Affordable Fall Acorn Centerpiece
INSIDE : Learn how to make an affordable DIY fall acorn centerpiece using painted acorns and spray-painted glass vases. Quick, budget-friendly autumn table decor!
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This post has been updated since it’s original publish date of October 2018.
Looking for an easy, budget-friendly way to elevate your Thanksgiving table this season? This affordable fall acorn centerpiece DIY pairs hand-painted acorns in modern rust and blue tones with a gorgeous metallic-spray-painted vase. Combining natural textures with a clean, contemporary feel, it’s the perfect weekend craft to set a welcoming autumn scene in your dining room. Read on for the full step-by-step tutorial, color palette inspiration, and quick tips for customizing this project for your own home decor!
I love being able to set a pretty table during the fall season. I adore using natural materials in modern ways and combining acorns in trendy fall colors and a metallic vase is my favorite!
My original project was done with a gold vase and burgundy and pink color (below image). My updated version is done with copper, rust, blues and a griege color.
What I Learned Updating This (2018 vs. Now)
I first made this tassel pumpkin back in 2018. Returning to it years later with new fresh colors and ideas, I tweaked a few things to make the glue hold better and the spacing cleaner. Here’s what I changed for version 2.0 – as you will see in the tutorial below, you want the acorns to lay flat and as even as possible in each row.
It’s important to select acorns that have similar shapes in each row. A wide and short acorn has a much different height than a tall skinny acorn. So if you mix the size types in each row, they will not have that nice even height across the line.
I found using hot glue closer to the base rim for better stability also helped.
I also swapped the gold/pink palette for a more modern desert-rust/dusty blue color scheme that felt more current for today’s color trends.
Looking for other fun Fall crafts? Check these out...
- Pastel Pumpkins
- Bean Pumpkin
- Felt Pumpkin
- Leaf Dream Catcher
What supplies do I need to make a Fall Acorn Centerpiece?
- Acorns (real or fake will work)
- Tall Cylindrical vases
- Acrylic paint + brushes
- Rustoleum Spray paint
- Hot Glue
Another thing I love about DIY centerpieces and decor is that you can make them ANY COLOR that speaks to you!
Oversized Paper Leaf Backdrop “at a glance”
Crafting Time Required: ~1.5 Hours (plus drying time for 3–4 paint coats)
Cost: ~$10 – $15 (using dollar-store glass vases & gathered acorns)
Skill Level: Easy / Beginner
Key Tools: Hot glue gun, Rust-Oleum copper spray paint, acrylic paints
I have done so many different colors for our Thanksgiving Dinner and no matter your style or color this project will work for you!
- Blue and White Thanksgiving Table Setting
- Gold, Copper and Green Thanksgiving Tablescape
- Thanksgiving Food Centerpiece
- Orange and Pink Minimal Thanksgiving Table Decorations
- Minimal Thanksgiving Table in Black, Green and Pink
- 5 Tips to set a Cozy Thanksgiving Table
How to make an Acorn centerpiece
Step 1: Prep & Spray Paint the Glass Vase
Start by painting your clear vase a gorgeous fall copper color. I used my favorite spray paint brand, Rustoleum for this task. I placed the vases in a cardboard box outside and gave them each two coats of paint for a solid finish.
Real vs. Faux Acorns: How to Prep Them
If you live in an area where you can collect acorns from your backyard or even a park, then this is the perfect project to do that! I however, live in the high desert and finding acorns might not be impossible, but it’s definitely more challenging.
So for this project, I purchased my acorns. I liked the ones I used because they have a real acorn top and then the nut portion was some type of plastic looking wood material.
Below are my directions for each type of use –
If using real acorns: After collecting your acorns, bake at low heat (200°F for 1.5–2 hours) to dry them out and eliminate bugs before painting.
If using faux acorns: The acrylic paint definitely works, but it takes so many coats to get the nice even coverage. Someone mentioned using chalkpaint as that would possibly stick better to the more slick surface – I thought that was an excellence suggestion.
Step 2: Hand-Paint the Acorns (3-4 Coats for Solid Coverage)
While the glass vase is drying you can begin to paint your acorns.
I found this step takes much longer than anticipated. Each acorn took at least three coats of acrylic paint. Since I opted to leave the acorn tops natural, painting has to happen by hand. If you decide to spray paint yours all one color, this step might go faster – fyi.
I simply put on a good audiobook and let the process take as long as it takes.
Just like painting a wall, the first two coats of acrylic paint make you wonder if this was a good idea. Keep at it, that third coat really gives you the PERFECT even coverage. (The first image below is coat two – second image is coat three + four.)
I used a vibrant blue, a soft blue, a griege color and a rust paint color.
Step 3: Hot Glue the Bottom Acorn Row Flush to the Table
Be sure to allow the paint to fully dry before you begin gluing them to your vase. Once it has, it’s time to get out your hot glue gun.
Pro-Tip: Keep your vase sitting flat on a table while attaching the bottom row. Press each acorn flush to the table surface so the base rests evenly without tipping!
Step 4: Layer & Stagger Additional Rows
As you move to your second row, slightly nestle the acorn in-between your first row of acorns, so they are kind of nested.
Have fun making patterns with your colors. I did a white, rust, white pattern and then my other vase was bright blue, rust and light blue.
Thanksgiving Acorn Vase
Nothing quite feels like fall is here than crispy leaves, pumpkins and acorns! Using some of these natural elements in your thanksgiving or fall tablescape is a perfect way to bring the fall outdoor feel inside your home!
Planning your autumn table? Download my Free Printable Thanksgiving Fall Bucket List from the printable library to pair with your new acorn centerpiece!
I also loved the way the copper vase pops against the colorful acorn elements. Being able to combine modern and natural elements is my favorite.
Whether you add candles, fake or real flowers this fun afternoon craft project is a great way to enjoy fall inside your home!
Looking for more fun fall projects? Check out some of these below…
