Thanksgiving Revisited

Something Different

I love setting a table for festive events. For Thanksgiving I typically due a blue and orange theme with vintage, toile blue and white china with orange ranunculus and fruit as a centerpiece. Even though there is an orange theme, I try to change it up with the blue. Below are some beautiful arrangements and designs that fall outside the traditional Thanksgiving motifs. My favorite below is the textured motif

Tame the Turkey Motifs

Turkeys may not be the flashiest of birds, but we certainly won’t cry fowl if you want to integrate them into your Thanksgiving decor. Williams Sonoma shows us precisely how it’s done, with this classic turkey table setting, turkey figurines, and a lush centerpieces of peach-colored roses and magnolia branches.

Lean into Rich Gold and Black

If Thanksgiving decorating is all Greek to you, go ahead and lean into it—literally. “Our design juxtaposes the classicism of the Greek vases with an earth-tone Suzani printed tablecloth, accentuating the richness of the season with reflective gold surfaces—hurricane lamps, salt and pepper cellars, and delicate bird figurines,” Martin Cooper, cofounder of the Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co. explains of this opulent tablescape. “To complete the ensemble, we’ve included our own the Red Bands illustrated place cards, which bring a subtle yet striking visual harmony to the setting.”

Beckon with Brown

Have you heard? Brown is everyone’s favorite neutral these days. Here, designer Shea McGee flaunts the shade with gusto in this elegantly understated Thanksgiving tablescape. A brown floral block print tablecloth serves as the backdrop for rustic rattan chargers, chocolate-colored napkins, mocha-colored tumblers, and a rust-hued botanical arrangement. Pro tip: When working with browns, incorporate gold or brass accessories to lean into the luxe, warm palette.

Take Inspiration from Mother Nature

Sometimes the best decor comes from right outside your door. In this painterly vignette from designer Bradley Odom, a rich green tablecloth paired with an arrangement of magnolia branches does the trick.

Embrace Eccentricities

Hosting a large Thanksgiving feast? There’s a good chance you don’t have enough matching place settings for each guest. But before you panic, take a cue from Alison Pickart: “When seati5

Add Your Personal Aesthetic

Want to inject your personal style? Take a cue from Paloma Contreras and juxtapose your favorite wares with fall-fueled accents. The miniature pumpkin and warm-hued flowers feel undeniably festive, while the ikat tablecloth and bamboo-inspired flatware gives this setup a cool, coastal edge. The result? A Thanksgiving table that feels warm and welcoming.

Inviting 22 people, as we had last year, I knew I didn’t have a set of dishes or glassware with enough to have everything match,” she says. “We leaned into the mismatch and created an eclectic mix of fancy and casual. I stuck to three different place settings, so it still felt cohesive.”

Embrace White

If you’re going to go all out on one element of your Thanksgiving tablescape this year, make it your flower arrangement. Here, Shea McGee placed an overflowing bouquet of white tulips, pink snapdragons, and lush greenery amid an otherwise neutral table. Burlap napkins and clear glassware let it all shine.

Characteristically Colorful

Monelle Totah the cofounder of home decor store Hudson Grace, likes to use a white tablecloth for the base, layering it with colorful linen accents to dress up the setting. “It can make a tablescape formal or informal with a switch of a color, adding texture and interest,” she says.

Keep It Simple

For Marie Flanigan, subtlety is key. Instead of overwhelming her table with large, colorful gourds, the interior designer kept it simple by layering olive branches over a crisp, white table runner. Tea lights, woven fruit baskets, and mismatched china round out the look, creating a cozy, homey atmosphere. Thanks to its unparalleled versatility, this is one table decor idea you can enjoy year-round.

The Textured Treatment

Not a pattern person? Breathe some life into your tablescape by experimenting with different textiles. With a tactile centerpiece, ribbed candles, and etched drinking glasses, this setup from Charlotte Moss strikes a balance between subtle and statement. The key is to pair a muted pop of color with a neutral color palette.

Fancy Farmhouse

Jenny Dina Kirschner of JDK Interiors strikes a balance between laid-back and luxe by pairing her formal china with a checkered tablecloth. “There’s something about the juxtaposition of it all that feels warm and inviting, rather than formal and pretentious,” the designer explains. If you want to give your tablescape a seasonal spin, swap out the tulips for some chrysanthemums.

Display A Mini Garden

Talk about farm-to-table: Let this colorful, free-form twist on the cornucopia take a starring role. Nestle mini pumpkins among the seasonal greens and succulents in a tray or basket.