We all know Thanksgiving is about delicious food- turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pies galore! But another aspect to think about is the setting of the Thanksgiving feast!

While having tasty food is definitely the more important aspect of the meal, having a beautiful and festive place setting can help set the mood and make the experience even more memorable. I never gave much thought to the place settings and decor of a table until I met my mother-in-law. She has a variety of beautiful dishes and place settings that she pulls out for dinners- whether it’s Thanksgiving or just another Sunday dinner! For her, eating food at a beautiful table brings so much joy, and I’ve gained an appreciation for presentation and ambiance by eating at her table.

I’m no pro when it comes to table decorating, so for me, simple is best! If you don’t have the physical or mental resources for a fancily decorated table, you can still spruce up the Thanksgiving table with a few simple additions! Here are some ideas to get your brain going- you can do one, or all of them!

Start with a table runner. It’s amazing how much more dressed up a table looks with a simple table runner. It’s a great starting point for a more elaborate table setting, but even by itself, it adds a touch of elegance and brings your table up a notch.

Leaves. They’re one of my favorite things about this time of year- so why not bring the beauty indoors? If you’re able to use leaves from a backyard tree, go for it! If not, there’s lots of fun bouquets at craft stores and home decor places. Add a vase or two to the table, or sprinkle them across for added ambiance.

Pumpkins. A variety of colored pumpkins (orange, yellow, white) would make a stunning centerpiece. You can have them running across the table with your table runner, or put a couple next to each place at the table.

Placecards. A simple but fun touch! There are so many ways you can do this. A simple card pinned to a pumpkin, or tie a card around the pumpkin stem. Use cinnamon sticks as a card holder. Use baby photos or old photos and have fun letting people reminisce and bring up memories. Write names on large leaves for the placecards. Use pinecones as the card holder. Get creative!

Gratitude cards. Thanksgiving is about being grateful, so embrace it! Place a cute card that has space to write down the things you’re grateful for at each table setting, along with a freshly sharpened pencil. Be sure to give everyone a chance to fill it out!

Turkeys! A fun way to include the kids would be to let them decorate a tablecloth with painted handprints and turn them into little turkeys. You can create turkeys from Oreos and candy corn or empty toilet paper tubes and construction paper feathers. Google simple turkey crafts and you’re sure to come across a plethora of ideas!

What will you do to spruce up your Thanksgiving table? I’d love to hear your ideas!

    Camille Hoffmann
    Monthly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com