50 Stylish Thanksgiving Table Decor and Setting Ideas
Get Thanksgiving table-setting inspiration for the most stylish dinner yet.
Aside from planning the big meal, decorating your Thanksgiving table for dinner is half the fun of hostessing. After all, don’t you want your table to look just as good as the food you cooked in your Instagram pics?
By adding just a small detail or two here and there, you can instantly elevate your Thanksgiving table decor and take it from looking good to looking great. Who wouldn’t be #grateful for that?!
No matter what your decorating style or budget is, we’ve got you covered with the best Thanksgiving table setting and centerpiece ideas from Instagram faves. Whether you’re looking for simple ideas you can finish in a flash or want to try something more elaborate this year, here are 50 Thanksgiving table-setting ideas to try this year.
50 Best Thanksgiving Table Ideas
1. A DIY table runner with a message.
Transform a roll of kraft paper into a striking table runner by writing a Thanksgiving message across it in your finest print. Check out @gloryc0_'s for inspiration.
2. Turn mini pumpkins into planters.
Pumpkins make the prettiest fall planters, which is why having one at every seat, like @tennessee_farmhouse, will win over your guests instantly. To make, hollow out miniature pumpkins and fill them with fresh blooms.
Related: Thanksgiving Trivia
3. Accent each plate with a fall leaf.
For a totally free Thanksgiving decor idea, follow @halfway_holistic's lead and hunt for a handful of pretty fall leaves to set atop each dinner plate. You can vary up the colors as you like—just try to make sure the shape and size of your leaves are roughly the same for a more polished final look.
Related: Thanksgiving Games
4. Think plaid.
Black-and-white checkered placemats give this Thanksgiving tablescape instant fall vibes. Keep the rest of your look simple, like @olivebranchfarmhouse, to help your monochromatic color scheme pop.
5. Add a touch of gold for elegance.
A little bit of gold sparkle makes any tablescape more elegant. Steal this idea from @modernglamhome, and put a gold-painted pear (or other fruit of your choice) on every plate.
Related: Six Cheap and Easy DIY Thanksgiving Centerpieces
6. Use a throw blanket as a colorful tablecloth.
More into DIY Thanksgiving decor? For her Canadian Thanksgiving celebration, @thehappyhousie used a throw blanket as a table cloth and accented her tablescape with fresh-cut leaves to decorate.
Related: Thanksgiving Jokes
7. DIY your own place cards.
This crafty idea from @uniquelytaylormade makes DIYing your own Thanksgiving place cards a breeze. Just cut circles out of cardboard, punch holes in the top and tie on a twine bow—voila! Now all you need to do is write the names of each of your guests.
8. Try a touch of copper.
The warm tones of copper—whether they're copper vases, like @1111lightlane used, or a copper serving tray or utensils—complement traditional Thanksgiving colors beautifully. Just one or two copper pieces should do the trick!
9. Upgrade your cutlery.
Make your Thanksgiving feast even more special by pulling out your nicest set of flatware, which makes even the most basic dishware come to life. Accent the look with crisp striped cloth napkins, like @breezesayhome did.
Related: Stores Open on Thanksgiving This Year
10. Add some black metal accents.
To evoke farmhouse feels, follow @sbkliving’s cue and incorporate a few black metal accents, like lanterns and candle holders, into your tables cape’s design.
11. Think outside of the box.
Just about any container or display dish can be transformed into a great Thanksgiving centerpiece when you add some faux foliage and pumpkins. Carli at @the_heringer_house shows us a perfect example!
12. Use a scarf in place of a table runner.
A long, flannel scarf will evoke cozy feels when you repurpose it as a table runner. Or, angle a more square-shaped scarf sideways to form a diamond shape, like @idreamofhomemaking.
13. Make your Thanksgiving table pop!
A row of boldly-painted pumpkins in bright, rainbow hues will instantly change the vibes. Adding coordinating napkins while keeping the rest of the look simple, like @spiraldesigncolor did, will keep it from looking too over-the-top.
14. Think lofty thoughts.
If you want to go all out with your Thanksgiving table decor, this idea from @lehmanlane is for you! Weave vibrantly colored fall leaves (faux or fresh, it’s up to you!) into your chandelier to give your room some ambiance from above, too.
