The Unique Cut Dahlia Arrangement That Will Transform Your Thanksgiving Tablescape

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Sharpen your knives and gird your loins, Thanksgiving hosts! It's go time. By now, you've probably settled on your menu, figured out a seating chart, and just have to push "play" on that Turkey Day playlist. But wait — have you figured out an Instagram-worthy centerpiece? If not, we're here to help. Fun tablescape ideas make every occasion more festive (and also ensure that photos of your hosting prowess will get all the "likes" it deserves on social media). 

There's one easy way to do that this year, courtesy of a Homes and Gardens editor who shared her secrets with Instagram. She created a modern and elegant dahlia flower arrangement using just a simple bud vase and a pair of scissors. By trimming the dahlia stems at different lengths and artfully arranging them in the small vase, she was able to DIY a holiday centerpiece that will make the dining table more elegant on a budget. Get ready for your guests to love it so much that they'll want to take it home (along with your tasty leftovers).

Dahlias hit peak color and intensity during the warm days and cooler nights of fall, and they last well as cut flowers. Plus, they're striking, with bold colors and a complex design. In short, they're excellent flowers for any fall floral arrangement, but especially one that will make guests feel welcome when you're hosting Thanksgiving.

Start by getting a bouquet or two of dahlias. If you don't already have dahlias in your garden (or a friend who has some to spare), farmer's markets that go late into the fall are excellent places to buy dahlias. Trader Joe's also often sells dahlias during peak season, or you can always check out your our local florist or  grocery store. You don't need any other flowers for this arrangement, just dahlias still attached to their long stems.

Next, find a small bulb vase, preferably one with a wider bottom and slim opening at the top. You might already have one around your house, but if not, you can find options like the set of four Mapoxy Glass Bud Vases on Amazon so you have enough for a long table setting or to put around different areas of your home. Once you've got the vase, grab one dahlia. Trim the stem slightly so the flower stands tall in the vase — about triple the height of the jar itself. Then, cut more dahlias one by one, all at different heights, and arrange them around that center flower. Depending on the size of your jar, you may be able to fit about five or six dahlias inside, all standing at different heights and positioned at various angles.

The beauty in this arrangement is in its simplicity. When you have a flower as stunning as a dahlia, you don't have to rely on tons of greenery or a gorgeous vase to make the arrangement alluring. You can just play around with size and angles to add modern elegance while highlighting the flower. And since the vases are small and use just a single type of flower, it's a nice way to have multiple arrangements throughout your home. 

Still, you may want to add some more pizazz to your dahlia arrangements. If you have a bunch of kids coming over for Thanksgiving dinner, you could make an activity out of decorating the bud vases — stickers, gems, ribbons, or googly eyes would all be kooky additions to the vases. You could also spice up the tablescape a bit. A long table may have three or four vases full of your dahlia arrangements, but it could also include scattered greenery like eucalyptus, a variety of candles arranged at different heights, or a sitting garland of dried oranges. All add color and seasonal vibes to the table while still letting your dahlias be the stars of the show.