These clever decor tricks will make your Thanksgiving table pop
Thanksgiving #Thanksgiving
When decorating your Thanksgiving table, every detail counts. And not just the obvious stuff, like place settings and silverware, but the choice of flowers, candles, and even napkins. Every item on your table, however small, is an opportunity to make your guests feel special, and one should never squander the chance to do that.
But with so many decorating options, where does a person even start? Not to fret. Avid entertainer and hostess Lory Parson, of the stylish blog To Have + To Host, is here to help. Parson shares some of her favorite tablescape decor tips to make your gathering one to remember.
Go for the unexpected
Surprise your guests with Thanksgiving table decor that’s still on theme but unique. Instead of colors like rust and gold, use a bright and bold shade – like some pops of teal. When combined with woodland-themed Thanksgiving table decorations, your decor will look fresh and new.
A centerpiece of leaves just this side of turning gold, trivets and trays that look like cut logs, and maybe even an animal figurine or two are adorably seasonal items to include in this tablescape. Or place antique white pitchers filled with tall autumnal flowers at either end of the table, framing a collection of mercury glass candle pillars. “Focus on maybe some of the more exotic things you can find,” Parson says.
Layer your dishes
Thanksgiving is one of the few days of the year when people bring out their wedding china, or that heirloom set handed down from grandma.
Freshen things up by layering the dinner plates on top of a charger – basically, a larger plate underneath, often made of porcelain or metal, that protects the tablecloth from dinner plate overflow. “They provide a really nice frame for the entire place setting,” Parson says. Choose a color that coordinates with your china, or go for something brighter to make your table setting pop.
Break out your grandma’s silver and polish it up, because you’re going to use every single piece on Thanksgiving. Depending on what you plan to serve, each place setting needs, at a minimum, a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, dessert spoon, a bread and butter plate, butter knife and serving pieces.
The correct utensils laid out in the proper order make the meal feel extra special. Parson chose black stainless steel flatware for her own home. It’s chic and modern and can be used year-round.
Neat napkins
Napkins are an easy and inexpensive way to add a little drama to your Thanksgiving table: chose bold colors, fold them into interesting shapes, hang tags from napkin rings as place cards or even hide a little gift inside.
Fabulous floral arrangements
Flowers are the decor element capable of making the biggest impact on a Thanksgiving table, so think outside the vase.
Painted and hollowed-out pumpkins can hold potted succulents. Antique milk jugs or pitchers filled with tall seasonal blooms look perfectly at home with modern farmhouse decor.
If your dinner is served buffet-style, that frees up tablespace, allowing you to go big and dramatic with your centerpiece. A floral arrangement that runs the entire length of the table is stunning and unexpected, especially when it uses interesting flora like magnolia leaves, and orange and fuschia blooms.
Lighting is everything
A truly beautiful Thanksgiving table requires candlelight. Tall tapers in heirloom candleholders bring a personal touch.
Avoid scented candles, which will clash with the aromas of the food. Instead, choose natural beeswax candles, not those dipped in paraffin. Beeswax candles emit less soot, burn three times longer, and their flames burn brighter, creating an intimate atmosphere while still giving off enough light to see.
Thoughtful finishing touches
Sometimes it’s the small details that make the biggest impact.
Place a small bundle of fresh herbs at each table setting for a special touch. Sage, thyme, and rosemary are beautiful and fragrant. Choose one type and tie each little bundle together with string or ribbon that complements your other Thanksgiving table decorations.
You could even attach a small tag to the string and use the bundles as place cards. Create seasonal placecard holders by cutting a slit along the tops of mini pumpkins, which you can leave natural or paint to complement your decor.
This article originally appeared on Grateful: These clever decor tricks will make your Thanksgiving table pop