30 Designer-Approved Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

Throw the cupboards wide open, grab your DIY supplies and garden shears, pull out every festive fabric you’ve got — and get ready to celebrate the season of gratitude with decorating inspiration that will make your whole home feel like a warm hug.

By: Lauren Oster

Related To:

Thanksgiving Decor We're Thankful For

Company's coming! From the front porch to the mantel to the dining room and even your backyard planters, get ready to give every area of your home a cheery fall refresh before Thanksgiving guests arrive. From DIY project ideas to designer inspo, we've got your covered with tips for decking out both indoors and out to help you warmly welcome friends and family this Thanksgiving.

See More Photos: Simple Ways to Cozy-Up Any Room In Your Home

From: H. Camille Smith

Tablescape: Take a More-Is-More Approach

Design blogger and maximalist Ariel of PMQ for two knows that abundance at the holiday table begins long before the food arrives. This joyously colorful arrangement features a bold purple tablecloth with a graphic floral pattern, cotton canvas placemats with watercolor stripes and mid-mod magpie napkins … proving that every pattern can be a seasonal pattern. Ariel also makes the most of Thanksgiving’s proximity to the Christmas season by tossing in ornaments and wintery cup-and-saucer settings. When you’re putting linens and dishes together this year, look to Ariel (and Star Trek) for inspiration — and boldly go where no host has gone before.

See More Photos: Our Favorite Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

Create a Colorful Kids’ Table

In pulling together this happy-go-lucky setting, Ariel chose playful pieces that make it almost impossible not to smile. Chicken plates? Absolutely. Raccoon napkins? A perfect pairing. Printed-out paper placemats and shareable baskets of crayons are crowd-pleasing entertainment, and the colorful pumpkins she placed on her veggie table runner (why not?) can survive a bit of coloring, too. Keep your eyes peeled at thrift stores and rummage sales for cute (non-heirloom) accents like this turkey salt shaker, and download a digital template to generate color-able placemats of your own.

Watch the Video: Thanksgiving Kids' Table

Add Seasonal Flair to Your Coffee Station

Ariel used her Cricut Maker (a die-cutting gadget that uses commands from your phone, tablet or laptop to cut, score, emboss and engrave thin materials like vinyl and foil) to autumn up a sweetly retro serving tray. A tableau like this one is ideal for making an otherwise-bland corner of your home both festive and functional: create a help-yourself beverage station to get conversation flowing in the lead-up to dinner or to anchor an after-the-feast chat.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Custom Sticker With Cricut Maker

Miniaturize Your Pies

The buffet arrangement Ariel created for a friendsgiving celebration — you know, a more informal, holiday-adjacent occasion to get together with the people you consider your chosen family — shrinks dessert down to adorable mini-offerings displayed on ceramic cake stands and cutting boards. This casual, festive display lets guests serve themselves speedily when they’re ready to tackle another course and offers another excuse to create a seasonal floral arrangement. Personal pies like this are also the ideal size for a dollop of ice cream, which doesn’t feel coincidental.

get the recipe: How to Make Miniature Pie Party Favors

Play With Primary Colors

If your dining area features a bold retro palette like Ariel’s, don’t lean into an occasion-specific color scheme that makes your table feel like it materialized out of nowhere. Instead, carry your favorite hues into your seasonal decor: reach for cherry red placemats, cornflower blue tapers and Technicolor faux fruit and pumpkins. When your Thanksgiving decorations complement the pieces that stick around 365 days a year, every room feels special.

See More Photos: Fall’s Trendiest Hues to Try in Your Home

Whip Up a Pile of Pumpkins

Speaking of Technicolor gourds, you’ve turned your favorite eye-popping fabric scraps into charmers like these, right? This budget- and beginner-friendly DIY is the ideal way to dress your space for Thanksgiving and other fall festivities without deviating from the vibe you’ve already established (real talk: the pre-made pumpkin you ordered online isn’t quite working with your drapes and sofa). Follow Ariel’s tutorial here.

Bring On the Seasonal Blooms

Southern design powerhouse James Farmer welcomed guests to his vacation cottage in Cashiers, North Carolina with a “Dahlia Dinner” tablescape that uses a profusion of vases to celebrate those gorgeous flowers and the last of the season’s roses. To follow in his footsteps, head outdoors and grab everything you find that falls within a fiery palette of golden yellows, tawny oranges and sunset reds (flowers, foliage, ferns — all fair game). Create several arrangements with the floral clippings and spread them along the center of your table, then fill in the gaps with leafier pieces.

