Table Decorations for Thanksgiving

Having the right table decorations for Thanksgiving will make a special meal all the more memorable for you and your guests. The table decorating possibilities are endless – you are limited only by your imagination.

Before you let your decorating dreams run away with themselves, there are just a few basic considerations you need to keep in mind:

• How large is your table? Will you be placing serving dishes on the table? If you have a small table that you plan to cram a lot of guests and serving platters around, your decorations will need to be kept small and simple. On the other hand, if you have a huge banquet table with plenty of space, you will want your decorations to fill in the gaps.

• Who are your guests? Thanksgiving is usually a time to get all of your family and friends around, which is great, but kids and table decorations don’t always mix. If there will be lots of little ones gathered around the table, lit candles, your best china and crystal and family heirlooms might be best left in the cupboard for another time.

With the practicalities considered, now it is time for the fun part – decorating your table! Here are some ideas to get you going.

The colors of your tablecloth, napkins and placemats will provide the direction for the rest of your table decorating scheme. It is hard to go wrong with a classic white tablecloth, but for Thanksgiving, using the colors of the season also makes for a great table. Think of fall leaves for inspiration: rust red, maroon, gold, green, brown: all of these colors work great for Thanksgiving schemes. Feel free to mix and match colors to complement the rest of your decorations.

They don’t call it a “centerpiece” for nothing. The centerpiece you choose is the focal point of your Thanksgiving table decoration. A cornucopia is a very traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece, but the possibilities are endless. Some other ideas to consider include:

• Floral Arrangement
• Wreath
• Glass bowl filled with seasonal items – pine cones, nuts, berries, leaves and so on. You could also opt to fill the bowl with floating candles.
• Taper candles/pillar candles – just be sure to pick unscented as scented candles can affect your taste buds and ruin your delicious meal!

Find centerpiece design ideas on this Better Homes and Garden slideshow.

Remember that the size of your centerpiece will be determined by how much space you have. If you are going to passing serving dishes around the table, be sure that your centerpiece doesn’t block the way. Also, make sure your centerpiece isn’t so large that it makes conversation difficult.

Some extra touches you can use to pull your Thanksgiving table together include:

• Name cards
• Chargers
• Gourds/pumpkins/squashes – these can be used for candle holders, name card holders, or just decoration
• Decorative napkin rings

You don’t have to spend a fortune to find Thanksgiving table decorations. If you think ahead, that famous post-Thanksgiving shopping day Black Friday can be a great time to find cut priced decorations. However, even if you are shopping in the run up to the holiday, a range of stores catering to all budgets offer Thanksgiving table decorations. The following shops are great places to start:

• Target
• Wal-Mart
• Home Goods
• Marshall’s
• Pottery Barn

You can find more advice about pulling together your table for Thanksgiving from these LoveToKnow Interior Design articles:

• Thanksgiving Table Decoration
• Cornucopia Fall Decorations
• Autumn Themes

• Country Style Decorating Ideas
• Bathroom Design Pictures
• Interior Paint Color Combinations

• Country French Style Basics
• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Designing for Small Spaces
• Basics of Color Design
• Asian Style Interior Design