With Halloween behind us, we are in the midst of the the most wonderful time of the year! But lets be honest, its also one of the most stressful. Many of us are traveling, hosting friends and family and maybe (just maybe) spending and eating a little too much.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, there are many ways to put a warm welcome on display beyond the home cooked meal. A great place to start is with the table setting design. Since the meal is the central focus, the table is the logical location to design a beautiful welcome for all your guest to see! I have put together 3 tablescape ideas at different price points that you can recreate. I will walk you through how to find inspiration and what you will need to make these easy designs come to life.

FIND INSPIRATION

Your first step will be to find inspiration for your tablescape design. Great sources include, food or lifestyle magazines like Real Simple, Martha Stewart and Oprah, and social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.

Also remember to look around you for inspiration. Draw on the meaning of the holiday and your family traditions. You might be surprised by how your home and surrounding environment can spark your design ideas. Autumn is a colorful season, consider bringing in colors such as burgundy, plum, rust, mustard and olive into your design and in-season flowers like dahlias, mums and roses or foliage like changing leaves, berries, wheat or gourds. The possibilities for a unique design are endless!

3 TABLESCAPE IDEAS TO MATCH YOUR TIME AND BUDGET

First Look: Gourd-eous Design

You will need:

A Table runner
Gourds of varying size and color
Berry branches

Level: Easy

Time: 10 minutes

Cost: $35-$40

This is a great option if you are looking to spice up your table but don’t have a ton of time to source a variety of materials. Gourds are plentiful and really help to set the mood for a inviting Thanksgiving table. This is perfect for an intimate and relaxed gathering with close friends and family. Remember to select 2-4 colors for the gourds to keep the look consistent. Once you have arranged them to your liking, add the berry branches and taper candles to set the mood.

Second look: Understated Elegance

You will need:

Greenery
Berry Branches
Taper candles and holders
Place cards
Flower Tape

Level: Intermediate

Time: 20 minutes

Cost: $40-$45

I love this design, its understated and elegant. While it doesn’t have that wow factor it allows the food and company be the stars of the show. You will need a bunch of greenery, head to your local florist or grocery store. Some in season options for greenery include: millet, oat greens, acacia and bayleaf. For the berries, you can use: pepperberry, llex berry branches or privett berries. Once you have your greenery, play around with how you want to lay them on the table (fanned out across the length of the table, tight and centered, etc.) then use the flower tape to connect and secure your greenery in place. Layer the taper candles and berry branches around the greenery then add the place cards. If you are looking to elevate this look even more add a table cloth and complimentary table runner.

Third look: More is More

You will need:

Table cloth (optional)
Table runner (optional)
Persimmons
Pine cones
Magnolia leaves
Flowers (2-3 varieties)
Candles

Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Time: 35 minutes

Cost: $65-$70

This look is over flowing! Its lush, green and has beautiful pops of jewel tones which are very fitting for November. This look doesn't need a table cloth but you are welcome to include. Once the table cloth and runner are in place start by cutting your fresh flowers (remove all leaves and cut the ends). Place them in small vases and set aside. Next lay your magnolia leaves down and add the pine cones, persimmons and candles. Where there is negative space add your small vases of flowers. Prepare an odd number of vases, odd numbers create visual interest for the viewer. Finally light the candles!

I hope you enjoyed reading about these three looks. Let me know if you use one of the looks for your Thanksgiving dinner. I would love to hear from you!

3 Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas