Make an Easy, Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape

So I completed my tablescape for Thanksgiving dinner.  Except, the hubby and I decided to visit relatives for the weekend and we actually won’t be here for Thanksgiving day. I’m NOT letting my beautiful table to go waste…we’ll be eating Thanksgiving Eve on this joker.

I like to keep things pretty simple as noted here about keeping stress at bay during the holidays. I could go all-the-way-live, but really my fam is just not that interested. So a simple, elegant Thanksgiving tablescape is what I went for here.

How to create a simple beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape

Assess Your Collection

DO NOT under any circumstance start your tablescape design decision in the store. No matter how pretty those bowls are, cute the napkin rings may be…just don’t. Stores are in business to take your money and cute will snatch your dollars every time.

Take a few moments to inventory all your hosting supplies FIRST!

Things you need to set the Thanksgiving dinner table

• China Pieces
• Serving Platters
• Serving Bowls
• Serving Utensils
• Silverware
• Tablecloths
• Runners
• Napkins
• Napkin ring holders
• Candles (size, shape)
• Silk flowers
• Centerpiece
• Other decorative items you could pull from other rooms

Grab your free printable Basic Table Scape Inventory Checklist in my Free Decorating Library. Keep this pdf cheat sheet handy when you’re planning any holiday decor or just entertaining at your home.

Set your budget and ONLY buy what you really need for your Thanksgiving Tablescape

I saw some croc-patterned chargers at Home Goods and actually put them in my cart. When I looked at my list and saw I had 24, yes 24, gold chargers. Those ‘cheap’ $10 chargers quickly went back on the shelf. What I really needed was silverware that cost $40, so that $10 would have eaten into my already small budget.

Use what you have and build on it

When I hosted my first Christmas, I wanted everything to look like my mom’s table. But I had to take into account that she had been collecting decor for 20 years. It takes time to build your hostess and décor supplies. Don’t feel like you have to do it all at once. Purchase high-quality basics like linen and China and inexpensive accents like napkin rings and candles. In a few years or a few special occasions, you’ll have an amazing assortment of supplies.

It takes time to build your hostess and décor supplies. Don’t feel like you have to do it all at once Tweet This!

Determine your table color scheme

My kitchen cabinets are painted an amazing blue. So, blue is a natural go-to in my neutral colored home. My suggestion is to choose colors that coordinate with your home and add small seasonal details. That way you don’t have to fight with anything in your décor scheme AND you can mix and match décor pieces throughout the house at any given time.

Dig through your stash and pull out anything that will compliment what you have going on in adjacent rooms. I had a blue tablecloth leftover from a baby shower dessert table I designed a few years ago (otherwise I would have gone with linen-closet-stash white). I planned this whole table with one place setting using one of my blue napkins. It wasn’t until my whole doggone table idea came together that I realized the other napkins had disappeared. Another reason to do GOOD inventory. Off to the store for more blue napkins. Grrrr.

How to make a simple Thanksgiving centerpiece

My centerpiece kinda morphed along the way. I found some gorgeous blue and beige flowers at JoAnn’s and the fall decor ideas started to flow. Flower arranging is not my jam, so I literally cut the stems and piled them in place hiding any branches with the blooms and leaves. It took me all of five minutes to arrange those flowers. Don’t tell Martha on me. But hey, it works.

I began with this lantern I found on clearance at again, Joann’s (learn how I save a ton of money there in this post.) I thought it was pretty cute.

But when I started playing around with it, it was a little too rustic for my taste. Just wasn’t working so I swiped these candle holders from my bookcase and arranged the flowers around it the same way.

Yep. That’s more like it.

Select beautiful tableware to finish it off

After the centerpiece is done, the rest is easy peasy. I set the table with chargers, plates, silverware, and glasses and to me, it looks like a million bucks.

If you notice I took two sets of photos, one with some very traditional water and wine goblets. They seem a little old-school because they were my mom’s. They were a part of her treasured crystal we stored in the shrunk. (Check that out on this post where I share how to decorate with memories for that saga.)  They really add a little fancy to the table. I love them because they hold special memories. The gold-rimmed glass? Girl, I picked those up at Dollar Tree! Yep. They have matching plates bowls and water glasses.

This simple, blue fall tablescape didn’t take a lot of money or time.

I don’t do a ton of decorating for fall. A few choice pumpkins and flowers and that’s about it. I did style out my bookcase…but I’ll admit it was only a quick redo while I was photographing my Thanksgiving tablescape. It didn’t seem ‘fall’ enough so I quickly turned all the books around and added a few whatnots.

Related: Fall DIY Room Decor Ideas

Free Printable for your fall tablescape

And while I was at it, I created this cute free thanksgiving decor printable for you. It’s also available in my Free Decorating Tools Library. The simple clean design says Thanksgiving without smacking you over the head. Enjoy!

Get the Look with Similar Items

The links are added for your convenience. If you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. 

Gold Charger Plates | Gold Rimmed Plates | Navy Napkins | Gold Rimmed Glasses | Napkin Rings | Navy Tablecloth | Candleholders | Blue Hydrangeas | Cream Hydrangeas