Thanksgiving Table in 5 steps

Thoroughly clean and polish your table’s surface; this is your chance to really show it off.  Choose a runner that covers about 1/3 of your table width.  I like nubby, textural ones like this European linen.  The effect is stunning against the polished wood of your table.

You can barely see it in this photograph (sorry about that), but I’ve chosen a shallow wood tray with real bark sides.  The effect is that of seeing tree bark through forest foliage.  The greenery, shimmering strand, and chunky dried pieces all add texture to the lush green pumpkin.

Here you can see the texture of the runner, the tray and all it’s filling, the silver, and some nostaglia.  These two candles are from Chip’s mother.  They graced her table every Thanksgiving, never to be burned (I actually lighted them once because unburned wicks never look quite right to me.).  The girls love them, they’re nostalgic for Chip as a reminder of his childhood Thanksgivings, and they’re charming to me.   Don’t overlook these little emotional components of your table.

Even in autumnal colors, flowers bring a fresh happiness to any space.  Take advantage of fall cabbages, and soon-to-be-gone greenery to add texture to your arrangements.

Bring your table to life with candles.  Pillars, tapers, votives.  Use what you have.  They bring energy to the table, and make everyone look better, too.

Here’s the full effect.  This year I’m using chargers for the first time in my life.  I’m really not sure why I never have before, but I was inspired by the bare wood table (I usually use linen table cloths for holiday dinners), and already love the effect.  I also had an abundance of tiny pumpkins, so I had Sasha write names on each one to use as place cards.  Too cute.

Here’s a different arrangement, using the same 5 steps.  Here I’ve used a silver tray, pillar candles, and tiny orange pumpkins.  The whimsy comes from the vintage clock, a stack of books, and a gilded bird.  Notice the flowers are arranged in a tea pot, not a vase.  I LOVE tea pots as vases.  This arrangement is on my sideboard – an surface can hold a pretty display.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading,

Virginia