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Thanksgiving is one of the most lovely holidays of all because it centers on gratitude. Setting a Thanksgiving table is part of being grateful. Without gratitude, we become focused on the negative in life. That’s not lovely or uplifting to your family.
No matter the size of your home or current situation, we are ALL blessed. Let’s show our family love and honor this Thanksgiving by setting a beautiful table. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You can be totally creative. It’s all about making it easy, using items you already have, or can easily purchase.
Follow along with my steps below to set a lovely tablescape, from the centerpiece to the place settings. You can mix and match pieces to create something equally lovely for your family. Make sure to read to the end for a video with our son Brandon, making Libby’s classic pumpkin pie!
Creating a Thanksgiving Centerpiece
You can create this centerpiece on any table shape, whether rectangular, square, or round. Let me show you how in just five easy steps. Follow along in my video below, or keep reading this post.
Step 1: Select Your Base
I like to start with a base for the centerpiece. My favorite option is using a long cheese board with handle like this one I found at Dillard’s. It’s part of the Southern Living Collection. Wayfair also has a similar cheese board.
You could use any long cutting board or tray. If you table is square or round, select a round tray or even charger.
You can also, skip this step and place your centerpiece directly on the table. I’m all for keeping it simple.
Step 2: Select Your Pumpkins
The next step is to add pumpkins. I especially love white baby pumpkins. They are just so darn cute! But you can add orange or any color. You can add real or faux. You can even spray paint them a pretty color like metallic gold.
Place your pumpkins either in rows or a zig zag, chevron-like pattern. This will make room for the next step. If your centerpiece is round, you can place them in a circular pattern, or pile them up in the center.
Step 3: Select Your Votive Candles
Now for some light! Whether your family eats your Thanksgiving meal at noon like mine has for decades, or in the evening, it’s nice to add the ambiance of candlelight.
Select your favorite votive candle holders. To keep with my pink and gold fall theme, I found these pretty rose gold votives on Amazon. You can use clear, gold, amber, or any color you love. It’s all about personalizing the centerpiece for your taste.
Line them up next to the pumpkins for rectangular centerpieces. For round or square, you can make a circular patterns around your pumpkins either side-by-side or a zig-zag pattern staying inside the circle.
Then pop in either unscented soy tea lights or these long-lasting LED lights.
Step 4: Select Your Greenery
Adding greenery to your centerpiece is one of my favorite steps. Since Thanksgiving is just one day a year, why not use the real thing? I like to select seeded or silver dollar eucalyptus. You can order it from your favorite grocer or florist. I get mine from Whole Foods.
Just make sure to wait to add the greenery a day or two before, so it’s fresh and doesn’t wilt. You can also use any greenery, even something from your yard.
Cut the greenery into short pieces just so they overflow a bit off your base, but not so long they overlap your placesettings. Watch my video above for placement tips.
Step 5: Finish Off With Wheat Sheaves
Finally, add a touch of whimsy to the ends or outside by adding a few sheaves of dried wheat. I found my wheat at Hobby Lobby. Just give them a snip, and fan them out on the ends.
You could even substitute some fall leaves. It’s all about making it pretty using items you have in your home, and bringing the outside in.
Now, let’s set a pretty table.
Setting a Thanksgiving Place Setting
I like my formal dining room table set with our Thanksgiving dishes at the beginning of November. It just makes it pretty to look at, and keeps family members from piling it up with all their comings and goings, if you know what I mean.
Even if your family is like ours at Thanksgiving, and you serve the meal buffet style, you can still have your table set days or weeks before to enjoy. We simply stack up the dinner plates and add them to the lineup of food Thanksgiving morning, and add the dessert plates to our buffet so they are ready for all the sweets!
For setting a formal table, you can read my post, How to Set a Lovely Table in 7 Joyful Steps. Here are my steps for setting a Thanksgiving table; it’s somewhere between casual and formal.
Step 1: Select Your Base
I love using these round burlap placemats I found at one of my favorite local stores, Chic Artique. They have a casual, rustic feel that’s great for fall. I recommend selecting either a tablecloth or placemats for a special meal like Thanksgiving.
Step 2: Add Your Chargers
I absolutely love these $2 gold chargers from Hobby Lobby. They are perfect when wanting to add elegance without spending a lot of money. They also come in silver and a variety of colors. You can find chargers at many home decor stores. Pier 1 also has a great selection too.
Step 3: Use the Good Dishes
I say use the good dishes all year long. My favorite everyday “good” dishes are from Dillards. These are their Manor Collection by Gorham. They are white with scalloped edges and perfect for layering.
Start with your largest plate, the dinner plate, then add a smaller plate, either a salad or dessert plate on top. I’ve been using these gorgeous glass Vietri plates with gold edge for my pink and gold fall theme. They are perfect for spring and summer too.
If you have soup for your Thanksgiving table, you can also add a pretty soup bowl on top of the small plate. It doesn’t have to bet a matching set, just make it coordinate. Depending on your formality, you can add a small bread plate in the top left corner of the place setting. Our family is not that formal, so we pile our bread on top of our mashed potatoes and gravy. It tastes better that way!
I also love adding something vintage for Thanksgiving, from my Grandma Erma’s gold-rimmed wheat serving bowls, to my father-in-law Charlie’s amber pedestal dessert dishes. We serve our favorite Georgie Porgie Pudding Pie in these cuties.
Step 4: Add Your Flatware
I love flatware with some weight. My silverware favorite is Lenox’s French Perle. However, for Thanksgiving this year, we’re using this Gold Flatware from Amazon. They just look so pretty with our fall theme. Remember, forks on the left side of the dinner plate. Place the knife, then spoons on the right, going largest to smallest.
Make sure to watch my video on How to Make a Fall Mantel using pink and gold.
Step 5: Add Drinkware
Save the bottled waters and soda cans for every day. Honor your family with pretty glasses for their beverage of choice this Thanksgiving.
Step 6: Add Napkins, Napkin Rings & Placecards
I love using these Wayfair cotton napkins for the holidays. I keep my table set year-round with them as well. You fold them under your salad plate, or gather them in a pretty napkin ring.
I love these Beaded Burst napkin rings by Wayfair for a touch of whimsy. For a more traditional style, these gold beaded napkin rings are beautiful.
If you are having special guests this Thanksgiving, I really enjoy using place cards to seat people together to make the most of great conversation. These gold foil leaf place cards are perfect for fall.
Step 7: Add Your Thanksgiving Centerpiece
Back to where we started, creating a Thanksgiving centerpiece should be a fun experience for the whole family. Follow my steps in this video for an easy and elegant centerpiece.
So bring on the love, the gratitude, and the pie!
Now for Pumpkin Pie!
Watch our son Brandon make his favorite pie, Libby’s® Classic Pumpkin Pie:
I’m here for YOU! Send your decorating questions to buffie@buffieshomedecorating.com.
Much love & joy,
Get my Decorating Guides:
How to Set a Lovely Table in 7 Joyful Steps
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