If you're tired of setting the same Thanksgiving table every year, mix things up with these fun Thanksgiving centerpieces and decor ideas.
After a notable obsession with yellow houses, historic homes, and glossy magazines as a child that lead to a degree in American Studies from Sewanee: University of the South followed by a jaunt through the Washington, DC art world, Zoë found her way as the Senior Home and Garden Editor with Southern Living. There she crisscrossed the region to produce inspiring interiors, entertaining, and holiday stories while also overseeing the Idea House franchise. After seeing more porches and Christmas trees than any other reasonable person can claim, she ventured out to pave new roads freelancing for various magazines and helping people bring magazine tearsheets to life inside private homes via interior decorating. swivel bar stools
Tired of the same old fall decor every Thanksgiving? Mix it up with a few of our favorite ideas. Spark your creativity by remembering that your holiday table doesn't always have to be formal and traditional, and the color scheme isn't limited to harvest colors. It's your choice—make your Thanksgiving table setting look rustic, glam, vintage, or crisply elegant. You can even move the whole holiday dinner outside. With your Thanksgiving table setting plan squared away, you can move onto another important task: deciding what pies to serve.
Designer Fran Keenan used orange, blue, and citron in this formal table setting. These colors might seem out of place, but if you look closely you will see they are all represented in the Spode Woodland china. Gold and brass accents finish out this warm table. Don't have place card holders? Simply stick a card into the prongs of forks and everyone will find their assigned seat.
This all-natural table setting is the perfect complement to a family Thanksgiving. Go all in on texture with seagrass-clad glassware—here's a similar style from Serena and Lily—speckled stoneware plates, magnolia leaf accents, and a layered place card. Keep the arrangement simple with different shades of green.
Mix up your Thanksgiving color scheme by adding blue to the mix this year. This unexpected combination will wow your guests this season.
Liven up the usual brown-and-white (or turkey-themed) plates by mixing in cool colors and warm woven textures.
Quiet Down the Gold Accents
Brown plus even more brown often results in a lackluster holiday table. Resist your natural inclination to pair these plates with deep yellow or mustard hues. Instead, take a spin toward the color wheel's cooler shades with purple linens, which will contrast with the earthy tones in patterns similar to this one (Wedgwood's Beatrice Brown; replacements.com). This lilac tablecloth (made of Carolina Irving's Andaluz fabric in Viola) reads as a neutral against the richer raspberry napkins.
Clementines, a white paint pen, and a steady hand are all you need for these place "cards."
Transferware can feel right at home on a formal table if you pair it with fine silver (Gorham's classic Chantilly pattern; replacements.com), sturdy wineglasses (Bunny Williams Spiral Glassware; ballarddesigns.com), tinted waterglasses (TableArt Small Tumblers; tableartonline.com), and mercury glass votives. Don't be afraid to accent the Beatrice Brown plates' simplicity with Crate and Barrel's woven chargers and Colonial-inspired candleholders that are reimagined with a clean, matte white finish (Silo Taper Hurricane; farmhousepottery.com).
The key to this dramatic look is limiting yourself to one saturated color family. Rather than the typical Thanksgiving bouquet of seasonal mums, we picked a deep shade of pink. To replicate this display at home, you'll need a dozen large blossoms (such as peonies or garden roses) for volume, a dozen smaller blooms (like carnations) to fill in any holes, and a bunch or two of red-tinged foliage for added texture.
Layers of linens and gleaming silver accents like these chargers from Crate & Barrel keep this Thanksgiving table clean and elegant. Instead of written place cards, silver frames with photographs identify where guests are sitting.
Talk about farm-to-table: Let this colorful, free-form twist on the cornucopia take a starring role. Nestle mini pumpkins among the seasonal greens and succulents in a tray or basket. See assembly details here.
If your special occasion china is simple like the one here, that means you have an unlimited amount of choices when it comes to setting the table. We decided to go with bold teal and rose accent colors instead of the traditional autumn-themed accents.
Break Out the Jewel Tones
While there's no changing the formality of these two heirlooms—Haviland's Silver Anniversary fine china and Gorham's Strasbourg silver (both available from replacements.com)— you can infuse modern energy into the table with colorful linens. The bright block-printed tablecloth (made of Schuyler Samperton's Woodley in Poppy) pushes the palette toward teal, deep rose, and straw rather than browns and golds.
