35 Impressive Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas
Updated: Dec. 14, 2022Feast in style with these Thanksgiving table decor ideas.
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(Un)coordinate Colors
For laid-back Thanksgiving decorations, don’t be afraid to mismatch colors. Whether your napkins are a different hue than your tablecloth or you need to bring in extra chairs, it’s OK (and even welcome!) if your Thanksgiving table decor mixes different colors. We love colorful fringe napkins for the job. Choose a few colors to experiment with throughout the table—there are no rules to live by!
Repurpose a Cheese Board
A cheese board isn’t just for, well, cheese. Use a pretty serving piece, like a wood and marble cheese board, to house all sorts of Thanksgiving goodies, such as bacon-wrapped green bean bundles. The board’s unexpected use will help it stand out on your table. And it’s perfect for building a Thanksgiving charcuterie board, too.
Go Natural
Thanks to harvest decor, Thanksgiving is already a rustic holiday. So it makes sense to incorporate natural elements in your table decor, too. We love the look of a woven placemat set. Add some greenery and a fun napkin and voila! This Thanksgiving table decor idea is guaranteed to impress. So is this turkey cake pan. Plus: Here’s how to set a table for Thanksgiving.
Add Sage Green Touches
Sage green never goes out of style. Add a trendy feel to your Thanksgiving decor by scattering sage green linens, serving pieces, decorative accents and more into your theme. These delicate, wood and eucalyptus napkin rings, for example, bring nature indoors. Or, add a piece of sage green bundle to every plate.
Minimalism Is Your Friend
Your Thanksgiving table can be simple, we promise! Don’t take time away from making your Thanksgiving meal and lean into the art of minimalism. Choose one focus item, like a set of handmade pumpkin decorations, pretty place settings or an ornate centerpiece, to be the star of the show. Then, match the rest of the color scheme to that central piece. Check out our first-timer’s Thanksgiving guide for everything you need to know about planning the holiday dinner. Or, if you’d like a simpler option, take a look at these Thanksgiving dinner delivery services.
Mix and Match
Your Thanksgiving table decor doesn’t have to match. In fact, it’ll look better if it doesn’t. We suggest finding a standout piece you love (like a patterned table runner) and building out the rest of your collection based on that item’s colors and textures. Don’t forget a festive gravy boat, either!
Curated Colorful
Color is always a good idea. For a consistent yet statement-worthy color scheme, try hand painted wine glasses. They boast a classic, stained glass window design and offer a simple way of incorporating color that doesn’t look childish. You could ask pick up our Test Kitchen’s best wine glasses.
Cast a Cozy Glow
Fall candles, luminaries and twinkle lights add instant warmth to your table. To create a centerpiece, place them between dishes or use them at each place setting. We love glass votives because they’re available in multiple neutral colorways that are perfect for mixing and matching. Incorporate a few different sizes for a truly custom fall tablescape.
Pick Fancy Florals
Upgrade your table (here, we broke up a few grocery store bouquets) by integrating fall flowers and fancy votive candle holders into your tablescape. These small, simple elements look high-end and can distract attention away from your worse-for-wear plates. Or, opt for dried flowers, like this blue and yellow bundle (they’re reusable!).
Crafts for the Kiddos
Whether you’re a fan of the kids’ table or not, creating a space for the kiddos is both fun and functional. A miniature table covered in mess-proof craft paper or an activity tablecloth is the perfect space for children to color, play games or eat. Painted metal buckets and a colorful tray keep all of the goodies in one place, making clean-up a breeze. They’ll love having a craft to keep them entertained all dinner long.
Lay on the Linen
Not only does linen add a cozy, coastal feel, it’s SO easy to decorate with. Gorgeous linen napkins are a Thanksgiving table decor idea that’ll last long beyond the holidays thanks to their timeless appeal. Pair with a smaller, colored napkin on top for extra flair. Don’t forget to press them before the big day—or these other holiday cleaning tasks.
Create a Potpourri Tray
For down-home country Thanksgiving table decor, skip the expensive centerpiece and opt for a galvanized tray instead. Fill a silver tray with potpourri and garnish with a wheat stalk. It’s the perfect rustic accent!
Lean into Rustic
Stack your ornate Thanksgiving dishware on top of bamboo trays or wood slices for a rustic look. Wood slices are perfect for spicing up the centerpiece or individual place settings with farmhouse style. It comes with a set of 10 and are available in multiple sizes. Lay them individually or stack different sizes—the choice is yours!
Go Boho
Your Thanksgiving table decor doesn’t have to be stuffy. Try an adventurous bohemian theme for bright, bold style. We love the look of colorful stone plates, complete with delicate speckles. You’ll get four dinner plates, four salad plates and eight bowls—all for under $60!
Give It a Name
Here’s a cute Friendsgiving idea. Make it easy for guests to know where to sit with personalized mini pumpkins. You choose the ink color and pumpkin size so it matches your tablescape.
Add Height
Elevate your Thanksgiving table decor (literally) by incorporating different sizes and textures. A set of tabletop candlesticks is an easy way to play with different centerpiece heights.
Play with Spices and Herbs
Who says you can’t use spices and herbs outside the kitchen? Items like cinnamon sticks and rosemary sprigs are beautiful additions to place settings (and they smell good, too!). Tie them in bundles or make an arrangement with other edible elements like cranberries.
