Prettifying the Thanksgiving table doesn’t have to be a super involved process. Really, I think people would rather have a good pie than a pretty table. But, I still like to have a pretty table and I bet you do too. Here are a few stress free last minute ideas:
Shop the house.
Group like with like and set out what you have:
- leftover pumpkins and gourds
- every candlestick and candle in the house
- every rust color {insert your own color} thing you can find–books, ribbon, trays
- wooden stool, wood bread board, cutting boards wooden anything you can group together
- texture: baskets, doilies, leftover pieces of burlap
- all white stuff
- you could even decorate with book pages–let your kids rip apart some books
- dig out some old black and white photos of the family from the past and use string and close pins and hang them from the chandelier
Shop the yard.
- sticks
- twigs
- rocks
- I’ve been known to decorate with weeds
- magnolia leaves
Shop the grocery. You are going anyway, pick up a few things that will help your table
- apples
- nuts
- a bouquet of flowers
- cranberries
- grab some extra green beans, asparagus and an artichoke and fancy up your candles like that photo up there
- let the food take center stage and put cakes on pedestals and make paper turkey frills for your turkey legs all fancy like, and embellish with leaves and fruit and such
You don’t have to use real plates and napkin rings to have a pretty Thanksgiving. We all know that the hostess sets the tone for the meal so like it or not, the most noticeable decoration–is our attitude. Can I get an amen?
A few other ideas in case you aren’t sure your attitude will do the trick::
How to Set Up A Buffet {it’s a giveaway post from last year, ignore the giveaway part, sorry}
Pinterest Thanksgiving Table Inspiration
20 Ways to Decorate With Book Pages
I kind of prefer setting up a Thanksgiving buffet on the main table and letting everyone sit around the house–what does your family do? Are you buffeters at Thanksgiving or do you all sit around the table?
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Fuss-less Thanksgiving Table says
[…] Today at (in)courage I’m rambling on about super duper easy no fuss, you don’t have to be Martha Stewart to have a pretty table table ideas for Thanksgiving. Join me? […]
Heidi says
One thing my daughter and I have done for years is take an empty milk container (the cardboardy-type) and cut it down to a cube. Put in a bunch of fresh cranberries, stick a few tea lights on top and then fill it up with water and freeze over night. Right before you’re going to eat, take it out of the freezer and cut off the box, stick the cranberry ice cube on a shallow dish, light the candles, and voila!
Colleen says
This is one meal where w all sit down together. We even set up a second table if necessary. Everyone holds hands to say grace, which I usually lead. Then we feast and enjoy being together throughout the meal and the rest of the day. Can’t wait!!!
Christine says
I LOVE the 20 Ways to Decorate with Book Pages!! I went to the site and was fascinated by what you did, particularly the leafy vine coming out of the bust. My mind started reeling with ideas!! And what fun to have my granddaughter in on the decorating! Now I just have to find some old books because the ones I own I won’t tear up. Hmmm…the 99 Cent Only store has books. Anyway, thanks for posting and giving all of us such wonderful inspiration!
Jamie @ Six Bricks High says
We buffet the food on the kitchen counter and island but I set one really big table for us to sit around. Actually, it is 3 tables long (our dining table and two folding tables) and spans the eating area and the family room. It is the one time of year we get all 20+ of us around one table. Thanks for the inspiration here. And I agree, my attitude sets the tone.
Linda Stoll says
Wow!
I just wrote THANKSGIVING HOMEKEEPING POTPOURRI this morning … and as I was putting the finishing touches on it, I slipped over to incourage. I was super-delighted to find your post … and I have added your link to share with my readers. It was the icing on the cake!
Heaven know we all need a bit of creative motivation and hands-on ideas, especially during these super busy weeks when so much is grabbing for our attention. Thanks for your energizing, life-giving thoughts … I am so resonating with them!
http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-homekeeping-potpourri.html
Julie Sunne says
Amazing suggestions to help those of us that need lots of it! We still travel too much over Thanksgiving to incorporate them in the main feast, but I’m so excited I might just decorate for a pre- or post-Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving blessings to you!
Mrs H says
What a fabulous post!!! So much potential for creative beauty here! Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas. My husband is in the military and, having just moved, we are in temporary housing – right now we don’t even have a table … so I’m determined to get REALLY inventive with my decorations!!
Betty Draper says
Great idea…not decorating the table this year but I plan on using some of your idea next year. Living for years over seas without a Walmart we have come up with some very good ideas. It was very tropical where we lived the last 7 years but we would still try to make things look Thankgivingish…..
Fawn says
I love Thanksgiving. This will actually be the first year we are going out to a restaurant for dinner so I’m excited to see what that’s like. Usually, my mom-in-love (this is the holiday when she cooks and my mom has Easter as her special holiday) is cooking for days in advance and we’re all cleaning dishes for days afterward. We decided to take a break this year and simply enjoy each other. But next year I’m sure we’ll be back to our wonderful Thanksgiving feast.
Stacey says
Last year, I printed (on paper) some favorite memories from the past year and scattered the photos all over our table. My girls loved it. It was easy as pie.
Katie @ Imperfect People says
Love it! What matters most is who you are eating with…and maybe what’s for dessert…just kidding.
Caroline@CarolineCollie says
We are table people, and I love that — but it’s getting harder with little ones to keep track of. But I love the decorating with food ideas! And the reminder that the attitude is key!
Thrifty Military Mommy says
OMG!!! I LOVE THIS!!! This will be the very first time I’m actually hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at my house and I have been trying to figure out how I can beautify my table too. I NEVER would’ve thought that some green beans a other veggies could actually make candles look good, but those are georgeous!!!
Thank you so much! PERFECT TIMING!
BTW, I was planning on just setting our table up as a buffet and letting everyone eat wherever they want. Our table only seats four so the only logical thing to me was the buffet option 😉
Simply Autumn Tablescape « Bella Grace Home says
[…] about my autumn yarn wreath and fireplace mantel decor, The Nester shared some great tips for using what you have to create beauty around you this fall as well. I love her philosophy on decor because it’s […]
Dana At Cooking At Cafe D says
There will be 5 this year, so we’ll be at 2 tables, plus some sitting around, too. I love the inspirational pics of wrapped candles.
Dana At Cooking At Cafe D says
Er, I meant…
“There will be 25 of us this year…”
Aloha Autumn Tablescape: Use Nature & Thriftiness for an Eclectic Look | Island Gypsy Hawaii says
[…] about my autumn yarn wreath and fireplace mantel decor, The Nester shared some great tips for using what you have to create beauty around you this fall as well. I love her philosophy on decor because it’s […]