The trick to keeping fancy tables from feeling fussy is compromise. The napkins may be starched, but we chose dusty blue from Sferra Fine Linens rather than pure white. Low, amber-colored water glasses from Hawkins New York counter the dressiness of bell-shaped goblets (Blanco Wine Glass; cb2.com). Perforated votive holders and the Sunday Shop's Rope Taper Candles in Terrain brass candlesticks create flickering light in an offbeat way. Mixing high tapers and low votives provides the optimal candle glow. Calligraphed place cards rest in rattan holders that could easily appear on a casual spring table.
Arrange Flowers a Little Messier
Start out with two similar—but not identical—vases to help create an effortless, pulled-straight-from-the-cabinet effect. Fill each of the vessels with a combination of white roses and dried hydrangeas to set a calm, neutral tone that won't compete with the vibrant patterned tablecloth. Then give a little extra texture to the two arrangements with a few scabiosas and berry clippings. Make sure the berries are long enough to drape loosely over the sides to achieve a more dramatic effect.
Magnolia leaves are all around at Christmas, but we think you should embrace them for Thanksgiving as well. Mixed with rich teals and deep purples, the green becomes autumnal. Lustrous flatware—see this set at Williams-Sonoma for a similar look—is the perfect addition to this modern table setting.
This blue and white Thanksgiving table can be embraced year-round. Rattan placemats (Tava Flat Round Placemat; potterybarn.com) create a base against bamboo plates (Classic Bamboo Plate; juliska.com) and blue and white china (Virginia Blue Dessert Plate; mottahedeh.com). Stick to the theme and go for bamboo flatware (Natural Bamboo Flatware; potterybarn.com) and napkin rings. Not everything on the table has to be blue and white though. Add a punch of color with orange to the napkins (Bel Air Napkins in Orange; mode-living.com) and other table accessories. A ginger jar filled with eucalyptus cuttings and a few blue and white pumpkins keep the table breezy and not too fussy.
To create this look, cut logs of varying heights and top them with moss and small flower arrangements for a rustic and woodsy vibe. Simple white plates and timeless flatware allow the bold pops of orange and mustard to take center stage. "A fabulous table setting can be as close as the local tree service, the farmers' market, or your own backyard," says Savannah designer and stylist Elizabeth Demos.
Your pastel luncheon dishes can become unexpectedly seasonal when combined with traditional Thanksgiving elements.
Surprise your dinner guests with an autumn tablescape that's anchored by a feminine floral pattern, such as this violet Regent by Adams China (available through replacements.com). Then take it up another notch with a tablecloth that features traditional mustard shades (I'On in Gold; palmettehome.com) and understated mauve napkins (Linen Table Napkins in Dusk; cultiver.com).
Vintage brass chargers and gold-toned mercury glass votives complement the warm shades of the table linens. The silver flatware's ornate filigree (Gorham's Melrose; replacements.com) coordinates seamlessly with the whimsical detailing on the plates. Scrolled, calligraphed place cards that are rimmed in gold resemble the flourishes on the china itself but are actually handmade and available to order on Etsy (picturaandpoesis.etsy.com).
The eye-catching arrangement of wine- and ruby-toned ranunculus, dahlias, and artichokes makes a strong, vivid counterpoint to the gold tablecloth while pushing the pale lavender china pattern toward a darker, more conventional Thanksgiving palette. Break up the array of bold blooms by adding a few sprigs of slightly fuzzy dusty miller and letting them spill over the edges of the centerpiece. The simple metal cylindrical vase softens the large gap between the lighter-hued table settings and the round plume of vibrant blossoms.
Pops of teal compliment the neutral palette anchored by cotton and linen. A garland of twine with words of thanks winds along the runner and reminds everyone of the focus of the holiday.
Everyone will want to sit at the kids' table with this bright, colorful theme. Cover the table with white paper and draw each child their own placemat with their name. An orange table runner, pinecones, and wood elements add a playful touch to the center of the table. Include crayons at each setting for the kids to write (or draw) what they are thankful for this year.
Blue and white truly go with everything, so don't be afraid to add autumnal shades and textures to your table. If you have a long rectangular table, create a sprawling centerpiece to fill the space. Fall veggies, fruits, flowers, and foliage are combined to create a twist on a cornucopia. Additional gourds and fruits are spread down the table, making the space feel full and complete.
Fine china, weathered urns, silver cups, and moss do make a great combination. This Thanksgiving table brings some outdoorsy elements inside to create a back-to-nature vibe that is still elegant. Pumpkins set atop urns and moss add height to the table without needing a large flower arrangement. Smaller bouquets in mint julep cups bring in hints of reds and yellows to add to the predominant color of green.
