Dough Bowl Centerpiece for Fall

This fall dough bowl centerpiece is so fun to make with any type of dough bowl or tray you already have in your home. It’s easy to add faux pumpkins and faux stems (or real!) with this simple step-by-step tutorial.

Hey friends! I’m so excited to be sharing my first fall post of the season! I love this season and all that it entails.

And I especially love a good fall floral centerpiece in the dining room. I see them all over the place and really wanted to make one with a large dough bowl I found at an antique store nearby.

DIY Dough Bowl and Pumpkin Fall Centerpiece

I love sharing my favorite fall decorating tips with you! I’ve shown you how to create a fall mantel and how to make your own fall wreaths, as well as beautiful fall centerpieces to decorate your home! I hope they all inspire you to create a home you love!

This is perfect for someone who has a container they love, like a dough bowl or a tray or box and some favorite florals and wants to try their hand at making their own.

Side note: It’s funny … I actually made a fall centerpiece with a DIY tray a few years ago and forgot about it until I started writing this post and searched for the DIY tray tutorial.

Thankfully this table centerpiece turned out a little different and I’m digging the jewel tone fall colors that I used.

And of course you can fill your beautiful dough bowl with anything you already have, or items you find outside your home. I think pine cones or evergreen branches would be great ideas, too! Hopefully it gives you some different decor ideas as you are decorating this season.

I had my heart set on those faux hydrangea stems, because they are just so gorgeous. I tried to find some similar at Hobby Lobby, but the quality couldn’t be matched and I splurged for the real deal. ☺️ I’m so glad I did! They make this piece shine, in my opinion.

Supplies for a Dough Bowl Centerpiece

Do you want to make one of your own? Let’s grab some supplies first!

Dough Bowl or other long tray or box. You can DIY one like I did here. I bought mine at a local antiques store, but this one is similar. Mine is 26 inches long.
Faux Hydrangea Stems (more hydrangea stems in green)
Purple Queen Anne’s Lace Stem
Heather Bush Stem
Blue, Orange and White Pumpkins Filler – Or any foams pumpkins and gourds you have on hand.
Orange and Blue Mini Pumpkin Filler
Floral Foam
Floral Wire Cutters
Wood Skewers

How to Make a DIY Fall Dough Bowl Centerpiece

Follow these simple steps to create your own beautiful farmhouse dough bowl decor.

1. Place the floral foam in the bottom of the tray or bowl.

I have also used mason jars in my taller wooden box centerpiece if the tray or bowl is deeper, so that’s an option too if you don’t have floral foam on hand.

DIY Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Floral Fall Centerpiece

2. Add the Pumpkins

Stick the skewers into the largest foam pumpkins and randomly stick them into the floral foam with the skewers.

It’s important to start with the largest pumpkins first! I cut my 12″ skewers down to 6″.

DIY Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Floral Fall Centerpiece - full tutorial | Use a skewer to add the pumpkins to the floral foam

DIY Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Floral Fall Centerpiece - full tutorial | Add the largest pumpkins to the floral foam first

3. Continue Adding Smaller Pumpkins to the Wooden Dough Bowl

Repeat Step 2 with the smaller pumpkins until you have all the pumpkins in the foam.

DIY Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Floral Fall Centerpiece - full tutorial | Then add the smallest pumpkins to the floral foam #falldecor #falldiy #diyhomedecor

4. Fill in the Blank Space with Flowers

Start filling in the openings with the largest floral stem.

This will be your hydrangeas. I didn’t want to stick them in the foam, so I just laid them around the bowl.

DIY Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Floral Fall Centerpiece - full tutorial | Start filling it in with the floral stems #falldecor #falldiy #diyhomedecor

5. Fill in all blank space with florals.

Continue to fill in all of the openings with the floral stems until its all filled in!

DIY Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Floral Fall Centerpiece - full tutorial #falldecor #falldiy #diyhomedecor

See what I mean about easy? Your fall dough bowl decor is going to be beautiful!

The trick to a pretty arrangement is to start with the largest items and work backwards. It’s the same method I use when decorating my Christmas tree. Start with the largest items first, then fill in with smaller items.

I love how the color palette of the stems and pumpkins turned out. You could always add pillar candles to it, too, for a different touch. That would be so cute!

This dough bowl centerpiece would be perfect to adorn your dinner table as a Thanksgiving/fall centerpiece idea along with a simple table runner. I definitely have some plans to use it on my dining table this fall season, which I’m sure you’ll see soon! ☺️

Frequently Asked Questions:

How to Make a Dough Bowl?

There are so many ways to make a dough bowl, but primarily you would make one out of wood. But there are also beautiful replicas made from paper mache.

How to Style a Dough Bowl?

You can use a dough bowl in so many ways in your home decor! Some dough bowl decor ideas include: storing blankets or pillows in it, hang it on the wall in groups or set it on the coffee table to collect pretty items and remote controls.

Where to Buy Dough Bowls?

Antique dough bowls are found in many antique malls or flea markets. Etsy is another great resource!

Dough Bowl Centerpiece for Fall

Supplies for a Dough Bowl Centerpiece

How to Make a DIY Fall Dough Bowl Centerpiece