This post is all about creating a Pinterest-worthy Thanksgiving tablescape.
Oh, how I love Fall! The crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkin patches, pumpkin spice lattes, and the smell of apple pie in the air. The cozy, warm feeling that Fall brings is indescribable.
Fall brings Thanksgiving, a time to gather with your loved ones to give thanks and have gratitude. We all have so much to be grateful for.
If you are someone who enjoys hosting family and friends for Thanksgiving, you’ll want a Thanksgiving tablescape that welcomes your guests and fills them with gratitude as you all sit around the table. Giving your guests a Thanksgiving dinner they will never forget will bring you all so many memories for years to come.
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to be stressful, and neither does creating a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape. Here are 9 tips for creating a Pinterest-worthy Thanksgiving tablescape that you will want to refer to when designing your tablescape that will wow your guests.
How to create a Pinterest-worthy Thanksgiving tablescape
1. Choose A Color Scheme
The first step in creating a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape is choosing a color scheme. Are you looking to go with classic Thanksgiving colors like orange, red, yellow, and browns, or perhaps you want to keep it simple by starting with a white or cream base and incorporating pops of neutral/earth tone colors? You can also create a moody look by using darker shades of color throughout.
Regardless of the direction you choose, ensure that it reflects your personality and personal style. Also, go off the color scheme you have in the rest of your home. You will want to coordinate the tablescape colors with the colors in your other Thanksgiving decor so you create a cohesive feel.
Stick with choosing 2 to 3 colors and disperse them throughout the tablescape in items such as garland, candlesticks, pumpkins, and dinnerware. Or, make a statement and opt for a monochromatic look.
2. Start with the base and layer
Begin with the base, the table itself. Starting here will give you a solid foundation to build off of, so you can layer and add to it.
For the base, start by placing a tablecloth and/or table runner on the table. Or, if you love your dining table and want to keep that as your statement piece, leave the tablecloth off. You can add visual interest with centerpieces instead.
3. Place Settings
Add your place settings and include dinner plates, silverware, napkins, bowls, glasses, and any other dinnerware you may use.
First, lay a place mat or a charger underneath the plate, and then work your way out from there with the rest of your dinnerware. This is another opportunity to bring in more color, texture, and metal accents.
Mix and match these items and have fun with it. Maybe you could choose amber colored wine glasses instead of the basic clear ones. Or instead of using regular silverware, you could use gold, which would warm up the table setting.
All of these layers add dimension and texture to your dining table.
4. Personalize with menus and name cards
If you really want to add a touch of luxury, personalize the dining table with menus and name cards. You can make these in Canva and get them printed at your local print store, such as Staples or CopyWorks. You don’t have to be a graphic designer to do this. Canva has tons of free templates for you to use, where you can easily change out the information to customize it to your liking.
The menus are a nice touch because they give your guests something to look at as they are seated. They can read the menu ahead of time so they know what to expect. Place the menus on top of the dinner plate.
Name cards are another great way to personalize your Thanksgiving tablescape. It makes your guests feel special having this personalization. It also helps with seating arrangements so guests don’t have to worry about where they should sit. It eliminates the awkwardness as everyone comes to sit down for dinner.
5. Add Height
There are many ways you can add height to your Thanksgiving tablescape. Adding height allows your eye to move across the table, making it very visually appealing.
Add height with things like candlestick holders, pumpkins, florals in vases, and tiered food trays. The glassware also helps add height to the table setting.
The tiered food trays are not only a great way to add height, but are also great for getting food items off the table, which keeps the table clear. The more space you have for guests, the better, because you want to make sure they are seated comfortably and have room to dine.
6. Add Texture
Adding texture brings another level of dimension. If you don’t incorporate different textures, everything you have beautifully decorated on your Thanksgiving tablescape will appear flat and blah.
You can add texture with floral arrangements in the centerpiece, lay garland and stick decorative picks in it, add woven and natural materials on place mats, lay down table cloths or table runners, and style with detailed and intricate decor.
7. Create An Ambience
Set the mood by using candles. These can be real flame or battery-operated.
Candles give you that warm, cozy feeling that Thanksgiving brings. It is inviting and creates a relaxing vibe.
You can keep your overhead lights on, or dim them, or turn them completely off, and really set the mood with a candlelit dinner.
Whatever your dinner vibe is, your guests will love the elevated feeling from the warm glow of the candles burning.
8. Incorporate Nature
It is always great to bring nature inside. During the Fall season, you can find beautiful foliage outside that you can add to your tablescape, such as leaves, stems, acorns, pumpkins, and gourds.
Mix in these elements within your tablescape, and you will see how much this elevates the look of your dining table. It adds a nice personal and creative touch because these are items that you hand-picked from nature.
9. Keep It Simple
Try not to go too over the top because you want people to have room while they eat and visit. You also need room for all of your dinnerware, food, and beverages.
You also don’t need to go out and spend a ton of money on this. Go thrifting and find unique items to add to your Thanksgiving tablescape, such as candle holders, dinnerware, glassware, and decorative Fall objects.
