Turn An IKEA Pumpkin Jar Into A Stunning Fall Centerpiece

The most gorgeous fall centerpieces pull visual iconography from centuries of decorative tradition. Sweet fall pumpkins that line the front steps, nightlights all aglow, and all that glorious harvest food. To add to the allure, the IKEA HÖSTAGILLE decorative glass pumpkin-shaped bowl, with its honey amber hues and elegant shape, brings all of these visual elements of fall decorating into one place: In just a few steps and with the help of a few key supplies, it becomes a glowing pumpkin centerpiece you didn't know your fall table needed.

A 12-inch walnut round wooden tray from the Bamxzoo Store becomes the base on which the HÖSTAGILLE glass pumpkin light display rests. You can use any tray for this, including a square or rectangular one, but you want to make sure that it's large enough to comfortably fit the glass pumpkin with extra room on the side. At 6.5 inches tall by 7.5 inches wide, the glass pumpkin is substantial enough to become the focal point of the tray without overpowering it. On its own, the glass pumpkin is hollow. Therefore, you'll need something like mini battery-powered copper wire starry fairy lights from the Sanniu Store to provide this Jack-O-lantern with its fall holiday glow. To give this lighting display a bit more fiery oomph, you'll want at least two taper candles in tall candlesticks to flank one side of the pumpkin jar. Finally, a set of ghost-shaped salt and pepper shakers make this elegant fall pumpkin-themed decor piece both cute and useful. 

Remove the tray from its packaging and give it a good wipe with a soft cloth to rid it of any leftover packaging debris. Do the same with the HÖSTAGILLE glass pumpkin. Once these two pieces have been cleaned off, they're ready to be assembled into the lighting display. You'll add the pumpkin to the centerpiece first. It should be pushed close to the edge of the tray, but be an inch or so shy from the side. A string of the battery-operated fairy lights go into the bottom of the pumpkin, along with the battery pack. Hide the battery pack beneath the string of lights for the best visual results. You also have the option to swap out the fairy lights for a set of Esup flameless tea light candles. The tealights are rechargeable, which means that you don't need to worry about hiding the battery pack inside the pumpkin. 

Additionally, the centerpiece honors a common rule in interior decorating, which is the repeat of form. Although the pumpkin's design has some fluting, its most basic shape is round, just like the tray's. Because of this, you have a couple of options as far as what to add next. To add visual interest and a juxtaposition to the roundness of the two circular forms, you may want to choose square candles to flank the pumpkin with, instead of round ones. Finally, you'll create a little more holiday spirit once you add a set of ghost salt and pepper shakers to the scene.

One of the nice features of IKEA pumpkins as budget fall decor items is that they are so much more than just the housing for your Halloween Jack-O-lantern's light. After All Hallows Eve is over, the IKEA piece is ready to light up your Thanksgiving table, as well as all of the tables of the fall holiday parties you have in between. Instead of ghosts, you could adorn the centerpiece with a set of Fitz and Floyd fall harvest salt and pepper shakers. These feature small pumpkins covered with fall leaves. Another option along those lines would be to make a bed of faux silk fall leaves to slip under the glass pumpkin before you put it on the tray.

Working with fall-scented candles creates an additional layer of holiday cheer to your centerpiece. Given that the pumpkin has a lid without holes (and therefore, no oxygen for live candles), you're stuck with the LED lights for the glass IKEA jar. However, that isn't the case with the additional candles you've put into the display. Look specifically for candles that have fall scents, like apple and pumpkin spice. Or, instead of candles, try adding a sculptural element to the display to turn the piece into a conversational talking point at a party. Two 16-inch fall tree decorations from CRCZK that are adorned with mini pumpkins and maple leaves would be a way to add both extra color and height to the IKEA pumpkin jar lighting display. And given that they're shaped like decorated trees, they offer a nod to holidays yet to come, like Christmas.