Image via Pixabay
Thanksgiving is a time to gather family and friends together in celebration and gratitude. If you’re hosting a get-together, it is also a time to make your home and hearth, so to speak, as warm and welcoming as possible.
We recently explored 5 Cheap Thanksgiving Décor Ideas but wanted to take the subject a little further and delve into 10 more quick and easy ways to make your Thanksgiving table decorations stand out this year – and well into the future. Of course, the real star of the show will always be the food – and the smiles that go with it – but with a little bit of creativity and effort, and not too much cash, your Thanksgiving table can also make a great impression.
Keep scrolling for our quick and easy Thanksgiving table setting and table centerpiece ideas to create an elegant backdrop for the bird . . . without too much stress for the host. Between the guests, food prep, shopping, and cleaning – you’ve got more than enough to coordinate; leave the Thanksgiving table to us.
Image via Pixabay
- Invite Mother Nature In – Throughout many parts of the country, fall is one of the most spectacular seasons. Take advantage of the bounty (and low price point) of what Mother Nature brings to the table by incorporating natural elements into your Thanksgiving table décor. Think gourds, dried grasses and flowers, and foliage. These elements can be artfully arranged in antique pitchers and jugs for a rustic vibe that is perfectly in line with the humble beginnings of the holiday.
- Mix & Match – An easy way to create a bold look is to mix and match patterns and aesthetics. You can avoid visual chaos by anchoring the scheme with one color – say, gold or turquoise – or design component that stays consistent. Otherwise, let your imagination run rampant. The combination of traditional and modern, or boho and glam, can be very appealing while letting you use what you’ve got on hand or in climate-controlled storage, rather than running out to buy new.
- Forget Tradition – There is nothing that says your Thanksgiving dinner table has to look one way or another. In fact, it can be quite eye-catching to turn your back to tradition and go the complete opposite way. Choose a charming blue and white scheme for your table. Or a gothic black, maroon and silver aesthetic. If you’ve got a particular style that you prefer (or have a lot of design pieces that fit into), don’t feel pressured to change it just because of the holiday. Sticking with what you know, like, and already own will be your quickest and easiest bet.
- Pare it Down – When in doubt, keep things on the simple side and let the dinner and conversation take center stage, so to speak. No one is expecting Versailles. What do they want? A happy and relaxed host who isn’t stressed out over what the Thanksgiving table looks like. White plates with folded linen napkins and a cinnamon stick with a few star anise placed atop can be just as charming as an extravagant display. And your smiling face will make it all the more special.
- Decorate for Double Duty – The most efficient way to decorate for holidays is to make sure your table centerpiece idea works just as well for Christmas as it does for Thanksgiving, we love Oprah’s recommendation to use reds and greens in your centerpiece so that you can keep it on the table through December as well. The red taper candles, pomegranates, and evergreen boughs are elegant and timeless enough that you might just keep them there through January as well!
- Hit the Secondhand Store – If you’re short on cash, time, and inspiration (and who isn’t), hitting up the secondhand store might provide the Thanksgiving table décor fix you’re looking for. Good Housekeeping suggests sourcing antique amber or cobalt bottles and filing them with dried or fresh flowers (or herbs) for centerpiece groupings. (Remember to keep anything like this relatively low so as not to block the flow of conversation.) Who knows what you’ll find?! Go into it with an open mind and let the adventure of secondhand shopping be your inspiration.
- Light It Up – Candles are a lovely way to add quick, artful ambiance to your Thanksgiving table. And they hide a lot while they’re at it. Pick up packs of simple, cheap votives and elegant tapers from IKEA or another big box retailer, turn down the overheads, and watch the scene become something out of a Hallmark movie before your eyes. One note of caution: be careful not to use scented candles – you don’t want the smells competing with your cuisine!
- A New Take on the Classics – Classic centerpiece bouquets can be beautiful (and quite expensive). We’re going to try out this DIY pumpkin vase centerpiece this year for a cheaper and more lasting take on the traditional look. Another idea is to create several smaller versions and group them at the end of the table to keep room for serving dishes.
- Call in Reinforcements – If you’re planning on hosting a huge gathering, there is probably little to no chance you have enough dishes or glassware to serve all of your guests. Borrow extras from friends and family and lean into the mismatched look. Try to keep the scale, style, or colors similar to keep some level of cohesion, but otherwise – the sky’s the limit.
- Tis a Gift to Be Simple – The quickest and easiest Thanksgiving table decoration is to spread pinecones, pillar candles, oranges, kumquats, and greenery in the center of the proceedings. The look is simple but striking, allowing the meal to take centerstage, and can be turned up or down depending on the size of your table and amount of serving dishes. Add vertical height with a glass vase filled with wheat or seasonal branches or just leave in its simplest form.
Image via Pixabay
The holidays can be a stressful time – especially when you’ve taken on the responsibilities of cooking, hosting, and decorating. If there’s one place you can scale back, it’s Thanksgiving table décor. A few artfully placed unscented candles, a few items from the fall landscape, and a coordinated color scheme and you’ve got all you need for a beautiful display – and a beautiful time with friends and family.
