorations of pumpkins and white

source: Cupcake Country Girl

  •     Thanksgiving-themed garlands featuring leaves, acorns, and turkeys.
  •     Thanksgiving-themed pillow covers with quotes or designs.
  •     Pumpkins, both real and faux, decorated with messages of gratitude.
  •     Turkey-themed accessories like figurines, carvings, plates, platters or salt and pepper shakers.
white turkey centerpiece

source: LizMarieBlog

two stuffed turkeys on mantel
  •     Thanksgiving artwork, such as prints of cornucopias, harvests, turkeys, pilgrims or fall foliage.
  •     Outdoor decor with fall wreaths, corn stalks, pumpkins, hay bales, and cozy blankets for your porch.
outdoor Thanksgiving table

source: House Beautiful

These items will help create a warm and inviting Thanksgiving atmosphere in your home.

How to Use Decorative Items in Your Thanksgiving Decor

 Here’s a list of ways to add a touch of Thanksgiving to your home:

  • Switch Up Your Wreath: Swap out your fall wreath for one adorned with miniature pumpkins, turkeys, gourds, and corn husks. Here is my most recent DIY Thanksgiving wreath with paper turkeys. You can also see several of our turkey collection.
Thanksgiving wreath with turkeys
  • Table Settings: The Thanksgiving table is the star of the show. If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, don’t wait until Thanksgiving week to set the table. Let the table be part of the decorations and enjoy it the whole month. Wheat sheaves, woven chargers, and a textured runner bring in the feeling of harvest.
sheave of wheat as centerpiece

source: Pottery Barn

Here is one of many Thanksgiving tablescapes I’ve created. This one used wheat bundles as the centerpiece.

wheat centerpiece on Thanksgiving tablescape
  • Color Scheme: In September and October, if you decorated with an early fall color scheme, this is the time of year to give your home more depth with richer earthy colors like deep oranges, rich browns, deep burgundies, and rustic reds.
  • Candles: Scented or unscented, candles add an immediate feeling of warmth. Scented candles in the traditional Thanksgiving scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves will evoke Thanksgiving warmth throughout your home. 
  • Thanksgiving Signage: Include signs, banners, or chalkboards with heartfelt messages like “Grateful,” “Give Thanks,” or “Family & Friends.” Use them on your entry, on the mantel. Replace year-round artwork with a beautiful sign. Here is a Thanksgiving sign that I made for our mantel.
white platter with be grateful sign

source: The Country Chic Cottage

  •  Fall Garlands: Replace and add to your fall garlands with Thanksgiving-themed ones featuring leaves, acorns, and miniature turkey decorations.
wired "give thanks" sign with wired greenery

source: Honey Oh My

  • Pillow Covers: Swap out your regular throw pillow covers for ones with Thanksgiving sayings or designs. They can instantly make your living room feel cozier.
give thanks Thanksgiving pillow

source: Dear Lillie

Here is an easy pumpkin pillow you can make.

DIY pumpkin pillow on sofa with orange pillow
  • Pumpkin Decor: Keep those pumpkins around. Whether real or faux, they’re the epitome of Thanksgiving decor. Paint or decorate them with messages of gratitude and display them as a focal point in your home.
three pumpkins with Thanksgiving sign
  • Turkey Time: Incorporate turkey-themed decor, like turkey figurines, plates, or even cute turkey-shaped salt and pepper shakers. Group turkeys in ceramic, wood, glass, or stone for a seasonal vignette. Create DIY decorations with wood turkey cutouts from the Dollar Tree. Paint or decoupage them.
turkey centerpiece
Thanksgiving turkey artwork
  • Outdoor Decor: Don’t forget your outdoor spaces. Decorate your porch with a new Thanksgiving wreath, hay bales, cornstalks, pumpkins, and even a cozy throw blanket on a bench.
outdoor Thanksgiving arrangement

source: Darling Celebrations

  • Bountiful Baskets: Place wicker baskets filled with seasonal fruits like apples, pomegranates, and pears or other fall vegetables around your home for a touch of abundance.
Thanksgiving basket decor

source: Our Southern Home

Remember, there are no strict rules for Thanksgiving decor. It’s all about creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes your family and friends feel cherished and grateful. So have fun with it, mix and match. Let your personal style shine through.

GET YOUR TRANSITION TO THANKSGIVING PRINTABLE TIP SHEET.

front-door-thanksgiving-graphic

It’s easy to transition from fall to Thanksgiving decor with these tips. Add warmth and gratitude to your home for the holiday season!

I hope that these suggestions and tips inspire you to decorate your home for Thanksgiving. Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that your family and friends will love.

Need more Thanksgiving ideas?

Also, check out these Thanksgiving Pinterest Boards:

Enjoy transitioning to your Thanksgiving home decor. Be sure to PIN this post.

pin for later graphic in blue
graphic about transition fall to Thanksgiving decor
signature with fall leaf

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One Comment

  1. Sandra W Magle says:

    After 55 years and Thanksgivings—I think I might not have hosted 8 times in all those years. My plan like every year is clean and cozy. Just finished oiling the counters and cleaning the kitchen and next the China cabinet and the blinds/screens. Even with snow on the ground here—and it stuck, Hugs for not posting Christmas—we have to be Thankful before we can move on to that. Sandi

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