Thanksgiving table with FREE thankful tags

Happy Monday! With Thanksgiving right around the corner I wanted to share an easy and pretty way to set your table that will make your guests feel warm and welcome and hopefully make less work for you. The bonus is that you can use what you have leftover from Halloween decorations and other seasonal items you may already have around your home.

Here are a few guidelines I used:

Add texture and warmth with a table cloth or runner.

This doesn’t have to be an expensive store-bought table cloth or runner. I used a piece of faux white fur that I bought at Joann Fabrics last year. But you can use any fabric – a piece of burlap, linen, and wool are great options too. You could also use a scarf or thin blanket – there are no rules and it doesn’t need to cover the table completely.

Upcycle Halloween decorations.

For the centerpiece, I mixed in a variety of items versus one main large centerpiece. I started with all the Halloween gourds and pumpkins (real and fake) that I was going to either throw or pack away. I saw a similar color scheme and discarded any that didn’t go. I love the combination of gold, cream, dark green and blue.

Shop your home.

Next, I shopped our home for any additional items that fit this color scheme. I had vases, shells, and a fun gold star. I spaced them throughout the arrangement, trying to balance the colors, shapes and textures. I loved the hint of peach that the shells added so I added a peach vase to match.

Bring the outside in.

Add some fresh cut greens and sticks to any empty vases or just lay them in and around all your items. Natural elements are a great way to add more texture and life to your arrangement. You can always add store-bought flowers too but if you don’t have time, this is a great solution.

Vary the height.

If you find that a lot of your pieces are about the same size, place them on cake stands, candle holders and stacked books for some varying height. But keep things fairly low so your guests can see each other.

Add a message.

I had this sign hanging in our foyer and it’s from the $3 bin at Target. The colors worked perfectly with this arrangement so I placed it against a vase. Mini chalkboards, signs, or even small framed art is a nice way to add a special message to your table.

Define each place setting.

After your centerpiece is arranged, now it’s time to set the table. I like to keep this very simple and start with a charger or an element that defines each place setting. I’ve had these silver chargers forever. You can also use pieces of material, or even scrapbook paper in a fun pattern and have each piece laminated. Scrapbook sheets are 12″ x 12″ and are the perfect size to work like a colorful placemat. I’ve even seen scrapbook paper in a chalk board finish. The black background would look so pretty on the table and you could personalize them or include chalk and let the guests have fun with it.

Place settings.

I have very simple dishes but I love them paired with my 70’s style blue drinking glasses. The embroidered cloth napkins add color and texture.

Involve your guests.

I made simple leaf shaped thankful tags and tied them with twine to be homemade napkin rings. Encourage your guests to write what they’re thankful for on the back of their leaves. You could also make personalized place cards. Or add a pretty flower stem across each plate. A fun activity would be to give each guest a mini note pad as a keepsake for them to record their blessings throughout the holiday season.

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That’s it – my easy Thanksgiving table setting. You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to create a meaningful and pretty table. And here’s another Thanksgiving place setting idea I posted a few years ago. Also easy and pretty. Enjoy!