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Thanksgiving Table Decorating Ideas – With or Without Kids!

October 18, 2010 · Comments { 23 }

With Thanksgiving around the corner, many of us are already thinking about how we will set the table to celebrate. Formal or casual, with kids or without, there are many options when it comes to decorating your Thanksgiving table. It is always good to start with the basics. I included this in last year’s article on Thanksgiving Table Setting and Decorating Ideas, but it is always good to review how to set a table. If your dinner will be on the fancy side, here is how to set a formal table:

{image courtesy of Classy & Fabulous}

If your turkey day dinner will be more casual, here is how to set an informal table:

{image courtesy of Classy & Fabulous}

eddie ross table setting quote thanksgiving

Speaking of knives, if your silver is in need of a good cleaning, here’s a non-toxic DIY way to clean silver.

And now onto the fun stuff… decorating the table! My hands down favorite tablescape this Thanksgiving is by Eddie Ross, recently featured in Lonny.

{images via Lonny & design by Eddie Ross}

Eddie and his partner, Jaithan Kochar created a vintage meets modern Thanksgiving table that is high on glamour, yet easy on the pocket book. They start with a modern table linen from Quadrille and lay it with vintage flatware and an antique Imari porcelain plate.

thanksgiving table setting modern vintage eddie ross quadrille linen

For a touch of low-cost opulence, Eddie spray painted small pumpkins gold and added watercolored craft paper with guests’ initials as place cards. The pheasants were inexpensive finds and also painted gold for a more luxurious look.

Images of birds of the season are also fun on dinnerware. This dinner plate from Pottery Barn is part of a set of four – each features a unique turkey design. The place setting includes a scroll thank you note individualized for each guest. What a lovely personal touch.

thanksgiving-table-setting-gold-pumpkins-diy

Don’t be afraid the go with a non-traditional color palette. This beautiful place setting by Martha Stewart features both cool and warm hues of blue and gold. Contemporary elements such as the dishware is mixed with contemporary flatware, while a solid linen table cloth is paired with a block-printed napkin. Martha paints a collection of mini pumpkins gold for a simple centerpiece and a place card holder.

thanksgiving table decorations metallic diy gourds hgtv

{Photo courtesy of Bobbi Fabian via HGTV}

This contemporary Thanksgiving table setting via HGTV showcases a white pumpkin, chunky pillar candles and a mixture of metallic-painted gourds. So simple and elegant.

thanksgiving-tablescape-dwell-white-pumpkins-ideas

{image via Design Public}

If you can’t find white pumpkins, you can always paint them as in the case with this table setting above. This monochromatic table was created by DwellStudio’s Christiane Lemieux. She created a simple, backdrop using DwellStudio linens. The subtle, graphic black and white palette are a great way to keep the focus on the main attraction – dinner. For a similar look, try Gate Java Napkins available now by DwellStudio.

{image via Martha Stewart}

Thanksgiving with kids? Setting a table inviting for kids is a good idea if they will not be seated at the “adult” table. What kid wouldn’t want to sit with these darling felt & pom pom turkeys by Martha Stewart? Here’s the how to.

{image via Country Living}

Weather permitting, I love this outdoors table setting via Country Living. A wool blanket is brilliantly used as a rug. The “giving tree” centerpiece is my favorite. Kids are asked to write down what they’re thankful for on decorative tags and then tie to the branches of fall foliage. This little covered stools with rustic log legs are sweet too.

{image courtesy of Country Living via CasaSugar}

Offering the children activities to keep boredom and squabbles at bay is also a good idea. Here kids are given cups of crayons and are free to draw right on the butcher paper tablecloth. The drawn placemats are such a cute idea too! So simple and budget-friendly.

These personalized modern dots placemats by Name Your Design are another great option for a Thanksgiving kids’ table. They are not only cute, but functional, fun and educational. On one side kids have a diagram on how to set the table. On the other kids can write & draw about their day with simple dry erase makers. They are laminated, study and easy to wipe clean. The colorways can also be customized to coordinate with your holiday color palette.

{image via Martha Stewart}

Love this idea from Martha Stewart too. What kid wouldn’t love this darling felt finger puppets placed atop candy sticks. Arranged in simple white containers, they make a centerpiece that will keep kids entertained for hours. Here’s the how to.

