You Dressed The Bird, But Don't Forget To Dress The Table

Ok, the all-stars of Thanksgiving are pretty obvious. The MVP should be gratitude, but it’s probably the food, with thankfulness rolling in at most improved this year. Family tension takes best defensive player, & wine locks in most reliable teammate. All great, but I’m here to remind you about the other guys this season. Ya know, the third string guys who never get the glory, but the team & game wouldn’t be the same without. The ones who organize the equipment, create the warm up mix to get everyone pumped, & hype the crowd so the guys on the field know they’re at home. As a coach, I always named this award the “Eagle Award” or “Mustang Award” or whatever the school mascot was. Well, dining décor takes Thanksgivings, “Turkey Award.” So, let’s dive into some no fuss tips for dressing your table as good as you dress the bird...

Maybe you’re a seasoned vet at hosting-crushing the food & hospitality game, & just need a little help in an area so easily overlooked in the chaos of entertaining prep. Maybe you’ve never hosted so much as a play date in your home, let alone a dinner party , but have somehow found yourself hosting everyone you know & their cousin..& their cousins girlfriend this year. Either way, you CAN pull off a sure to impress tablescape with a little direction & these helpful tips…

First Up, Centerpieces:

This is the most important aspect of table décor, so pay attention. Flowers are always great centerpieces, & some beautiful oranges, yellows, reds, & greens are perfect for the occasion. Personally, I like to go with pumpkins for the holiday though. Real or artificial pumpkins & gourds wrapped in fall foliage with a few strategically placed candles can take your space to the next level with minimal effort. The key is filling the table. You don’t want centerpieces to get lost. While you don’t need to over-do it by covering your dining table, having one item stranded in the middle can make it seem lonely. Make sure to add some supporting items to bring your look together. Garland (find some here or here) is my go to, but you don’t need to break the bank. Take what you have around the house already ( I grabbed random mismatch pumpkins I had in other places & moved them to the table since that would be the focus on Turkey Day). I also picked up some cheap foam gourds & pinecones that I sprayed with a little glitter. I know, some of you think glitter is the herpes of craft items since you can never get rid of it, but I’m all about a little sparkle. I just take that craft out back & try not to move it too much once it’s in the house haha . Then I hot glued my bargain finds on a wimpier, cheaper piece. It was much more affordable to spruce up a $12 piece of garland with extra items I bought at Hobby Lobby for 98 cents each, than buying the $50 garland I wanted.

Better yet, have your kiddos make a construction paper chain using fall colors. Lay it across the table & sprinkle in little votive candles & pumpkins throughout. The kids will be thrilled to see their artwork showed off, & it makes for a beautiful, homey touch. No matter what you use, include candles. Short votives spread across the table or tall candle sticks that are thin enough to not obstruct guests view or make conversation difficult. Odd numbers are pleasing to the eye & actually help create balance. As you can see, I used five candles with the tallest in the center. Using varying heights works well with all elements. Candles are my favorite for design & creating a warm, intimate setting. No, I’m not trying to seduce my guests, but the warm glow of (UNSCENTED) candles on the table is much better than overhead lights. Spend a few extra bucks to get quality candles that will burn down the middle so you don’t have wax running all over your table. I use these. AS far as the holders go, you do not need to match! Different heights, thickness, & designs make for a natural, fun look. Some of my favorites are here , here, & here.

Next Up, Linens:

Table cloths, napkins, & runners are functional, pretty, & just warm feeling. Obviously, we all love a beautiful, rustic, farm table, but let’s be real; we don’t all have that table, & sometimes a fresh linen is exactly what you need. Honestly, I can’t stand my kitchen table. I bought it in college at a yard sale, & it had definitely seen better days even before it made it me. I really only picked up a festive cloth to hide the eye soar it was, but I realized that I really love the look of a table cloth. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of old fashion holidays with fancy linens, but I just think it brings all the feels of comfort & holiday cheer. Cloth napkins are another Thanksgiving staple. Make sure you follow me on Instagram @lostinthelowcountry to catch my napkin folding tutorial later this week. Linen napkins make it feel like a special occasion, & can easily be thrown in the wash when your child or crazy uncle spills gravy all over the place. You can go with a more neutral color scheme to get the most bang for your buck. Consider greens, whites, greys, or golds. Not only will it be trendy this holiday, but it’s neutrality makes it an easy transfer season to season. I actually had this in mind when choosing my runner which has grey tones & stays on my table year round, as well as my candles, which I repurpose in my Christmas table design. You can find some of my favorite linens here, here, here, & here! Here are some cute napkin rings to tuck your linens in too. Golden spray rings & Fall foliage rings.

On To Place Settings-Mismatch Your Tableware:

Not everyone has enough matching glasses, silverware & dishes for 20 plus people, so don’t be afraid to mix-&-match what you have. Keeping it in the same color scheme will give your table an eclectic, but coordinated look. I have mixed & matched dishes, napkins, napkin rings, silverware, & glasses. Just be sure you have a design in mind. Don’t just randomly drop them down. Alternate them every other setting so there’s a clear pattern. Also, I think everyone should own some nice china, even if you build your collection over time. It makes special dinners & get togethers feel just that, special. Look for timeless pieces that you know will be carried for a long time so you can gradually add pieces. My china can still be found here, even though I bought my 1st piece nine years ago when I got engaged. You can also get some great chargers here & here.