15. Add a touch of burlap.
Give your table some rustic flair like @mandyenohome did by using a strip of burlap as a table runner. It’ll instantly give the rest of your tableware a more farmhouse-style feel.
16. Make use of your mason jars.
Stephanie at @scscurlock used an assortment of mason jars as vases for her Thanksgiving flower arrangements. You could also display fall-scented candles, acorns from your yard or bunches of dried wheat stems in them.
17. Embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving.
These placemats from @gatheranddwell encourage guests to write down the things they’re grateful for this year. Copy the idea by making your own “thankful” list placemats or purchasing theirs in their online shop. Don’t forget to set out pens and pencils!
18. Make your table picture perfect.
For more sentimental Thanksgiving table decor, set a memorable photo of each guest on their chair for an extra warm welcome that doubles as a place card, like @lorabgreen suggests. Pass them around and have your friends or family share stories about each moment!
19. Craft mini tur-kins for the kids’ table.
These mini pumpkins decorated to look like turkeys by @princesspinkygirl, which use leaf-shaped paper cutouts as tail feathers, will be all you need to make the kids’ table at your Thanksgiving meal look fun and festive. Make them in advance or leave the supplies in the center of the table for kids to craft before the big meal.
Related: Creative Thanksgiving Craft Ideas to DIY This Year
20. Don’t be afraid to stray from traditional hues.
Add a playful touch to your Thanksgiving tablescape by opting for an unexpected hue as your main color, like @sweetlychicevents. Paint your pumpkin centerpieces to match!
21. Draw on your tablecloth.
In lieu of a cloth tablecloth, if you use a roll of kraft paper to cover your table, you can draw faux placement-nametag combos directly onto your table covering like @_theletterg cleverly did.
22. Make paper acorn treats to sit at each seat.
Putting a special treat at each table setting will have your guests feeling grateful from the moment they sit down! For this crafty DIY, visit @liagriffith’s how-to blog post to see how she used an @officialcricut cutting machine to make these sweet acorn keepsakes for each guest.
23. Add organic elegance.
As @happilyhummel proves, a fluffy bud of freshly picked cotton brings a magical touch to each place setting. Plus, it’s an all-natural way to add some playful texture to otherwise minimalist Thanksgiving table decor.
Related: 17 DIY Thanksgiving Decorations That'll Make All Your Guests Smile
24. Accent with items you already have on hand.
To save money, @cottonwoodacres dressed up her Thanksgiving tablescape using vintage copper kettles she already owned, and paired them with green squash she bought at the grocery. Anything—from small framed photos of your family to geodes from your son’s rock collection—could work.
25. Make a festive dried garland.
Using pretty dried fruit and seasonal whole spices, like cinnamon sticks, @wildflowersandwillow crafted this dried, scented garland for her Thanksgiving dinner table. If you make one at home, be sure to use fishing line or even dental floss, rather than thread, for extra strength.
26. Incorporate corn.
Gather up some dried corn and tie it together with a ribbon! It’ll give your table a country feel that’s perfect for the holidays, just like @amyspearinginteriors’.
27. Try out seasonal trends.
It’s no secret that cheetah print is all the rage right now, so why not incorporate it into your Thanksgiving tablescape? @Moiralynnblog did just that by finding a plate with the fashionable pattern and layering it over a bed of greenery and topping it off with a tiny pumpkin.
28. Have a pretty in pink moment.
For Thanksgiving, @theluxmylife added touches of pink throughout her entire table and you can, too! Whether you use pink glasses, napkins and small pumpkin figurines, like she did, or incorporate pink candles and plates, it’ll create an Instagram-worthy look!
29. Sprinkle on candy corn.
This traditional fall candy doesn’t just taste good, but it can double as a festive table accent, too. Just sprinkle small handfuls around your table as @beyond_gray did.
30. Have a rainbow of color on your table.
Forget sticking to one color this Thanksgiving and use a rainbow of them instead! To do this, try arranging a plethora of different colored plush pumpkins down the center of your table like @carriec did. The trick to pulling it off is to make sure you keep all the colors separated instead of mixed together.
31. Add in a personal touch.
If you live near the ocean, as @thecoastalsoul does, incorporate that into your table design by adding some beach accents. You can use things like craft starfish or seashells.
