How To Set A Casual, But Elegant Thanksgiving Table
Use these table setting tips to set a Thanksgiving table that’s just dressy enough for a special occasion and just casual enough to invite your guests to stay awhile.
We don’t do formal around here, but I do like to dress things up a bit for special meals. I hope that my Thanksgiving table this year reflects the perfect combination of casual, laid back, cozy, welcoming style with a little bit of dressy thrown in. Just enough dressy to make you feel like this is a special meal and we’re so glad that you’ve joined us!
No formal, stuffy centerpieces allowed around here! I simply plopped a faux pumpkin into the middle of a wooden pedestal bowl and tucked in real and faux eucalyptus, faux fall berries from the dollar store and guinea feathers. The resulting look is casual because it’s unstructured and filled with texture.
I added a bit of sparkle and dressiness to the table by scattering mercury glass candle votives around both ends of the table. Twig pumpkins calm the dressiness down though and add some of that all important texture.
I love the look of the candles reflecting in the brown glass jugs.
I kept the colors on the table very muted, so as not to compete with the rest of the fall decor in the dining room. I chose to use white, beige, soft greens and zinc as the main colors.
Each place setting is grounded with a dark brown placemat. Did you notice that every place setting is slightly different? Even though I used the same elements at each setting, each one is styled just a little differently.
All six of the settings include the same linen napkin, silverware, eucalyptus, guinea feather and a zinc name tag all tied together with jute twine. I’ve never tried mixing my place settings up before, but I must admit that I love the look!
The ends of my table are curved, which can make using a tablecloth a bit tricky. To solve the problem, I gathered each end of the runner, tied it with twine and tucked in a few sprigs of eucalyptus and couple of guinea feathers.
This might just be my favorite Thanksgiving tablescape ever!
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Love it, it looks so inviting. I am having Thanksgiving at my house this year and you have giving ideas on how to dress up my table for that day, so thank you for sharing
I really like this look. Even tho I live alone I still ‘dress’ up my table for Thanksgiving. 🙂
Love the slight difference of each place setting! Your whole table looks so cozy and inviting……what time should I arrive? ?
Beautiful Thanksgiving table, liked the pheasant feathers added to the table center piece.
Love all the different textures used. The colors are soft & just balance everything together. Wonderful looking table.
I love your silverware. Is it available anywhere?
Hi Joan. Yes, I’ve provided a resource list to where you can purchase most of the items (or similar ones) that are on my table. Look at the photos shown under RESOURCE LIST, click the arrows to scroll through the products, then click on the image of any product that you’re interested in and you’ll go straight to the product. In the case of the silverware, the image is only linked to the dinner fork, but that pattern is available in all of the pieces that you’d need for a place setting.
Thank you for your reply, but I have no picture of the silverware in the resource list. I must be doing something wrong.
I love your blog though❤️
Hi Joan. My bad – you aren’t doing anything wrong ! I’m so sorry, but I didn’t realize that the silverware wasn’t a part of the resource list. Anyway, you can find it at World Market.
Very pretty, Suzy!
Love your simple elegant table. Love the feathers. Where did you find these? I put a feather in every centerpiece create and I don’t have any of these beauties.
Hi Cookie. I’ve provided a resource list to where you can purchase most of the items (or similar ones) that are on my table. Look at the photos shown under RESOURCE LIST, click the arrows to scroll through the products, then click on the image of any product that you’re interested in and you’ll go straight to the product.
I agree with completely -it IS your prettiest table yet. So many beautiful elements but I love the tablescape and love the different placesettings. Its perfect! xxoo
I love the brown glass jugs that are on your beautiful table and also the use of Eucalyptus . Tying it at the ends of your table is so clever. Inspiring!!g
Your Thanksgiving table is so pretty. Do you serve the food buffet style out of your kitchen, or do you remove the centerpiece and serve family style with the food at the table?