See More Photos: Our 70 Favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Pair Unexpected Colors for Dramatic Dining

Fancy an even more traditional arrangement? James splashed out on beeswax tapers cast from vine-wrapped oak branches in old-school barley-twist candlesticks to add drama and height to this spectacular scene. Hand-blown, jewel-toned wine glasses introduce rich color that carries through roses, asters, maple leaves, Mexican sage and cut cabbage stems in the trio of arrangements at the center of the table.

Colorfully Contrast Your Blue and White China

Who knew the MVP (Most Valuable Pumpkin) at your Thanksgiving table would be blue and white ombre? “It seems like everyone has a stack of blue and white dishes these days,” notes entertaining expert and accessories designer Joanna Buchanan. “It's so classic and I love how you can make it work for every season. Adding in the pumpkin colors in this indigo and white tablescape feels like a totally new spin on Thanksgiving and feels really fresh and new. Creating this look with our capiz table decor — ombre pumpkins and our extra-large striped tray — and fresh autumnal foliage is just so easy and so impactful. I also love the natural elements of our straw placemats and napkin rings ... they are hand-woven out of natural abaca and they make it feel like the fall harvest is on your table."

Try Camo at Your Table (Just Trust Us)

Rendered in gleaming glass seed beads, trusty old camouflage — yes, camouflage — looks right at home on a special-occasion table. “An unexpected introduction of pattern for your Thanksgiving table is super cool and totally chic,” Joanna says. “The placemats and table accessories in this tablescape truly mirror the color that is happening in the garden. These colors can work so well with so many colors of china — white would be fabulous as a clean counterpoint but, anything with green or burnt orange would also be fabulous! And note the gold-tone cutlery for extra depth and richness.”

Get Festive With Wreaths and Garlands

Who says you should hold off on decking the halls? This metallic magnolia wreath and the garlands flanking it combine dramatically gilded leaves, poppy pods, pine cones and pops of evergreen needles in lush, textural trim you can hang after Halloween and admire through the new year. (If your pendants boast a rich brass tone that complements those magnolia leaves like these do, all the better.)

Go Low, Literally, With a Charcuterie Board

How do you ensure that your fabulous decorations don’t prevent your guests from making eye contact with one another (and kill your party’s ambiance)? Frontgate Brand Manager and holiday-maximalism aficionado Kate Beebe has some pro pointers on that and other design dilemmas, illustrated by her tastemaker friends. “I’m loving this solve styled by Amanda of The Fashionable Hostess,” she says. “Not only is she using a charcuterie board functionally to serve her guests, she’s also styled it to be the perfect centerpiece, complete with fresh eucalyptus and artisan-inspired glass pumpkins. While the color scheme is more muted than one might see from a maximalist tablescape, the multitude of focal points is spot on. A maximalist should always seek to add interest or a story with every object and color placed in a space.”

See More Photos: How to Stock a Party-Perfect Charcuterie + Cheese Board

Or, Go High With a Tiered Server

When you do want a bit of height, reach for multi-level pieces like the elegant marble and porcelain offerings in Frontgate’s Antler Serveware Collection. “Varying heights on a table elevate the presentation and create a dynamic display for your food and condiments,” Kate explains. “I personally love when the meal itself is the centerpiece. And if there’s any holiday where food fits the ‘more is more’ theme, it’s Thanksgiving.”

See More Photos: 60 Easy Party Food Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

Take the Party Outside

If you’re lucky enough to live someplace where you can invite your guests to get cozy outside, go for it — and have a showstopper ready when they get there. “Give them something to talk about,” Kate says. “Skip the traditional floral bouquet centerpiece for something a little more … out of the box. This vintage swan planter styled by Paige Minear is perfection with a bundle of magnolia leaves instead of the traditional fall florals. (I can’t wait to ask her the story behind this swan!) I love that her color combination includes orange and green, echoing the transition from summer to fall. I’ve honestly never seen a Thanksgiving table in these hues — and I couldn’t be more obsessed.”

See More Photos: 35 Cozy Outdoor Thanksgiving Celebration Ideas

Pair Persimmon With Classic Chinoiserie

This iteration of blue and white sizzles, thanks to high-contrast pairing with color-saturated foliage, tapers and napkins. “If you’re a maximalist, the color combination [of blue and white] is the perfect backdrop to add tiers of color,” Kate says. “Courtney from the famed Pizzazzerie brand chose to play up traditional fall hues in this Thanksgiving tablescape. The blue and white undertones add a gorgeous and interesting twist to an otherwise classic holiday table.”

