Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas
A Thanksgiving Tablescape For First-Timers
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Thanksgiving can be a tangled web of emotion — it's joyous, stressful, chaotic, and loving all at once, but the thing that pulls everyone and their experiences together is the table. A Thanksgiving table is sacred. It's a place where family and friends gather and share and . . . stuff themselves with the ultimate comfort food. Honor the time and the event with your loved ones by setting the table. Even if you're a first-time host, a few decor details can set the tone of the day and (here's the best part) give your guests another reason to be grateful for you!
Use What You Have
There's no need to go fancy for your Thanksgiving feast. Simply use what you have. If you don't have a table runner, measure the length of your table and go to your nearest craft store to cut a piece of burlap to fit. Ask your friends or family to contribute — whether it's votive candles, a vase for flowers, or even some cloth napkins.
Decor details:
Eames Molded Plastic Dowel-Leg Side Chairs
Remember Your Place-Setting Rules
Consult a handy place-setting infographic before setting the table. But here are a few often-forgotten rules: Place the napkin on the left, fold facing toward the plate. On top of the napkin, place the salad fork and dinner forks. Position the glasses above the plate, at the 1 o'clock position. On the righthand side of the plate, place the knife and the spoon. Be sure all the silverware line up evenly.
To add more depth to the table, stack the dinner and dessert plates on top of one another. Have the guests pass the plates to one end of the table where they can be stacked for dessert.
Decor details:
Heath Ceramics Dinner Plates in opaque white
Heath Ceramics Salad Plates in aqua chocolate brown
Crate & Barrel Lucca Flatware
CB2 Marta Barware
CB2 True Stemless Wine Glass
Menu Cards
Whether you have a planned potluck dinner or are in charge of the full feast, a printed menu card adds a nice touch to the table and can be taken home as a momento. We've printed our menu cards on thick stock paper (and cut them out to four-by-eight cards), then propped one up against potted plants and a votive candle. Print out the Thanksgiving menu so you can do the same.
Fill the Table
Don't have any seasonal decor for your table? Here's how to avoid a stark table: fill it with minipumpkins or sugar pumpkins (which can be found in the produce section of grocery stores), wine bottles, and even small potted plants that you already own. We also put out the pie, so all could ogle at what's to come.
The "Endpiece" Is the New Centerpiece
Have you ever sat in the middle of the table only to realize that a giant bouquet is blocking your view from the person across from you? It's annoying and prevents open communication. Avoid this pesky problem by creating an "endpiece." Group liqueur bottles, a small pumpkin, and a small Fall bouquet together for a table statement that won't get in the way.
Create a Bread Centerpiece Space
Keep Within the Theme
Flowers make a table feel full and alive, even if it's a small arrangement, like this petit bouquet from Whole Foods, which cost around $10. However, feel free to put together your own Fall flower arrangement and use a mason jar or glass cup as the vase.
Serve the Feast Buffet Style
Make a Feast That's as Easy as the Decor
That was easy, wasn't it? We also developed a Thanksgiving menu, featuring classic dishes done in seven ingredients or less. You deserve to actually enjoy Thanksgiving.
