3 Thanksgiving Tablescapes for Your Dining Room Table

Pumpkin pie spice wafts through the air, you’ve pulled out your cozy fall sweaters, and a 20-something pound turkey sitting in your freezer just waiting to be brined, or roasted, or deep fried. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and if you’re hosting this year, it’s time to start thinking about how you want to create a festive table fit for a feast.
 

Since Thanksgiving celebrations come in many different shapes and sizes, we invited one of our home stylists to design the same table into three different looks. Take a look below to get ideas on how to style your Thanksgiving table this year.

Decorate for your dinner style

Traditional

This one is traditional, with a twist. While the place settings are kept somewhat formal, we added fun pops of color from individual cast iron bowls (perfect for soups!)

We purchased bronze colored leaves and twigs for the centerpiece from a craft store, but you could easily select a few stems from your backyard and spray paint them to the color you like best.

If you do go the DIY route, be sure to complete the project a week or so before your dinner so there is enough time for the paint to dry and for all the paint fumes to dissipate.
 

Use gift bag tags as a combination napkin ring and place card. To really jazz it up, try your hand at calligraphy, or simple block lettering will do if you’d rather keep it simple. 

If you’d like to add some additional drama, move the napkin to the side and add a little personal flair to each guests’ plate.

Friendsgiving

If you can’t make it to a big family gathering this year, or would simply like to host a group of friends, our stylist recommends trying a Boho(ish) look. Mix and match vintage and modern silverware and flatware for a casual look with added interest – we loved how the pink vintage wine glasses and modern recycled glass drinking cups balance each other out for an eclectic, yet pulled together look.

For added ease, and more time to commune with friends, use this look to compliment a potluck style dinner. It’s a great way to learn more about the traditions your friends’ families have.

For a centerpiece, we couldn’t decide on our favorite look, so are showcasing two ideas.

A succulent-topped-pumpkin is a striking DIY project that will surely become a conversation piece. To make, simply take a large gourd, a smattering of different-hued succulents and use floral wire to wrap around the succulents and stick into the top of the pumpkin (note, you may have to use a sturdier tool to pre-poke holes into the pumpkin for the wire to fit).

A second option is to feature a few visually-interesting branches in a vase. Take gift tags and ask guests to write what they’re thankful for on them. You can then go around the table and have everyone hang their tag on the branches as they share their thoughts.

Kid Friendly

This year, our stylist is forgoing a separate kids’ table and instead made the “main table” kid friendly. Thanksgiving is all about spending time with those you love, right? This idea lets the kids be involved right from the beginning by having older kids help draw “placemats” or outline place settings on a table runner of butcher paper using a chalk marker. Then, you can have younger kids help set the table by following the outlines.  

Assign seats by simply writing everyone’s name next to a place setting, and add interesting details to the table like pumpkin tree cuttings – these unique plants will likely be a hit with the kiddos. 

Worried about squirmy children once the meal is over? Just set out some crayons and ask them to draw what they’re thankful for on the butcher paper. Being able to draw on the furniture for once will definitely pique their interest! 

The great thing about any of these styles? They can be set up the night before your event so you have one less thing to worry about as you baste your turkey!

Let us know below which tablescape style you like best and share a few ideas of your own! Tell us all about it the comments below.