Reach for Moody Blues (and Fuchsias)

When you think “Thanksgiving in Kansas City,” is this what comes to mind? Modern traditionalist Gwen Hefner — AKA The Makerista — brings the drama with her take on an autumn arrangement. “What sets this apart from most Thanksgiving tables? The pops of color in the moody mix, of course,” Kate says. “In true maximalist fashion, we see a bright blue napkin (instead of the traditional white linen), complementary blue glassware and bright fuchsia candlesticks to coordinate with the darker-toned fuchsia runner. She perfectly marries sophistication with interest and whimsy.”

Go Big With Long-Stemmed Gourds

Demure mini pumpkins are well and good, but isn’t it high time we started letting their funkier cousins do their thing? This architectural combination is gorgeous on an occasional table. “While most are drawn to the moody autumnal tones that complement gourds, Lance and David from Parker Kennedy Living paired nature’s bounty with bright pops of color (yellow, bright green and pink),” Kate notes. “The Rose Medallion Chinoiserie vessel perfectly plays to these color pops — especially highlighting the subtle pink hues in the arrangement. What maximalist doesn’t love pink?”

Mix and Match Plaids

This clever combination of fabrics practically tracks the changing of the seasons: the tablecloth’s loose check and pale negative space evoke an end-of-the-summer picnic, while the buffalo check dinner plates layered below lacy white salad plates function as winter warmers. Don’t be shy about getting creative with a similar pairing at your place, and don’t assume you need to purchase new linens: Dig out blankets and throws to repurpose as tablecloths or test-drive a plaid scarf as a table runner! Don’t use a floral shirt in lieu of a floral arrangement, though. That would be weird.

See More Photos: Our Favorite Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

From: H. Camille Smith

Perch Edible Favors at Place Settings

Let’s focus on a variation of that setting and talk about a finishing touch that will start your meal off in spectacular fashion. Yes, the plaids we just talked about are lovely, and the woven chargers beneath them are pretty cool, too. The truth is, however, that you could use an old Paw Patrol twin sheet as your tablecloth and your Thanksgiving guests won’t snark about it if you top their plates with wee chocolate turkeys. Wee chocolate turkeys are a power move.

From: H. Camille Smith

Soften Seating With Faux Fur

Create cohesion with mix-and-match seating and make unforgiving pieces cozier — looking at you, cool upcycled church pew that’s comfortable for about 15 minutes — with plush throws and cushions. If you have colorful faux fur, why, that’s even better.

See More Photos: Rustic + Refined: Set a Stunning Fall or Winter Table Setting

From: H. Camille Smith

Turn Gourds Into Garden-Inspired Vases

Put a twist on indoor-outdoor living by hollowing out mini pumpkins and butternut squash to spice up table settings. If it’s too nippy to dine outside, don’t give up on patio decor: invite a container plant or two in for the evening as a living arrangement.

GET THE HOW-TO: Turn a Butternut Squash Into a Fall Centerpiece

Repurpose Small Serveware

Cute little vessels meant for specific culinary occasions that won’t be coming up at Thanksgiving — we’re sorry, egg cups, but your services won’t be necessary today — are perfect (and on-theme!) for candles and diminutive flower arrangements scattered around your buffet. No extensive china set with vestigial pieces like those? No problem: You can mix and match to your heart’s content with quirky flea-market finds.

See More Photos: 10 Tips for Setting Up an Easy + Elegant Thanksgiving Buffet

Announce the Menu With a Chalkboard

A straightforward list like this one works beautifully, but a handwritten menu is also an excellent opportunity to point out which of the dishes you’ll be serving are vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, and so on. Feeling extra-crafty? DIY a gorgeous framed chalkboard like this one with step-by-step instructions, below, from crafty designer Marian Parsons.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make an Ornate Framed Chalkboard

From: Marian Parsons

Create an Apple Topiary Centerpiece

If you’d like to say you’ve been apple picking this year and aren’t actually interested in spending hours in the car and muddying up your shoes, pick up 15-20 small apples from the local farmers’ market and build a diminutive “tree” with skewered fruit like this one. The morning after Thanksgiving, pluck the apples from your arrangement, then follow our recipe for applesauce (which takes just two minutes in a pressure cooker, or 10 in the microwave!) and serve your centerpiece with breakfast.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make an Autumnal Apple Topiary Centerpiece

From: Marian Parsons

Arrange Hot Dishes on Tree-Slice Trivets

With natural bark edges and handsome end-cut graining, slabs like these are excellent additions to rustic arrangements of all kinds. This simple-as-someone-else-bringing-the-pie craft project needs to sit and dry for a few days after you’ve applied butcher block sealant, but the work itself takes mere minutes — and the admiration you’ll earn when you mention offhandedly that you DIY’ed your decor will last forever. (You don’t have to mention that you didn’t saw the log yourself.)

