Your Thanksgiving meal has all your traditional favorites. And the gang can't wait to dig in.
But there's one more not-to-miss element! Don't forget about making the table beautiful with the season's bounty.
Make your Thanksgiving table the hit of Turkey Day. Go for rustic fall or total glam! Incorporate handmade touches, like place cards and seasonal floral centerpieces. Add hearty colors into the mix with pops of orange, gold, green and more. Incorporate sentimental touches like heirloom china and special occasion serving platters, too.
Take a look at these 10 inspired ideas to help your tablescape become a holiday tradition.
Imagine an elegant cotton canvas runner adorning your Thanksgiving buffet or dining table. Personalize it with your name and you'll definitely make a statement!
This Etsy design is on both ends of the natural-hued runner. Don't worry about spills, it's machine washable, too. Mix and match with other table decor options in the shop's collection.
If you're looking for something that's handcrafted, these leaf-shaped paper napkin rings set the tone.
Cut out of premium paper, the napkin rings are shipped flat. And assembly is easy, with no glue or tape needed.
Make your tabletop appetizing even before the holiday favorites appear. Use rosemary sprigs for your place cards. It's Earthy and minimal at the same time!
Spoon Fork Bacon says all you need are enough sprigs of rosemary so you have one per person for each place card. Use a hole punch on a printed (or handwritten) place card for the sprig. Voila! Simple and elegant.
Set up a low table for the littles on Thanksgiving with special touches just for them. Use editable place name cards that you can easily download. Print the cards onto craft paper, according to Lila Griffith's fall craft blog and wrap around a colorful straw.
Dress the table with plaid napkins that match the adult table's settings. Find templates for the oak leaf tags on Lila's blog. Adorable DIY cork turkeys are a pre-holiday craft project you can do with the kids.
Want a centerpiece with meaning? This gratitude tree is a craft you can make ahead of the holiday. It's a wonderful way to share in the spirit of thankfulness with all who gather at your home.
To start, you'll need a large vase that can hold the branches. Use curly willow branches (shown here) from a local florist, according to marthastewart.com. You'll need construction or Kraft paper for the leaves.
After you've cut out the leaves with handwritten messages of thankfulness on them, use double-stick tape to attach the faux foliage to your branches.
HGTV's Thanksgiving blog suggests you go mad for plaid! Dress your table with a fave fall fabric. You could buy a new tablecloth, but why bother? Reinvent what you likely have already.
Use a plaid blanket, scarf or bed throw as an alternative to a more traditional table linen. Get creative!
Going for a table that's harvest-driven all the way? Find a pumpkin that's large enough to hold flowers and you have an instant centerpiece!
As an FYI, artificial pumpkins are an easier, mess-free option compared to the real deal, according to Good Housekeeping. Autumnal mums make any Thanksgiving table festive!
If an Instagram-worthy look is what you're aiming for, here's an idea from Ella Claire Inspired. Use a simple heirloom cloth and reinvent a cutting board by making it your table runner.
Add mini pumpkins with handwritten notes tied to the pumpkin stems with words like harvest, gather, blessed and grateful. Wind faux or fresh berry vines around the pumpkins. It will be a simple and lovely statement for your table.
Let your table reflect the season's harvest. Pumpkins on the vine dot these porcelain dinner plates from Williams Sonoma Home. The archival botanical pattern is perfect for a warm and inviting holiday tablescape.
These plates complement other pieces in the set. But you can always mix and match with other dishes you already own.
If you would prefer using disposable plates for the holiday feast, you've got lots of options to choose from. And you can still make your table a vision to behold!
Select this Autumn Gather Together plastic dinner plate from Wayfair. If you're serving a crowd, these would be pretty and carry a meaningful message for the day!
No matter how you dress your holiday table, have a Happy Thanksgiving! Be sure to enjoy the beauty of bringing the season's bounty to your Turkey Day spread.
Susan Friedman is a lifestyle journalist with a background that includes real estate, interior design, architecture and kitchen and bath design. The former senior editor of Florida Travel + Life magazine, Susan resides in sunny south Florida and loves exploring the next great place to live, local culture and neighborhoods with cool vibes. Whether it’s in her own backyard or beyond, she has the pulse on what’s trending now in apartment dwelling and more.