Do you need more turkey day inspiration? Here’s additional Thanksgiving Table Setting and Decorating Ideas…

Read full story By Cristin on October 18, 2010 in baby and children, Entertaining, holiday decor, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving – Decorating Ideas for the Kids’ Table

November 17, 2009 · Comments { 17 }

Celebrating Thanksgiving with young children is wonderful, but may lead to some challenges. First, do you let them eat at the “adult” table and give them the good china, silverware and crystal glasses? Or will your littlest guests have their own designated table? It might depend on how many kids will be there, how big your main table is and if you think the kids are “ready” for your finest dishes. For me, I prefer the kids to sit at the adult table in the hopes they will learn from their parents, relatives and friends how to behave in a more formal setting. But, when I was growing up I sat at the “kids” table for years. It was always fun when it was decorated in a special way too.

If you do decide to have a kids’ table, you may want to decorate it in a festive, but kid-friendly manner. Check out the darling turkey plates and tumblers and festive home decor available at Pottery Barn Kids.

Let them help. Busy Bee Lifestyle also had a great DIY idea for kids – cover the table in brown butcher paper, set out some markers and crayons and let your little artists create their own holiday placesetting.

Leave to Martha Stewart to have another super cute idea! These darling turkey, Pilgrim hat and bonnet felt finger-puppets would make the kids at your Thanksgiving feast grin from ear to ear. Place them atop candy canes to create sweet centerpieces. Here is the “how to”.

This yarn turkey with “thankful” feathers would make a darling centerpiece and it’s another simple DIY project.

For dessert, how about serving these gobbling-good turkey cupcakes? I know my kids would devour them in a second!

Looking for decorating ideas for your “adult” Thanksgiving table or will you be a dinner guest?

*images from Martha Stewart, Pottery Barn Kids, Parents, Family Fun

Read full story By Cristin on November 17, 2009 in baby and children, Entertaining, holiday decor, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Table Setting and Decorating Ideas

November 3, 2009 · Comments { 21 }

Giving thanks. Thanksgiving is a wonderful American holiday, one that I look forward to every year. Because I’m not much of a chef, setting and decorating the family table is typically the task delegated to me. Here are some festive table setting and decorating ideas for your turkey day table.

First, knowing how to set the table is essential. Here is a helpful diagram to follow and links to wonderful articles on setting the table at Laura Casey Interiors and Martha Stewart.

In my home like many others, there are dishes reserved for special occasions and Thanksgiving is one of those occasions. You are off to a good start by simply setting the table with fine dinnerware. Be sure to polish the silver and here’s a non-toxic DIY way to clean silver.

Selecting table linens is an important step in decorating your Thanksgiving table and a great way to introduce autumn colors. Bold reds and vivid oranges with a mix of neutral browns and creams can create a dramatic holiday table. For your table you may wish to cover with a tablecloth, runner or keep it bare. If you decide to have a tablecloth or runner, there are plenty of beautiful fall and holiday patterns available. Keeping it simple and versatile, like this two-toned Russian made Cornucopia Jacquard Tablecloth is best if you intend to decorate the rest of the table with lots of smaller items and want to use it through Christmas.

Table runners are also a great look. They give the table some festive color and at the same time show off it’s beautiful wood grain or shine. If you are the do-it-your type, check out this post by The Stories A to Z on how to make your own table runner. And remember to always coordinate the colors of your tablecloth to that of your placemats and napkins.

Thanksgiving table centerpieces can be as simple or complex as you’d like. Candles, floral arrangements, leaves, cornucopias, pumpkins, gourds and other seasonal fruit are all good options when it comes to creating a holiday centerpiece.

Filling vases with decorative autumn leaves, acorns or berries and a pillar candle in coordinating colors is a fast and easy way to warm up your table. For visual interest, place three vases in a row down a long table and small pumpkins in between.

These handcrafted grass and wood chip turkeys available at Williams Sonoma would be perfect additions to your Thanksgiving decorations and table setting. The smaller version – sold in pairs – can be used to hold place cards or menus on the holiday table. Regardless of setting – formal or informal – adding menus and place cards is always an elegant touch.

The adorable pinecone turkey place card or menu companion by Martha Stewart is a simple DIY project – here’s the how-to. They would make great hostess gifts too!

Naturally elegant. Place cards can be as simple as an autumn pear with guests’ names pinned on.

Creating your own place cards or menus with a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner motif is a breeze with this punch by Martha Stewart.

Create a custom napkin holder and place card by stamping a festive design and handwritten message on cardstock. Then punch holes on either side and thread with a decorative ribbon that coordinates with your table’s color scheme.