Traditional Thanksgiving Table Decor

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, set the table a couple of days ahead so you’re one step closer to being ready for a Thanksgiving party. It will also give you a chance to see if you’re missing anything you need to purchase.

Decorating with Fall Colors

The table setting is relaxed enough for a family meal, but beautiful enough for Friendsgiving or a fall dinner party.

If you have a farm table, keep it bare and use a burlap runner as a base. It adds rustic charm and keeps the tablescape from being too formal.

Minimalist Place Settings

Layer colorful salad or dessert plates on top of everyday white dinner plates. Shop thrift stores for vintage depression glass and get instant traditional vibes.

Add even more color with drink glasses. Purple goblets that are new but look vintage are paired with gold vintage stemware that can hold wine, iced tea, or fall cocktails.

Simple Place Cards

Place cards are super easy to create by printing out names and cutting into strips. Use a tiny hole punch at one end and thread a piece of wheat through it for a simple and chic plate decoration.

Easy DIY Centerpiece

The centerpiece is the focal point of the table, and it’s easy to create one that looks full and lush. These fall centerpiece ideas are colorful and full of natural elements.

• Fill glass cylinder vases with dried lentils that are green, red, and tan. Red lentils are actually more orange in color so they’re ideal for this table.
• Top the vases with mini pumpkins.
• Incorporate a few more vases that are filled with mini pinecones and acorns.

• Place flowers in mini pitchers to add life and color to the table.
• Tuck in greenery, such as eucalyptus, to create a garland effect.
• Nestle in some mini pumpkins and baby corn to create a seasonal centerpiece.

With everything placed close together, all the separate items look like one continuous runner.

How to Decorate a Thanksgiving Table on a Budget

Here are some of my favorite ways to create a beautiful table on smaller budget.

1. Use everyday white dishes. You don’t have to invest in themed patterns for holidays. You can layer the white plates with colorful bowls or salad plates for more interest.
2. Use inexpensive grocery items to create a centerpiece. Fill clear vases with dry beans or lentils like you see here.
3. Add a simple bowl of seasonal fruit like apples, pears, oranges, or lemons and limes.
4. Forage through the yard or forest for natures best decorations. Pinecones, acorns, branches with colorful leaves, dry grasses like Pampas grass, etc.
5. Put together a few small vases of fresh flowers instead of one large arrangement. You’ll still get a colorful floral impact, but for less money.
6. Follow my best tip for creating a flower arrangement on a budget. It’s an amazing party hack!
7. Fill the table with food instead of decorations. Even before you sit down to eat you can have a party cheese board or a plate of appetizers on the table, and a pitcher of fall apple sangria.

Food can add to the table decoration when it’s color coordinated. These vegetables and hummus are great for noshing on while waiting for the main meal to finish cooking.

The combination of vintage plates and glasses, paired with classic white dishes gives Thanksgiving table décor a traditional look. And a DIY centerpiece full of flowers, pumpkins, baby corn, and more is festive and simple to make.

More Thanksgiving Tablescapes

If you’re looking for more table setting ideas, here are some to give you inspiration.

• Here’s an outdoor Thanksgiving tablescape with blue and white decoration and a gorgeous flower centerpiece.
• Our simple Thanksgiving tablescape ideas are so easy to create but add such an impact.
• See how to set the table with food so the presentation is just as nice as it was before you sat down to eat.
• This neutral Thanksgiving tablescape is gorgeous and elegant!
• These elegant Thanksgiving table ideas incorporate rich brown tones, orange, rustic red, pumpkins and more.
• This black and white Thanksgiving table gets pops of color in a centerpiece of greenery and pomegranates.
• A colorful kids table will keep the children engaged and happy with a fabulous setting of their own.