5 Tips for an Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape
Today, we’re sharing 5 tips for an easy Thanksgiving tablescape as part of the “A Season of Thanks” blog hop hosted by the always creative Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home.
If you’re coming over from Michelle’s blog, Thistle Key Lane, welcome, we’re excited to have you here. Doesn’t Michelle have such a gorgeous style? She inspires me all the time!
I know some of you are gearing up to host Thanksgiving with your pod while others will be enjoying a quiet celebration this year.
In the past, every other Thanksgiving has been spent with my Mom’s big farm family and it’s always so much fun to see everyone.
Most of the friends I bring home for Thanksgiving can’t believe I’ve grown up eating dinner with around 100 family members (sometimes more than that) but it’s true.
Everyone pitches in and brings a dish “dinner on the ground style” and we sit at big round tables visiting and catching up.
As you can imagine, this year is going to be completely different thanks to the pandemic (does anyone else feel like they’ve said those words a million times already?) and truthfully, it’s going to be super weird not to see everyone.
I try to keep reminding myself that different does not mean bad though, it just means different.
And while the mindset change seems like a small one, it’s enough to help me get excited about the variety of ways we can look forward to celebrating this year.
I hope it helps you too.
Putting together tablescapes for special holiday events doesn’t have to be super involved or complicated to feel unique.
It just has to be thoughtful and intentional when you’re playing up all the fun details.
Here are 5 tips for an easy Thanksgiving tablescape that will help you make the details extra special this year…
Shop the produce aisle for budget-friendly seasonal decorations:
There are a lot of seasonal decorating ideas right in the produce department!
Think apples, persimmons, grapes, gourds, pumpkins, acorn squash, pears, cranberries, plums, pomegranate, guava, corn, and herbs.
Add a few of your favorite fall flowers into the mix for a gorgeous Thanksgiving-inspired tablescape and centerpiece.
Use a seasonal color palette that is in line with your home’s existing colors:
As you guys know our home is mostly shades of white, camels, and grays with touches of black and wood grain.
Whenever I’m out shopping I try to only pick up those pieces like thrifted blankets, scarves, and linens in our home’s color palette so they can be reused in different spots around the house throughout the year.
It really helps to cut down on the number of seasonal items we have to store and saves time shopping as well.
Vary Texture and Soft Elements Into Your Seasonal Tablescape:
Layering fabrics like flannels, wools, burlap, cashmere, cable knit, and velvet will help to create a cozy feeling in your home.
Think outside the box when it comes to fabric, blankets, and table linens.
And centerpiece containers too!
Collect Bits of Nature to Highlight on Your Tablescape:
Create an easy Thanksgiving tablescape with mums, magnolia leaves, sticks, goldenrod, leaves, pinecones, coleus, and deer sheds are usually plentiful this time of year.
Bonus, they can be used well into the holiday season too!
Just make sure you’ve cleaned the items well and they are free from pests before bringing inside.
Create Ambiance With Lighting:
Use unscented candles, votives, mason jars, lanterns, or hurricanes to create a warm soft glow that will make your guests feel both relaxed and celebrated.
I know sometimes creating an easy Thanksgiving tablescape and hosting people for dinner can be kind of scary because there are so many elements to remember…will the food taste good…do I have enough…is everyone going to feel comfortable with where they’re seated…are there any picky eaters at the table…are there appropriate beverages at the table…is the gravy lumpy…you know what I’m saying?
The thing is, most of the people that are gathered around your table won’t be thinking about any of that, they’ll just be happy to spend time with you.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the fluff of the holiday season, the one thing that makes dinner with loved ones feel special is that they feel welcomed.
It’s really as simple as that.
So, let your loved ones know you’re happy to share a meal with them. Then relax and spend the rest of the dinner laughing and making memories.
Up next on the “A Season of Thanks” blog hop is Shelley from Calypso in the Country. You’ll love her fabulous style and her beautiful dining room too!
Once you’re finished there be sure to check out what the rest of these fabulous and creative ladies are sharing:
Other Seasonal Tablescape Inspiration to Enjoy:
- We Gather Together Thanksgiving Blog Hop
- Gather ‘Round the Table Thanksgiving Blog Hop
- Fall Inspired Outdoor Tablescape
- Elegant Fall Home Tour
- Embracing Fall Home Tour
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Many blessings,
CoCo
Thanks so much Megan!
CoCo – you can do tablescapes like no other! Your combinations of patterns, textures and themes are just gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your beauty and creativity!
