Are you are hosting a large group for Thanksgiving? Everyone comes for the food but setting a beautiful table to serve all that delicious food shouldn’t be an afterthought!
Does setting the Thanksgiving table intimidate you? Are you completely overwhelmed by all the options? What colors should you use? How do you create a beautiful centerpiece?
This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive! Do you need to go out and spend a fortune on new dishes? Nope! Do you need to make several trips to the craft store for expensive supplies to create a beautiful centerpiece? Nope!
All you need is a little creativity, and I’ve got lots of ideas to inspire you today. You’ve got this!
Setting a beautiful table to impress your guests doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to do! If you let Mother Nature be your inspiration, add in a little creativity, plan ahead and give yourself some time, you can’t go wrong! I promise!
Here are my top 6 recommendations for setting a spectacular Thanksgiving table.
Give yourself time. Set aside some time to create a beautiful table. I recommend setting the table a day or two in advance. You want to give yourself plenty of time to iron your napkins and tablecloths and get everything looking it’s best. It’s the little details that take a table from ho-hum to spectacular!
Setting the table early, eliminates having to rush around the day of Thanksgiving. It will allow you to fuss with the details a little until you get the table looking just the way you want. There is nothing more stress inducing than running around at the last minute adding finishing touches to the table knowing that guests will be arriving at any minute.
The last thing you want to do the day of Thanksgiving is add to your stress level. You will have plenty of other things in the kitchen demanding your attention. Set the table early so you can focus on cooking and enjoying your guests when Thanksgiving rolls around.
I love coming down the stairs on Thanksgiving morning before anyone else is up and being greeted by the table all set for the feast that will be coming later in the day. It gets me excited and in the mood for the the festivities to come! Having the table set early, takes away so much of the stress on Thanksgiving day! It allows you to focus on the star attraction…the food!
Pick a color scheme. If you are unsure about how to pull together a cohesive look the best piece of advice I have for you is to use the gorgeous autumn colors all around you. You can never go wrong when following Mother Nature’s cues. Fall is filled with gorgeous, saturated deep autumn hues; rich reds, burnt oranges and mustardy yellows.
These colors are warm and vibrant and are what make fall almost everyone’s favorite season of the year. Autumn is when Mother Nature puts on a spectacular, colorful show. So why not use it as the inspiration for your table?
Texture. Use texture to create interest and dimension. It’s easy to find textural accents all around you this time of the year. You can find pinecones littering the ground almost everywhere. Pinecones are a natural element that will add loads of texture to a centerpiece. Pine cones are not just for Christmas, they are the perfect addition to fall decor!
Branches with colorful leaves tucked into a centerpiece is another way to add both some color and texture to your table. Get out your garden shears and clip a few branches from your garden. Lay them on the table, tuck them into your centerpiece or place them in a vase for a tall dramatic touch.
My son and I walk to the park in our neighborhood every year the day before Thanksgiving. It’s become a tradition for the two of us. It’s a chance to get away from the busy preparations and spend a little one on one time together. There are trees at the park that have the most beautiful vibrant leaves littering the ground. We bring along a bag and collect the prettiest leaves we can find to use on the table.
Use layers. Place a plaid throw over a tablecloth at an angle. Try using a large piece of fabric in a contrasting pattern for a pop of color. Add a table runner down the center of your table. Consider adding a textured placemat at each place setting. Focus on adding texture rather than too many different patterns. Too many patterns can quickly get out of hand and make your table look too busy and chaotic. It’s best to keep it simple.
You can also add layers with your dishes. Start with a textured placemat or a charger and top them with a plate and then add a fun whimsical plate. Top with a napkin. Using multiple layers creates more interest on your table.
Adding fun accent dishes makes each place setting look special. Nothing complicated about that. Adding a leaf or a pumpkin shaped dish to each place setting adds a fun whimsical touch.
Fine china isn’t required to set a beautiful table, use your everyday dishes, that’s what I do. When the meal is over the dishes can go into the dishwasher, easy-peasy! Save the fine china for Christmas instead.
Don’t have any napkin rings? You can easily make your own for just pennies. Check out my blog post for how to make the acorn napkin rings that I have on my table here.
Use natural elements. No need to make a trip to the craft store to purchase expensive supplies that you will then need to find a place to store. Instead add Mother Nature’s bounty to your table as beautiful natural accents. Look for pinecones, berries, and leaves that you can use to create a beautiful centerpiece.
Candles. Incorporate soft light by using candles. They add a soft glow to your table and set a special mood. Burning candles elevates the meal and makes it feel more intimate and special.
Setting a beautiful table for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be hard or take a lot of time. There’s no need to purchase expensive items. Shop your house and use what you already have. Stick to a color scheme to keep the look cohesive. Layer on items for interest. Add natural elements and candles as the finishing touches to make your table look amazing! You now have a fool proof recipe for creating a beautiful Thanksgiving table.
I hope I gave you some inspiration for setting an autumn themed Thanksgiving table. Let me know if you incorporate any of these ideas on your table this year!
Happy Thanksgiving!