See More Photos: DIY Thanksgiving Decor: Tree Trivets for the Thanksgiving Table

Adorn the Door With a Homemade Wreath

Greet guests at the front door with a DIY (and fantastic-smelling) cotton and eucalyptus wreath — and hand-letter a sign to kick off Thanksgiving with a sentiment of your choice. Kick things up a notch or two by winding a battery-powered string of fairy lights among the boughs, or wiring gleaming baubles to your wreath form.

See More Photos: 30 Fall-Tastic DIY Wreaths

Make Outdoor Seats Snuggle-Worthy

Blankets and pillows like these won’t spend the fall and winter on the porch, but an impromptu arrangement that gives Thanksgiving visitors a place to gather before and after the meal sounds just right. If you’re expecting guests on the back patio, bring out a basket of throws to perch beside the door and ward off evening chills.

See More Photos: Celebrate Autumn With the Season's Best Porches and Patios

From: H. Camille Smith

Display Miniature “Toadstools” With Dessert

Capitalize on this year’s ever-growing (no pun intended) mushroom trend with adorably bite-sized cookies. Arranged at place settings, piled atop a dessert buffet or tied up in glassine bags to take home as favors, these fellows are both delicious and the perfect excuse to discuss the fact that goblincore is an actual design aesthetic right now.

GET THE HOW-TO: No-Bake Mini Toadstool Treats

Show Off Collected Vintage Napkin Rings

Skip a unified set of napkin rings and create your own “collection” by keeping your eyes peeled for various secondhand pieces that complement one another (say, silver-tone pieces in animal shapes). While you’re at it, be on the lookout for vintage placemats as well; arranged in a row, they can create a one-of-a-kind table runner.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Break Out the Fun Tchotchkes

If you’ve got a pair of brass quail, it’s time to set them loose in your house. An ornate teapot? Fill it with seasonal blooms. Tea lights go in the mercury glass votives, figurines can march across your mantel, crystal creatures should peep out of your piled gourds — Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude for big things, and it's also a time to create festive displays with little things (like the 12 glass squirrels you inherited from Aunt Susan).

See More Photos: Our 70 Favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces

From: H. Camille Smith

Shop This Look

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: PMQ For Two

Photo By: Emily Followill

Photo By: Joanna Buchanan

Photo By: Frontgate

Photo By: Amanda Gluck of Fashionable Hostess

Photo By: Frontgate

Photo By: Angie Webb

Photo By: Courtney Whitmore of Pizzazzerie

Photo By: Gwen Hefner of The Makerista

Photo By: David Ecton and Lance Jackson of Parker Kennedy Living

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Marian Parsons

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Heather Baird

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

30 Designer-Approved Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

Related To:

Thanksgiving Decor We're Thankful For

Tablescape: Take a More-Is-More Approach

Create a Colorful Kids’ Table

Add Seasonal Flair to Your Coffee Station

Miniaturize Your Pies

Play With Primary Colors

Whip Up a Pile of Pumpkins

Bring On the Seasonal Blooms

Pair Unexpected Colors for Dramatic Dining

Colorfully Contrast Your Blue and White China

Try Camo at Your Table (Just Trust Us)

Get Festive With Wreaths and Garlands

Go Low, Literally, With a Charcuterie Board

Or, Go High With a Tiered Server

Take the Party Outside

Pair Persimmon With Classic Chinoiserie

Reach for Moody Blues (and Fuchsias)

Go Big With Long-Stemmed Gourds

Mix and Match Plaids

Perch Edible Favors at Place Settings

Soften Seating With Faux Fur

Turn Gourds Into Garden-Inspired Vases

Repurpose Small Serveware

Announce the Menu With a Chalkboard

Create an Apple Topiary Centerpiece

Arrange Hot Dishes on Tree-Slice Trivets

Adorn the Door With a Homemade Wreath

Make Outdoor Seats Snuggle-Worthy

Display Miniature “Toadstools” With Dessert

Show Off Collected Vintage Napkin Rings

Break Out the Fun Tchotchkes

Shop This Look

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