Hi Julie. When I’m hosting a large gathering, I typically set up a buffet for the main dishes on the island in my kitchen and also set up a dessert buffet on the sideboard in the dining room.
So beautiful, Suzy!
Just right!!
Love the mix of the rustic with the mercury glass votives plays off of the amber bottles.. Very inviting great job.
Love the brown bottles and chandelier. You have a pretty table set for your guests.
The amber glass and the placemats are stunning…casual and elegant all at once.
Beautiful! I really like how you used the same elements in slightly different ways for the place settlings.
Stunning in it’s “casual elegance”! Love the colour combination – especially the brown vases with the candlelight beside them. I find it adds so much interest to the table when each place setting isn’t exactly the same – well done!
Suzy, love the table and you are so right this is casual bt elegant. Like he idea of the ends of the table cloth.
Cindy
Sigh! So beautiful! I am sure your guests will be thrilled that you have taken the time to set such a pretty table for them! I love the addition of the feathers to your centerpiece, and how you have displayed the flatware! I am going to have to try that way sometime! I am pinning this to my group tabletop board. If you don’t belong to it and want to, message me and follow it and I will add you!
I love those placemats…and I would love to buy some of the grapevine pumpkins – so cute!! It sure is hard to stay on my fall decor spending freeze. Lol.
Such a gorgeous table. Thanks for sharing your style tips with us! Take care, Cynthia
So very pretty and I love the dressy/undressy look. You’ve added just enough of the traditional fall color palette to highlight the season. The soft neutrals are really in the year and I love it!
Everything is just lovely in your tablescape! Thanks for the inspiration! Blessings, Janet
I am in love with the look of the brown glass jugs! Beautiful with the candles!
I LOVE your table, beautiful! Where are the brown jugs and chargers from? I don’t see them in the resource list . Thank you!
Hi Christine. I picked up the larger jugs at two different antique places and the small ones came from the dollar section at Target. Those chargers are actually just some woven placemats that I picked up so long ago, that I can’t remember where they came from! 😀
Thank you, Suzy!
That is beautiful!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Lovely setting! It looks so inviting. The colors are perfect! Thanks for the ideas!
Just lovely! I especially like the brown jugs, eucalyptus and feathers. I need a change big time. This year we are going to our son and daughter-in-law’s home, so I have plenty of time to pull it off for next year! Thank you so much for the inspiration.
A beautiful relaxing table to enjoy before the craziness of Christmas begins. The amber bottles.are lovely with the candle light reflecting on them.
I really love the sparkle of the bottles with the candles inside.
So lovely and inviting. How generous with the gift card!
Mary Ann
Simply beautiful tablescape. I love the subtle colors you chose and the feeling it evokes. I look forward to reading each of your posts and love all the information you share.
Oh my gosh, so fun to look at the prettiness! Love those brown glass bottles/jugs, need to get some of those… Going to take 2nd look at your resource list!
So pretty! Love the touches of nature!
lOVE LOVE LOVE those brown jugs and the feathers.
Love the mercry glass and feathers in particular..rustic and elegant. I always struggle to find somethi,g that won’t get in our way during the meal. I think you figured it out.
Your Thanksgiving table is special. Love the feathers added to the centerpiece! Very comfortable and inviting yet just a step above!
Such a lovely table, inviting and welcoming!
That is a beautiful table. I hope you checked to se if any of your guests are allergic to feathers or eucoliptis.
Your holiday table decor is absolutely beautiful, I love the brown glass!
Arrrgggghhh! Why did I not read this blog post before my dinner party on Sunday night? I do solemnly swear to keep up to date so I don’t miss another good one!
Your table looks very elegant, welcoming and perfect for the event, I love it and I wish you a happy Thanksgiving.xx
You have used some of my favorite fall elements . . . and they are beautiful for a Thanksgiving table! I have been completely enamored with white pumpkins for the past several years, and the feathers bring such a rich tone to the table. Mercury glass is so classic and looks great at any setting. The brown corked jugs are a bit of a surprise — in a good way! They really add warmth to the white dinnerware and you are so right — they reflect the candlelight beautifully! I’m taking some ideas over to my Thanksgiving table this year!
