Easy Fall Feather Centerpieces
Simple & Elegant Pops of Autumn Color
As I was putting together my fall decorations, I came across a bag of feathers. I’ve used these in a variety of ways over the years, but I decided to try something different this year — and I love how it turned out! Feathers are an inexpensive and simple way to decorate, and they come in a variety of colors and textures. Mine are all in shades of brown, cream, gold, and turquoise — perfect for autumn decor. But use greens and blues, and these would be fab for a baby shower, or all white for a wedding centerpiece!
Additionally, I used some antique champagne coupes as the base for my feather centerpieces, but you could use bowls, baskets, boxes — anything that might give a little height and will conceal the base where the feathers are assembled.
Materials
Feathers (about 12 per centerpiece)
Playdough or florist’s foam
Vintage glasses, bowls, or other pieces to support the base of the centerpiece
Make the Base
I used play dough, because that was what I had in the house. The colors had been mixed up together, and it was a little dry, so it was the perfect play dough to sacrifice for this project. You could also use florist’s foam for this, though. I do like the weight of the play dough — it makes everything a bit more stable. But that’s up to you.
Whatever you choose, roll a ball or cut a piece that’s small enough to hide under the lip of your container, but large enough to hold the feathers you have chosen.
Start in the middle
Starting in the top center, begin arranging the feathers. Imagine your lump of play dough is a domed clock face. Begin at the very center with the tallest feathers. Then work your way down and around — the lower feathers should come closer to sticking out horizontally.
Add Feathers symmetrically
Because my containers — the antique coupes — are round, I just kept turning it and adding matching feathers until each one looked both symmetrical and even. Feathers are a natural material. It won’t be perfect, but that’s part of the beauty of these centerpieces!
Note
Depending on your containers and where they will be displayed, you may want to cover your play dough with a little moss. I didn’t need to, but if you find the play dough is visible once all of the feathers are in place, that’s the easiest solution!
I had enough feathers to make three centerpieces. I used two of them on the dining room table…
Feathers, dried pomegranates, vintage books, and a simple, handmade table runner
… and the third I placed on the mantle along with a few stray feathers.
I absolutely love these feather centerpieces, and I hope this easy and cheap DIY idea spurs you to use what you have in new and interesting ways!