Mini pumpkins serve as place cards for this fall celebration. White linens and dishes allow the punches of orange to become the center focus. Large glass jugs are filled with branches from the yard and a pop of orange on the table runner completes this table.
It's your turn to host, and you're ready to impress without passing into the realm of formal and stuffy. For the palette, try teal. Yes, teal for fall. Summer may stake a claim to the ocean hue, but strategic styling can make it an all-season star, says home goods store owner Emma Allen, founder of the online home goods site Hammett. She recommends pairing teal with darker tones and the right flowers. Finish off the look with a Southern statement piece. Every table needs a conversation starter, whether it's a set of plates with artisanal flair or your mama's butter dish.
Designer Fran Keenan took the Southern china staple Woodland Turkey by Spode and set a table for the entire family. Formal china can easily go casual with natural elements like wooden-handled flatware and rattan chargers. Black-and-white striped napkins and matching runners laid across the width of the table under the place settings are additional modern touches that add to the casual feel of this Thanksgiving table.
The bold elements of Forest Walk china by Juliska set the tone for the rest of the table. Shades of purple, red, and green build off the china pattern without taking away from the details. When setting an oval table, defining each place setting can be difficult. Chargers are used here because they don't take up too much space but clearly identify each setting.
Just because you don't have turkey plates in your china cabinet doesn't mean you can't use your formal china on Thanksgiving. Event planner Tara Guérard used her china pattern as inspiration for this champagne and gold table with subtle touches of pink. Instead of using the tureens for serving, they were filled with spray-painted apples to create centerpieces. Flanked by thrift store candlesticks with pale pink tapers, this table feels formal without being fussy.
With the weather we have in the South, chances are you can enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner outside. This front porch setting leans rustic, but accents of pewter, seasonal china, and even tortoiseshell flatware elevate the table. Faux pumpkins make great vessels for fall arrangements to finish off this Thanksgiving table.
These vintage turkey plates are a great starting point for a colorful Thanksgiving table. Picking up on the blues, ginger jars and blue and white china become a festive combination that you usually wouldn't think about for fall. Pomegranate and hypericum berries bring out the reds in the turkey plate. Scattered down the table and incorporated into the place card bundles, this pop of color keeps the table fun.
Burlap, pewter, and kraft paper are the elements that make up this rustic-meets-refined table setting. Arrangements in warm tones and multiple candlesticks add to the cozy vibe for a Thanksgiving dinner.
Mix-and-match flatware and china bring an ease to this Thanksgiving table. Deep, rich colors in the plaid tea-towel napkins and small bouquets keep the table leaning towards warm, cozy fall. The antlers lend this table a rustic lodge feeling.
A small round table doesn't have to be boring for Thanksgiving. Skip the white linens and go all out with bright colors. Here mustard and teals make for a special setting for an intimate Thanksgiving dinner. For a round table, make sure your centerpiece is low so that conversation (and eye contact) can still be had between all the guests.
Gather your crew for some casual yet elevated pregame noshing. Soft tones of red and green are a great starting point. Pair them with autumnal browns in the tortoise glasses and plaid tablecloth to take the look totally out of holiday territory. From there, it's all in the prints. Recreate old-school combinations that your grandma probably went for, like floral china with a checkered tablecloth. Don't be afraid to mix and match—it's much more fun this way.
Blues, whites, and reds come together effortlessly in this harvest setting. Various patterns of blue and white china are combined with a deep teal table runner and neutral napkins for the base layer of this table. Pewter and silver serving pieces are scattered down the table and filled with fresh apples and small arrangements of fall foliage and hydrangeas. One large jug is filled with branches of fall leaves and sprigs of bittersweet finish off the explosion of red.
This deep orange Cinderella pumpkin provides a charming vase for flowers. Remove the seeds from your pumpkin and set a vase of flowers inside, or moisten a block of florist foam and insert the stems. You can also fill a pumpkin with soil for mums, succulents, mosses, and other plants.
Sometimes an outdoor setting requires little adornment. Here, a simple bouquet and cozy tablecloth provide all the decoration you need for the Thanksgiving table. Place your table at an angle that allows every guest to drink in the view.
Pumpkins aren't the only squash that deserve a spot in the limelight. The tall necks of butternut squash work especially well with a bud vase set inside. Allow the foliage and berries to drape over the sides.
designer lawn chairs This quick-and-easy craft adds a playful tone to the kids' table. To make the place cards, cut feathers from paper and use a glue gun to attach them to a wine cork. Add black beads for eyes, along with a paper beak and wattle. You can also provide a craft project for the kids to complete while waiting for dinner.