I absolutely love your table this year! It is simply elegant and yes I love the candle reflections in the brown glass jugs, you have just given me the drive to pull out my brown glass !!!
Great tablescape. I especially love the feathers. Who knew Amazon sells feathers!!! Will have to order these as they add such a nice organic touch. I am also excited to find the seeded eucalyptus last night at Trader Joes for $2.99. SCORE! So may wonderful ideas here and everything works with my china pattern. Thank you!
I love your centerpiece! I have many collected brown bottles and love the idea of using them! Thanks for the inspiration! My first comment on a blog ever! Had to let you know I’m inspired by you!
I love your amber bottles!
Love it! So relaxing…..could sit there chatting for a long time after a great meal. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. We are spending some quality time with family. May God bless
Thank you for sharing all your wonderful decorating ideas with us…I always look forward to your emails. Beautiful Thanksgiving table.
Lovely! Happy Thanksgiving!
Beautiful table!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!
Super pretty and fun to look at all your pictures! Happy Thanksgiving to you.
I think your centerpiece is one of my faves that I have seen this season! LOVE the amber bottles… Haven’t seen anyone use anything similar! Just lovely!
Your Thanksgiving table is lovely! I love the casual and very inviting feel of it!
Your Thanksgiving table is perfect! I love the brown glass jugs.
What a beautiful table!
Love it! Suzy, you are so talented! Love reading your posts. So creative !!
I love all the great texture and natural elements. Looks beautiful.
Absolutely gorgeous table decor and placecards
Your table is beautiful! Always enjoy your ideas! Thank you!
Thanks for all the inspiration. This my favorite fall table centerpiece so far !
Such a lovely table! What a fun idea to tie the ends of your table runner. Thanks for the inspiration.
Beautiful table and the colors and decor … Thank you
Your lovely Thanksgiving tablescape has certainly generated a lot of positive comments Suzy. Thanks for the heads up on where to purchase some of the items you have incorporated. I have been looking for nakpin rings and found them to be very expensive. I am loving the mini grapevine wreaths you feature and see I can order a dozen for the cost of just one pricey ring!! Thanks so much.
I love coming back to your posts seems I always notice something new I missed … You are amazing
So warm and inviting! I wish you the best Thanksgiving ever! First Thanksgiving in your new condo?
Hi Kay. Well…it’s the first Thanksgiving that we’ve owned the new condo, but we don’t spend it there. My family would die if I wasn’t at home to cook! lol
You’ve done it again. It looks great. I never would have thought of mixing up the place settings. They are so fun. It’s so interesting to see your topic~use what you have~after looking at your darling checked plates, this is the first year that I was thinking how fun it would be to have a little checked salad plate on the white china I just inherited from my mom. Maybe I just need to see what I can do with what I have.
I do like the brown glass jars with the candle reflections.
Yes I to love the table set casual and elegant I think everyone is comfortable with this mix and match feeling. I just love the feathers in this table setting, I have a thing for feathers!!!! So much fun. Please enter me into the drawing .
Thanks, Denise
I really love your style. I really want you to come to my home and help me decorate it for the holidays! You are very talented!
Hello. I have been trying to find the grey spray paint but cannot find it. Do you know if it is still being made and where to buy it? Love the look of your dining table and chairs and of course your decorating skills.
Thank you.
Hi Bettie. I’ve found it at both Lowes and Home Depot. If neither of those stores are near you or have it in stock, you can also order it from Amazon at this link: https://fave.co/2qozvYM . Hope this helps!
Simply beautiful and I now have some great ideas for my table. Also, I could not help notice the wall with 12 framed fern images. Please share how you created that lovely wall.
So glad you found some inspiration! You can read all about how I created that wall in this blog post: https://www.worthingcourtblog.com/inexpensive-diy-wall-art/