Thanksgiving is just one night in the fall, but so many of us are willing to plan for this big day. If you are looking for some ideas on how to decorate to celebrate the harvest, this is for you! Actually, it is the holiday that you get to express your love for cooking, decorating, hosting, sharing, and talking. It is an intimate gathering of family and friends where we get to eat till we cannot eat anymore and share with one another all the things happening in the past year we are grateful for and our hopes for the coming years. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where you can use rich colors as much as possible. You have full permission to do that! If you look forward to a charming ambiance for your rustic Thanksgiving decoration, keep reading this article.
Whether you are keeping it casual with a Thanksgiving buffet or pulling out all the things with linens and flatware, here are some of the best tips for creating rustic decorations.
Never forget candles!
Candlelight is always a plus! Use votives on the table, chunky pillars, fine candlesticks, or even tea lights surrounded by fresh cranberries. Everything looks fabulous in the candlelight, even during the daytime. So, think about the ambiance and how you can set the mood and make the meals look even more scrumptious than they are. Candles always bring comfort and relaxation to us. For a cozy and complementary ambiance light for your Thanksgiving harvest table, use candles of varying heights. Recently, taper candles have grown in popularity; when paired with some lovely votive candles in elegant holders, they give the table an additional aspect.
Table Color Palette
Let’s start with the basics of table setting 101: the casual table versus the super fancy one. The casual table has fewer elements—one less glass and fewer utensils—whereas the formal table has three glasses—one for red wine, white wine, and water—and more utensils, taking into account either fish course or desserts, bread, and butter.
The best table-setting technique is really simple. You should always start with a neutral tablecloth, usually white or black, and then you look for yards of fabric that you have left over from previous parties.
Let’s break down our top four favorite tablescape looks and see which idea suits you for your next Thanksgiving:
Traditional Table
A traditional Thanksgiving color palette is all about autumnal hues. Think sunset colors in rich gold burnt oranges and deep dark reds accented with pine cones and pumpkins. Build it out and layer the table with chargers, dinner plates, menus, and napkins. All the various layers add depth to the table. Round tables look best with round chargers. Rectangular tables can support both round chargers and rectangular placemats.
New Traditional Table
The new take on traditional has a modern, rustic vibe. It features all of the traditional favorites, like pumpkins, gourds, and seasonal décor, but this take on traditional feels a lot more casual and subdued in color.
Minimal Table
The new traditional table is all about raw and organic material with a handmade artisan vibe. It feels casual, laid-back, neutral, and never too stuffy, with no patterns. It’s focused on color, and neutral textures feel relaxed yet still very refined. Think warm woods, linen napkins, and neutral stone with a very wabi-sabi, perfectly imperfect vibe. Naturalist tables focus on organic material and handmade, artisan dinnerware.
Eclectic Table
Why match when you can mix?! The eclectic table is all about color, as color can set the tone for what’s in store that evening. Get inspired by your décor or deck out the table with a specified color palette in mind. Think about your dining space and the vibe that will go with your existing décor.
Choose Theme
Décor on Thanksgiving Day can be so much more fun and whimsical when it’s only temporary. Themed table feels like you don’t need to treat the tablescape in a precious and proper way. Think about what you are serving and design your theme around that. For a casual seafood boil for Thanksgiving, consider lobster-themed dishware and red claw accessories to amp up the fun.
It’s All About The Details!
It’s all about the details. The placements, linens, and small touches! Don’t forget to use pumpkins and those crispy fall foliage in your decoration. Use décor items you already own and repurpose them in new ways.
Use the crystals and your antiques, dust them off, and use them in your decoration to have a more rustic Thanksgiving.
Arrange a Fairytale Pumpkin wreath as a centerpiece for the Bronzed Tabletop Turkey for an exquisite yet uncomplicated Thanksgiving table décor concept. For a mystical twilight atmosphere, adorn your porch with hanging baskets and potted arrangements of outdoor sunburst mums, along with glowing glass pumpkins.
Thanksgiving wreaths, garlands, candles, tablecloths, table runners, and figurines with seasonal themes, such as cornucopias and turkeys, are common decorations for this holiday. So use them in your decoration as much as you can.
Don’t stress
Setting your table should be light and fun. Consider setting out your rustic Thanksgiving décor at least two or three days before the actual event. On the day of Thanksgiving, you may have other chores to do, tackle the million other tasks to complete the day, and even edit or add to the table when you have a clear head.
Bottom Line
Thanksgiving is everyone’s favorite time of the year. The holidays really hit differently. Everyone has a different family and friends to hang out with on Thanksgiving night. As soon as Halloween was over, you could not wait to rush out and look for new holiday décor. Always shop for new little elements that kind of bring a funky, fresh vibe to the table. How do you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family? Do you keep it casual with a buffet? Or do you deck out the table with formalities and all the fancy trimmings?