Speaking Of Tableware-One Plate Is Never Enough:

This holds true to the eating & design. I’m head over heels for any layered look, so I’m sure as heck on board with one that allows for more opportunity to stuff my face. You can start with a placemat (I like round for round plates), a charger, dinner plate, salad or app plate, bread plate, heck even a soup bowl if your’e over the top on courses. Thanksgiving is about eating & sharing, so let me also share this great chart to help you figure out what goes where.

Place Cards Aren’t Snooty!!!!

I think a lot of people think traditional place cards don’t have a place at a family gathering, but I disagree. Having hosted many a holidays & parties for two huge families, I can tell you that guests want to know where to sit. I used to think it was rude to tell people where to go. I wanted them to find where they were comfortable, but I’ve learned that leads to confusion & quite frankly, some awkwardness. I’m normally busy trying to get food out while multiple people are asking me where they should sit. Despite how many times I tell them “anywhere",” they want direction. I stop what I’m doing to pick a chair, only for them to sit down & have another person come back with a plate of food to grab their drink from their now taken seat. So many other people also seem to have an opinion on where all the people who are too uncomfortable to pick their own seat should sit. Suddenly there’s twelve people yelling & drinks being moved & craziness. It also never fails that two people who have absolutely nothing in common get stuck by each other, like my super young, liberal brother-in-law & my 80 year old grandmother who carries Christian pamphlets around in her purse for just such an interaction. Maybe that’s just our house, but even if your family is more put together than ours; place cards are just a thoughtful addition to your table. Personalizing your seating is a small touch that reminds each person you thought about them being there. My favorite place cards are ones that are gifts or something that can be useful & not just adorable décor. Another helpful tip- as the host, make sure you place yourself near the kitchen or somewhere you won’t bother others with having to get up & down to clear plates, change courses, & uncork one of these amazing clean crafted wines, Che Fico sparkling white, Conte de la Terre Chenin Blanc, or The Resident Red Blend.

I cut out little pumpkins, slipped them in cinnamon sticks, & tied a sparkly string in a bow for a little extra detail. The best part is that I put a couple of pens on the table for guests to write one thing they are thankful for on the back of the pumpkin & throw it in the Thankful Jar for us to share over dessert later. Sure my brother-in-laws normally write something dirty or inappropriate, but it’s still fun, & the kids always have the sweetest things on there.

Amazon has a set of 50 little chalk board tags, chalk pen, & string for $9.99! If you’re looking for something you can use over & over again, this is ideal. You can tie these on napkin rings or just lay a folded napkin out & lay these across. Find them here.

Speaking Of Wine:

Have a bar cart (like this or this) or buffet table nearby stocked with drinks- alcohol & nonalcoholic. It keeps your guests in the same room, & lets them know to pour their own drink. You want to be a good host, but it can be exhausting, & you deserve to enjoy the party as well. Serving your dinner buffet style (these will come in handy) & having a bar cart for drinks takes a lot of pressure off you. It also means the table stays beautiful since you won’t have to move the centerpiece, & you can skip the endless passing around of hot casserole dishes.

Check my link here for incredible clean crafted, organic, vegan, gluten free, half the calorie & carbs wine! With this zero added sugar & sulfite wine, you can avert the dreaded hangover! Now, if only I could find a Thanksgiving dinner with half the calories & that doesn’t leave me feeling stuffed & gross…a girl can dream.

Don’t Forget The Kids Table:

If I had to pick between decorating the adults or kids table, hands down, I would go kids. After all, there’s no one who will appreciate your hard work & attention to detail more than the littlest guests. There’s a reason you remember the holidays being the best when you were a kid. It’s not that things aren’t the same, it’s just that kids appreciate it more & are so easily excited. Kids take so much joy in these special days, & believe me, if you want them to actually stay at the kids table & let you socialize with the adults, you better make it a space they want to be at. I always have little treats & a craft for them. This year I even scored a thanksgiving themed table cloth they can color on! I got mine at walmart for $3.99, but if they’re out you can get it here for a little more. You can also include a Thanksgiving activity book on the table like this one, & have a little treat like this or this at each seat. Lastly, use their artwork as their special centerpiece like I did (I will post a tutorial later this week.) Also, don’t forget to do something special for the bigger kids. Sometimes an older one may not be thrilled about being banished to the kids table since they’re bigger than the rest of them. For the older girl coming to our house, I have a plastic plate instead of the paper ones the younger kids get, & I got her a much bigger chocolate turkey. This way she is treated like the bigger kid that she is, & is a little less jaded about the “kids table.”

Extra Helpful Tidbits:

Set the table right away. Let’s be honest, most days we don’t have time for proper etiquette or a decked out table. I get it. But when you’re putting so much effort into the food & festivities, you should want to display your food proudly, & I swear Turkey just tastes better in a pretty setting with the glowing light of candles. Set the table the night before, so it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of, besides your guests will be wowed upon walking in with a your fancy skills.

Next, know your guests, & plan dinner around game times. Whether or not you’re into football, Thanksgiving is a big game day, & you shouldn’t make your guest miss it if you don’t have to. Do make sure the tv is muted during dinner though. That’s family time & the people at the table should be the focus. Low music is a great addition to setting the vibe, but definitely not football commentators.

Lastly, don’t forget to find time to enjoy the day yourself, & if nothing else pull out the leftover pie & treat yourself to a glass or bottle of this Dove Hunt Cabernet when everyone goes to bed & be thankful Christmas is at your sisters.