Fall Dough Bowl Centerpiece: Easy DIY Tutorial
Create a beautiful fall dough bowl centerpiece with faux pumpkins, colorful florals and a few simple supplies. This easy DIY arrangement makes a gorgeous statement on a dining table, kitchen island or coffee table, and you can customize it with decor you already have.
Hey, friends! I’m so excited to share this simple fall decorating project with you. I’ve always loved a pretty floral centerpiece in the dining room, and when I found this large wooden dough bowl at a nearby antique store, I knew it would be perfect for a layered fall arrangement.
I chose jewel-toned faux hydrangeas and pumpkins for mine, but you can easily recreate the same idea with neutral pumpkins, dried stems, pine cones or greenery. The basic layering method works with almost any dough bowl, tray or wooden box.
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.
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What You Need to Make a Fall 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 autumnal colors)
- Purple Queen Anne’s Lace Stem
- Heather Bush Stem
- Blue, Orange and White Pumpkin Filler – Or any foam pumpkins and gourds you have on hand.
- Orange Mini Pumpkin Filler
- Neutral 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.
2. Add the Pumpkins
Insert a skewer into each of the largest foam pumpkins, then arrange them throughout the floral foam.
It’s important to start with the largest pumpkins first! I cut my 12″ skewers down to 6″.
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.
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.
5. Fill the Remaining Gaps with Smaller Florals and Greenery
Continue to fill in all of the openings with the floral stems until it’s all filled in!
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 have also loved using it on my living room bookshelves! It fills in the space perfectly and beautifully for the fall season! ☺️
Frequently Asked Questions
Mini pumpkins, gourds, pine cones, acorns, fall leaves, faux florals, dried hydrangeas, wheat and greenery all work beautifully. Start with your largest pieces and then fill the openings with smaller stems and natural accents.
Trim the bottom corners of the floral foam so it fits the curve of the bowl. You can also place crumpled paper or nonslip shelf liner underneath it for additional stability. You can also anchor it with double-sided tape.
Try small mason jars, crumpled kraft paper, plastic grocery bags or a layer of pine cones to raise and support the arrangement. Choose something that won’t scratch or stain the inside of the bowl.
Remove the floral foam, pumpkins and stems together if possible, then place them carefully in a labeled storage bin. Store the empty dough bowl separately so you can decorate it during other seasons.
Yes, especially small pumpkins and gourds. Place a protective liner inside the bowl and check the pumpkins regularly for moisture or soft spots that could damage the wood.
Antique dough bowls are found in many antique malls or flea markets. Etsy is another great resource!
A fall dough bowl centerpiece is one of those simple projects that looks much more complicated than it really is. Once you learn to begin with the largest pieces and layer in smaller pumpkins, florals and greenery, you can use the same decorating formula season after season.
Use what you already have, choose colors that work with your home and don’t worry about making it perfectly symmetrical. A collected, slightly imperfect arrangement often feels the warmest and most inviting!
How to secure the foam? My bowl is curved not flat on the bottom. I have tried just about everything! Help!
I would carve the bottom of the foam to make it round to fit into the bowl! xo, Laura
I also struggle with that! Did you get a response? Please share.
Followed this tutorial and was able to make the prettiest arrangement for my bread bowl!! Thank you so much for the beautiful inspiration. 🙂
So pretty! I recently found an awesome vintage style wooden toolbox (it looked like a wood shop project, not actually antique, but still great!) at a thrift store that I stained dark, and would love to make a pretty dining room centerpiece. You’ve inspired me! I love the colors you used😊.
I bet that is so beautiful! I’m so glad it was a helpful post! xo, Laura
This is beautiful! How would you go about storing this to reuse?
I took the floral foam and stems out and placed them carefully in a box and stored them with my fall decor in the attic. And then I kept the dough bowl out and used it with other stuff the rest of the year. When I pulled the foam, pumpkins and floral stems out this season, it wasn’t hard to put it all back together!
Beautiful thank you for the idea!
This is gorgeous! I am assuming you purchased 3 hydrangea bundles and then split them up into 9 individual stems?
Wow! What a fantastic looking piece. The colours are gorgeous too!
LOVE all the color! ;} SO pretty.
Thanks so much, Ashley! xo!
So beautiful and I love the hydrangeas! Super smart tip to start with the larger items and work backwards! I’ll have to try that! XO
Thanks Christy!!
This turned out so pretty! Love all the colorful pumpkins 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous!! I love how you used floral blocks to place the pumpkins…I’ve never thought of doing that but it’s SO perfect to layer everything together! I can’t wait to make one!
It’s beautiful! Love all the colors. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Rita! xo
The biggest problem I have is securely anchoring the florist foam in the container. How do you do this? Thanks, Pat
Beautiful – I love the colors! And your tutorial is so easy to follow! xoxo
Such a gorgeous centerpiece. I love the pumpkin colors!
xoxo
How pretty!! I love all of the fall colors.
This is such a cute idea! The color schemes and flower possibilities are endless, love it. Have a great fall season, friend!