Elegant Thanksgiving Table Setting
Easy and elegant Thanksgiving table setting for holiday entertaining or a fall dinner party. You’ll love our white and brown decoration ideas for place settings, fall flowers centerpiece, and easy place cards.
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving at home, Friendsgiving, or a simple dinner party for friends, this fall tablescape is the perfect setting.
It’s modern with neutral colors like brown, white, orange, and rusty red. The design is simple but the overall result is a beautiful table for dinner.
Easy Fall Table Setting
This table is easy because it uses minimal but thoughtfully curated items.
Start with a solid tablecloth. This brown one creates a rich earthy base to place dishes and other decorations on.
Use decorative paper place mats. This is something I typically use for larger events because it’s so economical. But the design on paper place mats is so pretty and complements the setting. They’re also disposable so cleanup is a breeze.
PARTY TIP: Every place setting doesn’t need to match exactly. Use plates and bowls that are the same color but have a different design. Or use a two-toned color scheme to mix and match complementary settings.
Place Settings
White or cream dishes create a modern minimalist place setting.
Deep red or rust colored napkins folded and placed between the dish layers helps break up the monochromatic settings.
Bowls are perfect for adding butternut squash soup or pumpkin soup to the menu. They also make this table ideal for a soup dinner party.
I love to come up with unique ideas for place card holders, and the baby corn idea is so cute! Just write or print out guests names and tie them on to the husks for an adorable tabletop detail.
How Do You Set a Table for Thanksgiving?
When you set the table for Thanksgiving dinner you want it to be memorable and inviting. Here’s what you need.
- Tablecloth or table runner
- Place mats or plate chargers
- Dinner plate
- Salad or dessert plate
- Soup bowls if necessary
- Napkins folded, or gathered in napkin rings
- Fork to the left of the plate, and knife and spoon to the right
- Water goblets and wine or tea glasses
How Do You Make a Fall Centerpiece?
You can get as creative or as traditional as you like when you’re designing centerpieces. But when it comes to fall centerpiece ideas there are a few classic items you may want to incorporate.
Fall flowers make a stunning arrangement in a simple white vase. Follow my secret to creating a flower arrangement on a budget to see how I made this one.
Pumpkins are the quintessential element for a Thanksgiving table. You can add just a few like I did here, and place them so they flank the flowers. Use different sizes and colors to add interest.
Add smaller vases with dried grasses or wheat to fill in any open space you want to fill.
Table Decorations
Finish off the table decor with items that are actually useful to the meal. A simple cheese board is a welcome addition and even the colors of the food complement the table.
Wine bottles, corks, and a pretty corkscrew add functional decor.
Pull out a vintage plate or platter you may have from grandma, and use it for serving. Place salt and pepper cellars on a small dish that’s easy to pass around when needed.
Candles always help fill a tablescape. Instead of reaching for tapers and candlesticks, why not add a pillar candle to a small bowl or dish?
More Thanksgiving Tablescapes
Here are some more fall table setting ideas for Thanksgiving tables.
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