Happy Thanksgiving. Your place settings are so much fun. You make me want to go add some more china to my collection but I don’t need another piece. I’ll keep remembering that. Different doesn’t mean bad. Thanks for the inspiration.
Speak to my heart, Katie, it’s so hard to settle on just one or two sets. I could definitely go overboard as well. Thankfully, my Mom has a love of vintage china too and some great pieces she lets me borrow. Sending you lots of hugs for a Happy Thanksgiving, CoCo
Truly thankful for all the inspiration you provided. I adore the pink floral tablescape and love all the shades of green. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Laura! Using all the different layers of pinks and greens was one of my favorite tablescapes. It just felt right for this wild and crazy year 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well, CoCo
Your table looks beautiful Coco! I love all the rich colors and organic elements you used! Enjoy the holiday season! xoxox
Thank you so much, Stacy, I really appreciate it! Hope your holiday season is a blessed one as well. Big hugs, CoCo
Oh wow, each tablescape is more special than the other. I love them all. So much inspiration. I love that you also showed a beautiful table outdoors. Great post.
Thank you so much, Marty, I really appreciate it. I know this year will look completely different than in years past but I’m bound and determined to appreciate every minute:) Sending you big hugs, CoCo
CoCo, your thanksgiving tablescapes are gorgeous! Your floral and eucalyptus centerpiece is my favorite! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thank you so much, Cecilia, I really appreciate it! Gathering around the table with family and friends always feels like the best gift. Hope your holiday season is a blessed one, CoCo
CoCo, you have an amazing style. I love ALL your tablescape ideas and still embarrassingly drooling over the hunting scene plates. So pretty my friend! Hope you have the best holiday!
Thank you so much, Michelle! I feel the same way about those hunting plates. They were on loan from my sweet aunt for that tablescape and I swear I felt a little tear in my eye when I had to give them back 🙂 Hope you and your family have a joy-filled holiday as well. Big hugs, CoCo
Coco, the bigger the family the harder it seems to swallow the pill that this pandemic has been. It’s just downright sad that those we are closest to have to keep away in most cases for the holidays which are centered on family. In trying to keep positive, playing around at home with tables like these keeps the mind occupied and spirits up. I love all these, especially the one with the equestrian hunt plates, They tug at my vintage-loving heart. I hope you enjoy and make the best of your season of thanks.
I know just what you mean, Rita. I kept thinking things would settle down this summer but then we had the summer surge and the cases have skyrocketed. I’ve been trying to manage my expectations and like you stay creative. It hasn’t always been easy but it definitely helps. Sending you hugs for a holiday season filled with unexpected blessings, CoCo
CoCo you always have e such beautiful and inspiring ideas! The tablescape you shared are gorgeous and I loved all of your tips! I know Thanksgiving will look a bit different for you and a majority of us too, I just pray you still have a wonderful time!
Thank you so much, Kelly! This year has definitely been a wild ride and one we’ll never forget. I know we still have the power to make the season a special one though. There are lots of things to be grateful for! Big hugs for the happiest holiday season, CoCo
Wow, if you’re used to 100 people, this Thanksgiving will definitely be a change for you! Wonderful tips and every photo is more gorgeous than the next. How on earth will I choose what to pin? Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Shelley
I know, Shelley! It’s going to be super weird but I keep reminding myself this entire year has been one of embracing change and managing expectations. We’ll definitely have to get more creative but it can still be a magical season. Hugs, CoCo
No one will be thinking about the lump gravy or where they are sitting if anyone is near any of these tablescapes. Each one is beautiful and would make anyone feel special and at home. I hope your gathering no matter how small (+/- 100) is meaningful. Happy Thanksgiving sweet friend
Can you tell I’ve been officially put off gravy duty or what, Cindy ha ha. You know it’s bad when the littles ask who made it before pouring it over their big pile of mashed potatoes 🙂 Things have been so wild this year, I’m just excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving at this point. We have so many things to be thankful for! Big hugs, CoCo
Oh my CoCo, your tables were so beautiful! It was fun for you to take us outdoors as well. Loved the pumpkins, loved the mums, loved it all!!!!!
Thank you so much, Kim! If it were up to me (and not Mother Nature) I’d eat outside every single day all season long 🙂 Big hugs, CoCo
CoCo,
What a gorgeous collection of fall tablescapes you have. I love hearing about your mom’s farm and your large family. I can’t imagine how different that will be for you this year. Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us. Love your idea of collecting thrifty linens! XO, Christy
Thank you, Christy! I swear I feel like we’ve said it’s going to be a different kind of year a million times since the pandemic started. While it’s going to be hard not to see everyone it’s also forced us to find ways to connect in a completely different way which has been fun too. Sending you hugs for a warm holiday season, CoCo
Oh my goodness, every tablescape is as gorgeous as the one before and I can’t pick a favorite! There is so much inspiration in this post and so many ideas to pin away. I love all your dishes ( I am always crushing on the equestrian plates!) and the different textiles and seasonal accents you use in creative ways.