32. Have a fruity vibe.
Copy @inthetudorhouse’s idea this November! Just add a fruit of your choice, like a pear, to everyone’s plate for a fun and creative way to include some color on your table. Try to use a fruit that is a fall color, like yellow, orange or red for the best results.
33. Set out pumpkin candleholders.
If you’re a fan of candles, search for cute pumpkin candleholders like the ones @lballardlifeandstyle used for her table. It’s simple, but really makes a statement. You can even add in orange or burgundy candles for an extra pop of color.
34. Think orange.
Want to make a statement? Do what @laurenminointeriors did and use orange napkins, small orange pumpkins and artificial orange maple leaves to give your table some fall flair.
35. Craft a pumpkin vase.
Instead of having flowers in a traditional vase as your table’s centerpiece, try using a pumpkin vase. If you don’t want to carve one, no worries, you can use a plastic pumpkin. All you have to do is take off its black handle, and then use orange and white paint to get a more toned-down shade of orange, like the one @lindseymeehandesigns has.
36. Add elegance with roses.
Step up your table game by coping @homeinspirationlulu. She kept her table concept simple, but glamorous, by highlighting peach-colored roses on top of a white table runner.
37. Go for a dreamy iridescent theme.
If you’re more into pastel colors, do what @tfdzn did and use iridescent dinnerware that gives off a rainbow-like sheen. Then, choose pale pink or sky blue cloth napkins and glasses and a raspberry-shaded tablecloth to pull everything together.
38. Place table runners horizontally.
Even though one table runner is usually placed vertically down the middle of a table, switch things up, like @redern_events, this holiday. How? Try placing three or four table runners horizontally across your table.
39. Use a rag quilt table runner.
Your table will look farmhouse chic if you put down a rag quilt table runner as @sewnwithkare did. You can even finish off your look as she did by adding cute fabric pumpkins on top of it.
40. Mix silver and gold tableware.
Using two different metallic colors when you’re setting your table, as @jenniferadamshome did, is a great example of how you can mix and match items you already own this holiday. They’ll complement each other perfectly for fall.
41. Have a color scheme.
Don’t overthink your table decor. Choosing a simple and clean color, like white, as a table theme is an easy way to have a stress-free time decorating. You can copy @apriljoy_ful’s table by using white dishes, a white table runner and white serving dishes!
42. Fall in love with purples.
Your space will look extra luxurious if you use shades of plums, mauves and magentas on your Thanksgiving table. You can even sprinkle in some white and silver pumpkins, like @homeinspirationlulu, to complete your look.
43. Hang flowers over your table.
Tying carnations and roses by their stems to a lighting fixture that hangs above your table, as @cweventssf did, will create a whimsical and beautiful display that all your family and friends will adore eating Thanksgiving under.
44. Make your table sparkle.
Bring some extra glam to your Thanksgiving feast this year with some décor that truly sparkles and shines as @homewithsparkle did. You can do it yourself by painting a layer of glue onto a plastic pumpkin and then covering it in glitter to act as your centerpiece!
45. Use turkey napkin rings.
It’s all in the detail! Adding cute turkey-themed napkin rings is a simple way to upgrade your place settings this year. You can even add in a fall-colored cloth napkin, as @mertenville.wear.gifts did.
46. Write Thanksgiving-themed words on crystals.
Use gold or silver paint or a metallic permanent marker to write words like “family,” “thankful” and “gobble” on crystals and place them all over your table. This unique idea by @signsofourlives will impress your guests!
47. Display statement glasses.
Choosing to use one piece of colorful tableware at each place setting can really make a difference. These maroon crystal glasses on @my.home.her.home.twins’ table scream fall!
48. Be original.
If you live in a warm region, go desert-chic, like @hunkerhome, by placing succulents and mini cacti down the center of your table. You can even place them in copper pots to enhance them more.
49. Use pie as decor.
Make mini pies for all of your guests and place them on their places, like @thekijanicompany! You can bake pecan, pumpkin or an assortment of different pies. Trust us, everyone will be thankful you thought of this tasty idea!
50. Use fall-theme plates.
As @mysouthern_farmhouse shows, pumpkin-shaped appetizer plates can really transform your table. Just make sure they are a different color from your main dinner plate and napkins so they really stand out!
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