Thanksgiving is approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll decorate this year’s table. Here, we’ve gathered some of our favorite settings, from classic and woodland-inspired to simple and sleek, so that seasoned pros and first-time hosts alike can create a stylish, welcoming table for family and friends. Read on for our top tips and get set for your best Turkey Day yet.
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With its whimsical woodland motifs, Juliska’s Forest Walk dinnerware feels right at home on the Thanksgiving table. Hollow out a white pumpkin and place a floral arrangement inside for a finishing flourish.
White pumpkins, silvery accents, classic stemware, and gold-rimmed dinnerware make for a decidedly chic and unexpected Thanksgiving look.
Spode’s Woodland collection has been a Thanksgiving classic for more than 20 years. Pair it with a linen runner and simple serveware for a charmingly elegant tablescape.
We love this look for its natural textures, vivid colors, and memorable touches, such as a grape-accented floral arrangement and empty wine bottles repurposed as candleholders. Photo by Mel Barlow.
You can’t go wrong with a mix of vintage pieces—like the antique silver flatware, crystal stemware, lusterware dishes, and English pottery seen here. Omit a tablecloth to bring even more focus to your place settings. Photo by Manuel Rodriguez.
Easy Ideas with Big Impact
Fashion a floral centerpiece. Few things signal a celebration more than flowers on the table. Make a simple centerpiece by leaning into the gorgeous bounty of blooms that are in season this time of year, including dahlias, tulips, hydrangeas, and ranunculus.
Discover our favorite fall florals here →
Go for greenery. Though wreaths and garlands are most commonly associated with Christmas, it’s more than appropriate to break them out for Thanksgiving—especially on the table itself. Try draping a magnolia garland down the table in place of a runner, use an evergreen sprig as part of your place settings, or set a wreath down flat and place a few pillar candles in the middle to create a simple but statement-making centerpiece.
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Embrace seasonal tableware. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to use that autumnal tableware you’ve been storing away—or to invest in a set you’ll cherish for many seasons to come. Juliska’s Forest Walk collection features branches, feathers, and other whimsical motifs; many of Vietri’s handcrafted, Italian-made wares depict wildlife from quail and rabbits to wolves and bears; Spode’s Woodland collection, with its brown floral border, has been a Thanksgiving classic for more than 20 years; and Gien’s Sologne collection is inspired by the animals that inhabit the French region for which it’s named.
Incorporate natural materials. Complement your table’s florals and greenery with even more nods to nature’s beauty. Accents with organic textures—think woven place mats, linen runners, twine-wrapped napkins, or even the natural wood of your dining table—feel right at home during a Thanksgiving celebration.
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Break out the silver. Thanks to its festive luster and elaborate embellishments, silver lends an air of occasion to the Thanksgiving table. If your get-together is more on the casual side, incorporating silver accents (candlesticks, gravy boats, wine coasters, ice buckets) is a more accessible way to up the elegance.
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Tones of green and brown, along with a candlelit moss-and-pinecone centerpiece, make this scene feel like a decadent forest feast.
Mismatched blue-and-white plates, silver details, and an evergreen garland feel fresh on this autumnal holiday.
Beautifully detailed dishes, simple crystal stemware, round leather place mats, and flatware with bamboo handles—all in a rich palette—give the table a collected, classic look. Photo by Manuel Rodriguez.
Classic white plates, striped linens, and unfussy floral arrangements prove simple can be just as special as over-the-top. Photo by Lesley Unruh.
Gien’s Sologne collection—named for a region of France—features deer, ducks, and more. Pair it with a vintage lace tablecloth and leaf-motif serveware for extra country-inspired appeal.
For an updated yet still fall-appropriate take, opt for bolder colors or abstract patterns—or both.
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