13 Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas to Warm Your Holiday

A couple days ago my daughter texted her Thanksgiving menu to me and I shockingly realized the holiday season is upon us! Seems like just yesterday was July and I was feeding the fish while wading in my pond. But here we are – it’s November! I started thinking about Thanksgiving table setting ideas and gathered some inspiration to share with you. Whether you go all out with an elaborate table, or keep things simple for sanity’s sake, you’re sure to find some inspiration with these examples.

 

I tend to gravitate toward natural, organic table settings and think a foraged centerpiece is quite beautiful while being inexpensive. The leaf imprint on the salad plate caught my eye. The morning of the big day, collect colorful leaves from the yard and place one atop each setting.

 

The other day I saw an ad for fringed napkins like this and fell in love, if it’s possible to become infatuated with an object. I didn’t buy any – yet. But look how great the baby boo pumpkins and sage leaves look with it.

 

Baby boos are always the perfect touch to any Thanksgiving table setting. I need to get seeds to grow them in the garden.

 

Lots of people use these tiny white pumpkin gourds to decorate for Halloween. Don’t toss them out! They should keep until Thanksgiving. Corral them in a bowl with candles for a romantic centerpiece.

 

If you prefer more color, choose orange and yellow gourds for your table. Warm colors look perfect when paired with gold flatware and a woven placemat. Add a knotted napkin for the finishing touch.

 

You simply can’t go wrong using candles, small pumpkins, and gourds for your Thanksgiving table. The use of a wooden pedestal server elevates candles so the centerpiece has varying heights. Think of it as a landscape with varied topography.

 

If you’re a traditionalist, you probably enjoy using fresh flowers at every table setting. For fall, use a hollowed out pumpkin as your vase. You can tuck a mason jar or other glass receptacle inside the pumpkin to fill with water and flowers.

 

The soft colors of this smaller bouquet pair well with the polka-dot plate. Use a piece of twine to tie the silverware together for a creative touch.

 

There’s just something about a beautiful table that creates intimacy and elegance at meal time. A friend of mine told me they always use paper plates for holiday dinners so they don’t have to wash dishes. I thought this was a travesty. LOL. I get it, but I could never do it. There are just too many pretty dishes available. And look how good they look with a few acorns and leaves from the yard. Kids would have fun adding the acorns to the table.

 

If you’re feeling especially ambitious, make pumpkin soup from scratch and serve it in hollowed-out pumpkin halves. I love this idea. Since I’m not hosting this year, maybe I could tackle this as my dish to bring for Thanksgiving dinner.

 

Here’s the most idyllic setting for turkey day. What a gorgeous view and a finely dressed table.

 

You’ve got exactly three more weeks until turkey day, so you’ve still got time to plan your Thanksgiving table. Will you keep it simple and casual, or go all out this year?

 

Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Table:

Pumpkin Pie Made from Scratch

How to Brine a Turkey for Ultimate Flavor

Turkey Stuffing Dumpling Soup