Just wow. I love it all!
Thank you so much for joining the hop! I hope you have safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much, Amber! I feel the same way about your tablescapes. Each one is more beautiful than the last and I’m beyond excited about your kitchen makeover too. All the work you’ve done is amazing. Hope your holiday season is merry and bright, CoCo PS: Those equestrian plates get me every time 🙂
Coco, I loved hearing your thoughts on how the pandemic is changing our family traditions this year. Your words are so encouraging. Your family get togethers sound amazing, what a blessed family you have. Well, I love each and every tablescape you have shared but I started drooling over those amazing hunt plates. Now I’m out looking for dishes! Have a Happy Happy Thanksgiving!
ha ha speak my heart, Debra, those hunt dishes about put me over the edge! Our dish pantry is plenty full but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to bring some special pieces home 🙂 This year is the first time in 76 years we won’t all be gathering together for Thanksgiving at the farm. Every time I think about how disappointing it will be to not see everyone I all but force myself to replace the sad thought with a happy one. It’s truly a blessing to have even had that experience for my entire life. If 2020 has taught me anything it’s to love when you have the chance to love and to celebrate when you have the chance to celebrate because we never know what “next year” will bring. Sending you lots of love and hugs for a richly blessed holiday season, CoCo
I loved getting this tour of all your pretty tablescapes, CoCo! I love how you style everything and always love seeing your vintage dishes and pieces:) We were definitely on the same wave length as to how to create a Thanksgiving table setting! Great ideas! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Lora! I know you love to treasure hunt too so I know you completely understand how much fun it is to shop for vintage dishes. I seriously have to hold myself back 🙂 Sending you big hugs for a warm and cozy holiday season, CoCo
Oh my goodness, so many good ideas and all of these amazing tablescapes are so inspiring. I just want to spend the time here gazing at all of your beautiful centerpieces. I thought I loved the table with the apples, and then there was the cotton, but the tall vase with the pumpkin on it captured my heart! Lovely. lovely!
Such a sweet and thoughtful compliment, Chloe, thank you so much! Your tablescapes inspire me in every single season so I really appreciate your kind words. My Mom would let us take turns setting the table when we were younger and she always encouraged us to be creative. Most of the time we had lots of flowers but there were a few times we dined with horses, smurfs, and barbies en masse which my Dad thankfully took in stride 🙂 Big hugs for a happy holiday season, CoCo
I was pinning away! So many beautiful tables and centerpieces! And your mix of plates and goblets and chargers! I love it all!!
Thank you bunches, Kristin! It’s like having a capsule wardrobe for your dishes and probably the only thing that keeps our dish pantry manageable he he Sending you lots of hugs for a fabulous holiday season, CoCo
Coco, oh, my gosh. You have shared so many different versions of a Thanksgiving table. All are lovely and unique. Love your use of apples, the horse~theme plates and all the greenery. Just stunning place settings. Thanks so much for the inspiration and Happy Thanksgiving.
I really appreciate all your sweet and kind words, Carol, thank you so much. I hope your holiday season is a blessed one as well. Happy Thanksgiving! Hugs, CoCo
I love all your Thanksgiving tablescapes; they are gorgeous!
Thanks for linking up with us on our Embracing Home and Family link up party!
-Cherelle
I really appreciate it, Cherelle, thank you so much! Hope your week has been a special one, CoCo
CoCo, you are the tablescape queen! I love how you combined colors and textures to create each and every gorgeous one! I can’t choose a favorite because I love them all so much! Thank you so much for sharing it with us at Farmhouse Friday!
You are so sweet, Michelle, thank you! When I was little one of our jobs was to set the table for dinner each night. We got to decorate it any way we wanted so I’ve had lots of practice and lots of funny misses too. Sending you hugs, CoCo
CoCo, I always adore your tablescapes and you have some fabulous tips here for Thanksgiving.
Thank you for sharing them at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring your Thanksgiving tablescapes at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
I appreciate you so much, Kerryanne, thank you! You’re always so kind and supportive and I am blessed to have you in my life. I hope your week has been a happy one so far. Thanks for making mine a special one. Hugs, CoCo