Easy Thanksgiving Table Decorations That Will Wow Your Guests

Create a stunning Thanksgiving table setting without breaking the bank. These simple DIY decorations and printables will help you transform your dining room into a festive and inviting space.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving? Welcome family and friends with a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape featuring fall stems and dried hydrangeas in an abundance of rich fall colors. I’m sharing lots of great suggestions in this post.

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While Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, it’s a great time to get one detail out of the way — planning your table decorations!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for! I love creating a gorgeous tablescape for our family and guests to enjoy on this special holiday.

But with most of my decorating ideas, I want my Thanksgiving table decorations to be simple, beautiful, and not cost an arm and a leg! By using some free printables and dried hydrangeas from our yard, I was able to pull this tablescape together in no time!

If you’re excited about decorating your Thanksgiving table this year, today is your lucky day! I’m joining my blogging friends in our Celebrate the Holiday Thanksgiving Blog Hop, and we’re all sharing fabulous ideas for Thanksgiving decor!

A special thanks to Carol from Bluesky at Home for putting this great hop together! If you’re coming from Thistle Key Lane, isn’t Michelle’s Thanksgiving dough bowl idea just fabulous?

If this is your first time to Perfecting Places, welcome! I’m so glad you stopped by! I’m Kim, and I blog about all things home decor! I love to share easy DIYs and crafts for your home as well as paint colors, design sources, and favorite decorating tips and tricks to help you make your house a home!

Be sure to visit all of the blogs at the end of this post for LOTS of great Thanksgiving ideas!

Our Thanksgiving Dinner Table Decorations:

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a beautiful tablescape for Thanksgiving. I pulled together natural elements from our yard, and some items from around our home to create this pretty look!

Create an Easy Centerpiece to Enjoy for the Season:

Every fall, I love to create a sprawling fall centerpiece to keep on our dining table throughout the fall season.

Since our dining room adjoins our living room in our open floor plan, I like to keep a substantial centerpiece or focal point on our table all the time.

We primarily use our kitchen table for dining since it’s just my husband, our daughter, and myself here most of the time. So, it’s perfectly ok to keep a large arrangement on the dining table.

This large arrangement features a variety of dried hydrangeas from our garden in a large wooden vase, plus I added some sprawling burgundy faux fall stems. It looks great when we aren’t using the table; however, the large vase makes the centerpiece too tall for dinner conversation when we’re all seated around the table. 

So I improvised. Since I’m using dried blooms and faux stems in this arrangement, I didn’t need a vase or vessel to keep them in water. I simply lifted the arrangement out of the vase and placed in on a blue and white plaid paper table runner, and it became the perfect height for a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Easy peasy!!

I added a few magnolia leaves to the mix and some pretty green candles for the easiest centerpiece ever!

Use a fun paper runner.

I keep a roll of this adorable blue and white plaid paper table runner on hand. It’s perfect with our decor, and works for any season. I decided to use the paper roll for our table runner. The plaid creates such a cozy inviting look on the table. I purchased this paper roll in Franklin, Tennessee at one of my favorite little boutiques. 

​Simple place settings with a little rustic charm:

I added several layers to our place settings for lots of texture. I started with a blue woven place mat, followed by our old Southern Living at Home brown chargers that I’ve had forever and a day — but I still love them! 

I found the prettiest subtle blue dinnerware by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart last year, and paired the plates with our amber stemware. They’ve since discontinued this pattern, but these dishes are similar.

​Blue and white plaid napkins alternate with green for a little variety and color, and all are tied with a gorgeous burgundy satin ribbon to coordinate with the burgundy stems in the arrangement.

Every table setting has it’s own cute little mini white pumpkin to serve as a place card holder for the prettiest coordinating Thanksgiving place cards!

If you love the place cards you’re in luck, because I made these printable place cards just to share with you!! Click the download button to print. I recommend printing on card stock. You can make folded place cards, or cut them in half for a flat card.

Tips for Creating a Lovely Thanksgiving Table:

1. Plan ahead: When preparing for your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s crucial to plan ahead. This ensures you have everything you need for a beautiful table arrangement that impresses your family members and guests. I like to set my table a day or two in advance, so it’s one less thing to worry about on Thanksgiving day.

2. Choose a Theme or Color Scheme: It’s always fun to choose a theme or even a specific color scheme for your table. This theme will help with your choices of dinnerware, table linens, and colors for your centerpiece. A color palette helps to pull it all together in a cohesive way. Incorporate your favorite fall colors and add natural elements for a more rustic look.

3. Use What You Have: Utilize items you already own, like white pumpkins and fall leaves, to add interest to your dining table. I used blooms from our garden and floral stems I already had on hand to create the arrangement.

4. Simple Centerpiece: Don’t stress about the centerpiece There is so much simple beauty in the abundance of the fall season, so it doesn’t take much to create a gorgeous fall table. A few fall stems and some pumpkins make a simple and elegant look for your table.

5. Printable Place Cards: Consider making Thanksgiving place cards as a great way to add a personal touch to your place settings and guide your guests to their seats. Our printable cards coordinate with the flowers in our centerpiece.

6. Mix and Match Tableware: Don’t fret about having matching dinner plates. I love to mix and match our dinnerware when I’m entertaining. It’s a great way to stretch your decorating dollar, and can really demonstrate your creativity. I mixed in some different salad plates at the end seats to add a little interest to the table. 

7. Candles and Lighting: Candles always make a meal feel more special. Try adding different colors to coordinate with your color theme. I always choose unscented candles at the dinner table.

8. Napkin Folds: If you’re feeling extra creative, try a fun napkin fold with your cloth napkins. Or, keep it simple and tie a ribbon around them for an elegant look.

9. Layer Your Table Decor: Some of the most beautiful table decor is achieved by adding in lots of layers. Tablecloths, table runners, chargers, and various plates and bowls all contribute to the design.

10. Relax and Enjoy: Above all, remember that Thanksgiving is about showing gratitude, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying some great food! Keep your dinner table relaxed and beautiful, allowing everyone to enjoy the holiday season. It’s all about making wonderful memories and cherishing those you love!

I hope these easy Thanksgiving table setting tips and beautiful centerpiece ideas inspire you to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your holiday gathering. Whether you’re celebrating with family or hosting a dinner party for friends, may your holiday be filled with love, laughter, and delicious food. And most importantly, it’s all about showing gratitude to the One who has so richly blessed us!

Now be sure to hop over to Hen and Horse Designs to see the lovely Thanksgiving tablescape Susan has created!

Happy Thanksgiving!

By the way, do you follow me on all the socials? If not, check out my Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook and be sure to follow along so you don’t miss out on any of my decorating and DIY ideas.

Celebrate the Holiday Thanksgiving Blog Hop

Now, be sure to check out my creative blogging friends below for lots of pretty Thanksgiving decor inspiration!