Ideas for your Thanksgiving Table

photo: ivillage

Hello friends. Are you having your family over for Thanksgiving this year?

Please don’t stress, because there are so many ways to create lovely tables that are affordable and quite simple to do; I’ve got some inspirational pictures to share that will provide you with lots of ideas for your centerpieces and color schemes. Only please be warned. After being around so much of my Halloween decor, I’m feeling a bit tired of the orange/rust palette so I’ve chosen a few non-traditional color schemes as well. By the way, don’t you love the simplicity of a wooden plank in the middle of this table? Just layer some candles, pumpkins, gourds, and grapes and you have a pretty centerpiece that would also work well on a buffet table.

Photos: BHG, Pottery Barn

I’m loving the use of so much white on these tables. And I like the idea of bringing in grasses for a different and dramatic centerpiece. Hmm…I want those wicker and glass vases!

Photo: Martha Stewart

For more formal settings I like these gold pumpkins paired with blue. What a refreshing change. A cheap can of spray paint is one of my most reliable friends. And do you notice how simple the place card is? A thin gold ribbon tied to a piece of hand-written cardstock and a pumpkin…written with a gold-colored pen of course. For a selection of ultra thin ribbon and wire, don’t forget to check out the jewelry aisle at places like Joann’s  or Michael’s Crafts Stores.

A white tablecloth is a perfect backdrop for fresh fruits and votive candles. If you’re short on materials you can stick to a dominate color for the center of your table. Here, sage green and golden hues pop against the white. Add a contrasting taupe ribbon for your napkins and you have a understated, classic look.

Kumquats, nuts, and grapes are easy to assemble…

I personally love the pairing of purple and brown right now, especially with the orange & rust colored leaves as an accent. You could press your own leaves and use a gold paint pen to write each guest name on a single leaf and place at each setting. Pressing leaves is so easy, after you pick them off a tree (while they’re still soft) just stick them under a pile of books-- otherwise, use fake ones. I recently saw some realistic ones at Joann’s Craft Store.

Here are some DIY placemats that are painted to look like a white birch tree. What an eye-popping table! For complete DIY instructions for these placemats or this colorful centerpiece you can visit the The Wedding Chicks blog HERE.

If you’re in the mood for some scissors,  stencils and cardstock, you can create your own message for your table. In this BHG photo it looks like strips of cardstock were hot glued around basic white candles. You choose your message and then with stencils, you simply trace and cut out the words. Then glue the letters to the cardstock.

This photo shows you how with a simple stamp and ribbon, you can personalize your napkin holder.

Do you like the shape of this vase? Did you know that Home Depot has cheap, silver paint buckets that can be covered with fabric or wrapped in burlap for a similar look? Check out the paint aisle for these.

And in this Country Living photo, a lone feather adds pizazz to a common place card.

Before I leave you, here are some fresh pomegranates and persimmons that look wonderful next to branches that you could cut from your backyard; simply lay them in the middle of your table alone, or alongside a vase with some red-hued flowers and berries.

Photos: Google Images

Do you have any wooden crates or big wooden bowls around? Try adding some candles, pumpkins, gourds and fresh parsley and you have another natural-looking centerpiece; place this on top of a rich paisley runner and it really completes the look.

Well, have I given you any ideas for your Thanksgiving table?

I hope so, and don’t forget to check back as I explore ways to inject the concept of Gratitude into your dinner table.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

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