It’s the day after Halloween and now we turn our planning to the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving. I love to host that festive dinner for my family, and I always plan our tablescape in advance. The most important rule? You don’t have to match any color scheme or specific decor rules for your table! In fact, it’s better if you match the table setting to your dining room’s palette and what you have in your china or tableware collections. Here are some ideas!

1. Use What You Have

Rather than purchasing specific tableware with turkeys or pumpkins, craft a non-traditional table with what you already have. You could use special chargers to make it more festive, but the key is to layer the place settings and to add gorgeous floral arrangements.

2. Personalize Your Color Palette

If you have traditional plates that you pull out every Thanksgiving, consider changing things up with a new color palette! Purple may not be the first color that comes to mind for the holiday, but it is stunning in the place setting above and it highlights the colors on the turkey plates.

3. Mind Your Metallics

Nothing makes a table more festive than metallic finishes. You could go all gold, all silver, rose gold, or a mixture of those finishes. The silvery coolness in the table above is perfectly balanced with the warm orange of the pumpkin and the reds of the plaid.

4. Lighten It Up

You don’t have to use only fall colors and moody hues, try lighter pinks and peaches for a rosy outlook. And try a few more festive touches, like placecards, salt-and-pepper shakers for each setting, votives placed all across the table, and maybe even personalized menus.

What are your favorite holiday table settings? Let me know in the comments section below!

Warmly,

Beth