My 5 Favorite Tabletop Accessories For Setting A Beautiful Thanksgiving Table

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I’ve put together a list of 5 of my favorite tabletop accessories that you can beautifully mix and match to set a Thanksgiving table.

Sitting down to a beautifully set Thanksgiving table is akin to being the recipient of a beautifully wrapped gift!  It sends a clear signal that the person giving you the gift, or in this case, the person who prepared the meal and set the table, took the time to create a beautiful experience for you.

It means the world to me to give the gift of a beautifully set a Thanksgiving table!  I’ve learned through the years, that to be a proper hostess, I need to set my table early.  If I wait until the cooking starts, it just won’t happen.

dining room table set for Thanksgiving with neutral dishes and linens

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Of all the tables that I set throughout the year , the ones that I set for Thanksgiving are my favorite.  I think that’s because I know that my table will soon be filled with friends and family, talking and laughing and creating lots of new memories!

This list of my 5 favorite tabletop accessories will work whether setting a casual or formal table, that you can use year after year.

WOVEN PLACEMATS

You may think of woven placemats as being appropriate to only use on a casual table. Well, I hope I can redirect your thinking on that!

Their texture is amazing and looks wonderful mixed with all the elements of a formal table too. They help to soften the hard edges of the dinnerware and flatware and will give a formal table such an inviting vibe.

Table set for Thanksgiving with neutral linens and dishes and lanterns

Add even more texture by layering different shapes and designs of woven placemats! Here I’ve mixed the same round woven mat with a rectangular shaped mat made from multicolored pieces of wood woven together for a very casual vibe.

Thanksgiving table set with traditional fall colors

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PEDESTALS & RISERS

Using pedestals and risers, as part of your table centerpiece, will quite literally elevate your Thanksgiving table to a whole new level!

They will immediately add importance to your centerpiece and adding varying levels to any type of display, even a tablescape, always, always makes it more appealing to the eye.

You can easily build your own and make it any size that you need! To see how easy it was to build the one below, head over to my Instagram profile and click on the highlight titled DiyRiser.

Thanksgiving tablescape using traditional fall colors

Risers also make a great spot to place salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes and other small serving pieces.

brown glass jugs and silver salt and pepper shakers in a Thanksgiving centerpiece

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A PAIR OF LANTERNS

Speaking of centerpieces, I love using a pair of matching lanterns on my table. They’re extremely versatile and add a special touch of ambiance that you just don’t get with plain candles.

Any shape will work . Grab a pair that aren’t so tall as to block conversation and you’ll find yourself using them on many of your holiday tables.

table setting with white tablecloth, white dishes and two lanterns

It’s fun to think outside of the box and decorate the lanterns with something other than a candle too!

lantern and velvet pumpkin table centerpiece

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A FALL COLORED TABLECLOTH

Even if I’m setting a more casual table for Thanksgiving, I love to use a tablecloth. For some reason it makes my table and the occasion itself seem more fancy.

A solid color one works the best so that you aren’t limited with what colors and patterns you can use on the rest of the table.

I have a rust colored one that I especially love using this time of year. Many tablecloths are shinier than I like, so I simply turn mine upside down and use the dull side.

Thanksgiving table and open shelves decorated for fall

Another trick is to layer a runner over the tablecloth. Here’s another think outside of the box moment – turn the runners so that they go from side to side on your table and use them as placemats for each place setting.

Thanksgiving place setting with traditional fall colors

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BASIC WHITE DISHES

Last, but certainly not least, I simply must add basic white dishes to the list. Seasonal dishes and plates are fun, but nothing beats having a set of basic white dishes on hand!

They’re kind of like blue jeans – they go with literally everything and look great on any style table.

Thanksgiving table with fall colors and neutral dishes

Thanksgiving table set with brown jugs and neutral dinnerware and linens

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You’ll also want to checkout my  Thanksgiving Entertaining Essentials store on Amazon too!  It’s filled with all those basic things that you’ll need when it comes to serving and entertaining for the holiday.

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Pinterest graphic for Top 5 Thanksgiving Table Essentials

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10 Comments

  1. I cannot find a listing for the round twig-like place mats on your Thanksgiving tables. where can I find them? Thanks!

  2. Hi, thank you for all the wonderful ideas! I love your stylish and practical approach to decorating. Just wondering, what is your favorite stove top cookware? I’ve never had a
    good matched set and may ask Santa for one.

    1. Thank you! If you can believe it, I’ve used the same cookware for over 30 years! It’s good ole Revereware – stainless steel with a copper bottom. I can’t imagine cooking with anything else! 😀

  3. Nancy Carroll says:

    You always have beautiful Thanksgiving tablescapes!!! 🍁🧡🍂

  4. 5 stars
    Thanks for all the great ideas. Will need to add them to my list. I agree, setting my Thanksgiving table is always my favorite. The year my table showed up on my nieces’s social media feed with a comment about it making her feel special to be there made all the preparations seem justified!

    1. My apologies for not replying sooner! I’m having a technical difficulty that’s been preventing from being notified of new comments. How sweet of your niece! I always enjoy a meal so much more if the table has a pretty setting – even if it’s just soup and crackers that I’m being served. 🙂

  5. Suzy,
    Can you please source the amber bottles and the gold salad plates for us?
    Thanks!

    1. The bottles and plates both came from various thrift stores. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!