The first week in November is typically the time that I begin to plan my Thanksgiving tablescape. However, lately, it seems like Thanksgiving is getting the bum’s rush. Nowadays, the stores are filled with Christmas decor by mid-October or even earlier. And as soon as Halloween has come and gone, it feels like we are on a bullet train speeding toward December 25th. This year, I am determined to ignore all the holiday hype. Slow down. And take time to experience November as a month to focus on food, family, and our many blessings. With this in mind, I have designed a serene Nature-Inspired, yet Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape.
Nature-Inspired Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape
Centerpiece
Since I am going for a sense of serenity in my Nature-Inspired Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape, I decided to employ a neutral white, gold, and green palette. I chose to use a vintage oatmeal-colored linen tablecloth embroidered with subtle white floral sprigs as the foundation of my table design. On top of the cloth, I created a natural runner with white pumpkins, magnolia leaves, and seeded eucalyptus. Gold acorns, leaves, and votives add a little sparkle to the centerpiece.
Place Settings
The gold accents are echoed in the place settings. I have several sets of patterned china, but I find myself using these relatively inexpensive Charter Club Grand Buffet dinner plates more often than not. Not only do they provide an elegant neutral base for a variety of different decorative salad plates, but they are also extra-large, making them perfect for holiday meals with lots of side dishes.
To add more gold to the table, I placed antique Mason’s Oak salad plates on top of the Grand Buffet dinner dishes. This English creamware pattern is perfect for fall, as it features a circle of gold embossed oak leaves around the center.
Purely for decoration and because I can’t help gilding the lily, I added white saucers topped with boxwood wreaths and Baby Boo pumpkins to the plate stack. Then, I further embellished the mini pumpkins with wired gold ribbon and a spray of gilded acorns and oak leaves.
White damask napkins encircled with narrow golden leaf napkin rings, my grandmother’s silver flatware, and Waterford goblets round out the rest of the Nature Inspired Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape place setting.
Buffet Arrangement
Faux lemon leaf placemats add more green to the buffet and protect the top from hot serving dishes. In the center of the server, I created an arrangement of hydrangeas and greenery in a white pumpkin tureen. For a little drama, I also added some lighted pussy willow branches.
Family Room Thanksgiving Decor
When I host a holiday, I like to spread my tablescape theme around the house. For this Nature-Inspired Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape theme, I brought the motif into my family room with a lush magnolia leaf garland. This DIY garland was easy to make. I cut fresh magnolia leaf clusters from my yard. Then I just wired them, working in one direction, onto a length of jute twine.
More white pumpkins sit atop the mantel and flank my radiographic photo of a magnolia blossom. I repeated the mantel decor on the coffee table with an arrangement of magnolia leaves and Baby Boo pumpkins.
I don’t know if a tablescape will actually prevent family discord in this fraught political climate. But I have to believe that setting the stage for a holiday dinner with lovely serene decor can’t hurt.
So, this November, my wish for you is to slow down. Jump off the Christmas train. And take time to stop and give thanks around a beautiful and serene Nature-Inspired Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape.
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ABSOLUTELY GORGOROUS LISA!!! LOVE THE MANTLE WITH THE MAGNOLIA TOO.
Thank you, Barb. We are lucky to have several huge magnolia trees in our yard, so I always have a ready supply of those gorgeous glossy leaves for all kinds of arrangements.
I also found myself irritated both at the early arrival of Christmas decorations and the attempts to speed past my favorite holiday (Halloween) and now Thanksgiving. Your table is spectacular–makes me wish I was coming to your house for the holidays haha
Thanks so much for your kind comment. I really appreciate it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Very lovely. I do love the white/green/metallic combo — it is very serene and elegant. I am thinking of doing that (with silver instead of gold) in my dining room this year for Christmas instead of my usual Santa themed display. Now that my kids are older, I could use a more peaceful, serene look. I love the magnolia garland — do you know how long it will last?
Thanks so much, Amy for taking the time to comment. The garland is pretty long-lived. It stays green outside forever. If you have it in the house, it stays green for about two weeks. It drys out and turns more of a brownish shade after that. But I like the way it looks dried as well. I kept mine for about a month before it started to get too brittle.
Lisa,
I love your tablescapes. It makes me wish I had a magnolia tree. Since I dont, you gave me a great idea to use greens I have in my own yard to make a garland.
Happy Thanksgiving Lisa! I hope this season proves to be one of joy and care
Deborah
Thank you, Deborah. I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving as well!
Very pretty! You are fortunate to have the magnolia leaves so readily available!