Nestle Everything on a Tray
A white and gold serving tray is the perfect Thanksgiving table accent. It holds everything from wine bottles to hors d’oeuvres. And, thanks to raised edges, the tray makes it easy to clean up any spills. Show off your handiwork with a dessert tray, too.
Use a Bowl
Unless you’re serving soup, it’s rare to see a bowl on a Thanksgiving table. However, this versatile dish is perfect for housing salad, cranberry sauce or a heaping helping of mashed potatoes. Add a set of wooden salad bowls to your Thanksgiving table decor this year because, well, you can never go wrong with wood accents in fall. Pro tip: Let guests show their gratitude by placing “I Am Thankful For” tags at each place setting. Before you dig in, have guests go around the table and share what they wrote down.
Have Fun with Patterns
Spice up the table with a few funky patterns—and no, you don’t need to stick to the classic turkey or leaf prints. Autumnal paisley and florals are fun places to start. Try repurposing a wreath, like this pinecone pick, as a centerpiece. Top it off by placing a decorative bowl or candles in the center.
Play with Pastels
Pastels, but make it autumn. Though they’re often associated with fall, pastels are beautiful for every season. Opt for fall pastels like orange, yellow, cream, burgundy, black or a darker blue. Pillar taper candles come in all of these colors and are a simple way to add muted texture.
Put Planters to Work
The outdoor planter holding your fall blooms? Bring it inside for an oh, so easy centerpiece. Just make sure to wipe down the bottom and sides of the planter to avoid dirt stains. If you’re in need of new planters, try this clay pot and saucer combo. It’s available in multiple colors and sizes, and we love that it’s distressed feel. Throw in some pine cones, mini pumpkins or an actual plant for a custom Thanksgiving table decor look.
Use Dried Fruits and Citrus
Dried fruit and citrus garlands are popular for Christmas, so why not bring this tradition to Thanksgiving? Dried lemon, blood oranges and even apples make great additions to your Thanksgiving table as either a garland, place setting or scattered around the table. Or, throw the dried decor in some bowls to scatter around the table. Make your own with a food dehydrator.
Make It Bright
Got a bunch of kids coming to dinner? Make their table extra fun with bright colors. A pom pom garland features the colors of fall and makes a beautiful table border. Or, decorate the edges of a white tablecloth with it. Don’t forget the Gobbler Goodies!
Add Some Shine
Choose your metallic accent based on your color scheme: Silver for cooler colors and copper or gold for warmer hues. Add glitz and glam by using metallic candle holders, napkin rings or copper mugs (Moscow Mules, anyone?). Incorporating metallic flatware, like a gold cutlery set, is an easy way to make your Thanksgiving table decor shine.
Create a Cute Centerpiece
When you head to the grocery store to pick up fixings for your holiday feast, grab a few extra ingredients to make a wow-worthy centerpiece. For this show-stopper, layer orange slices in a glass container, plant a trio of decorative cabbages and fill the rest of the space with faux berries. Speaking of containers, stock up on these food storage picks for holiday leftovers.
Mindful Texture
Just like un-coordinating colors, playing with texture and size has a beautiful payoff. Incorporate different size vases, candle votives or serve ware for an elevated look. Flower bud vases make a great centerpiece or decoration when scattered throughout the table with your favorite fall blooms. We love that this set comes in different sizes and glass designs.
Orange, Always
There isn’t a more classic Thanksgiving color than orange. Plus, a crisp orange is on Pantone’s fall 2022 color trend list. A stalk of bright orange berries brighten up the table. Add it to a vase for a centerpiece decoration or garnish a place setting with it.
Get Simple
There’s nothing wrong with using your everyday dishes for the holidays. But you can add a special touch with a colorful napkin, placemat or plate decoration. A personalized plate topper instantly elevates any place setting for just a few dollars. Customize it with your color and word of choice. Pro tip: Play around with the place topper words available so every table setting has a different decor piece.
There’s Always Black and White
If your style is more on the sophisticated side, opt for a modern black and white theme. Pops of gold will make your style stand out even more. A set of black charger dinner plates add contrast to white plates stacked on top. Plus, the decorative edges add flair.
Look for Eclectic Finds
Want to ensure your Thanksgiving table is like no one else’s? Head to the thrift store. There you’ll discover eclectic items that guarantee a unique tablescape, like eclectic glassware or serveware. Or, head to Etsy to snag these beautiful vintage-colored goblet glasses. Choose from more than 20 drinking glass styles. It’s the next best thing to handpicking items from a thrift store.
Beautiful Burlap
Channel your inner Joanna Gaines and use burlap as a table runner. Drape the fabric over the center of the table and tie the ends with a satin ribbon for a nice bunched detailing. Or cut the burlap fabric and use it as a napkin ring. Channel your inner DIYer by wrapping your napkins in tiny burlap bows.
Blush is Beautiful
For contemporary Thanksgiving table decor, pick a trendy color (like millennial pink!) and use it to deck out your table. We love incorporating pale pink plates, as well as rose gold flatware and sparkling wine glasses in this place setting.
Personalized Wood Table Cards
Make your guests feel right at home by setting out personalized table cards. We love these wood place cards because they bring nature elements indoors. Tie it with twine around a piece of greenery for a rustic touch.
“It’s Corn”
Decorating your table with pumpkins is great, but so is a beautiful corn arrangement. Place glass gem corn cobs inside a clear vase or a woven basket as a harvest centerpiece.
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