Garden Views: Designer Tips on Creating a Memorable Thanksgiving Tablescape

Designing a memorable holiday tablescape doesn’t have to be hard or expensive – it can be a fun treasure hunt! You already have the pieces around your house and out in your garden you can use to create something you and your guests will enjoy. Here are a few designer tips to help you get started…

• Choose an inspiration piece with the “wow” factor to build your tablescape design around. It can be as elaborate as a set of china, or as simple as selecting a salad plate, platter, tea cup or napkin with the hues and design pattern that capture your imagination. For a more contemporary vibe, select an inspiration piece that is colorful, fun or whimsical, and refrain from using traditional bright orange, red and yellow colors.

• If you have trouble making a selection, look to nature for inspiration. Notice the look and feel of the outdoors in November. Colors are muted and starting to fade, as the season starts to slide into winter. Choose a muted color palette, with a vintage feel, in peaches, pinks, browns, purples, maroons and blues. {You might discover an old plate, hidden away, that was a gift from your grandmother, trimmed in a nature design that gives you inspiration). 

• To decorate down the center of the table, find items that are unusual and unexpected around your house, with similar colors as your inspiration piece. Look for interesting props that aren’t usually associated with dinner tablescapes, such as vintage stacked books, statues or small pieces of artwork. A whimsical owl statue in a muted gold is an unexpected addition.

• Continue to highlight the muted color combinations from your inspiration piece in your floral arrangement. If possible purchase locally grown, fresh flowers. These are fresher, last longer, are in season, and add fragrance. Add fall grasses, pomegranates and dried candied oranges. For a bit of texture and a hint of brown, remove yellow petals from sunflowers, for an unusual addition to a floral centerpiece. Don’t forget to bring natural elements in from your garden. Favorite selections include magnolia leaves, rosemary stems, interesting small branches, faded hydrangea blooms, nuts and berries.

• Add a bit of bling to the table with colored glassware. It becomes the jewelry of the tablescape. Your dishes will come and go as people finish their meal but the glassware stays. Find glassware that is fun to hold and beautiful to behold!    

• White or cream candles add the softness and the glow. Place the candles in interesting holders with some texture that catches the light and adds some sparkle. Candlelight will highlight the beauty and color of your glassware. 

• Dress up the center of your plates with place card – a thoughtful way to welcome people and acknowledge their presence. A place card also alleviates the awkwardness of wondering where to sit! Place the cards on top of a sprig of rosemary as a garnish and to add a touch of fragrance. Look online for easy instructions on creating place cards or menu cards with stock paper.

• To remember those family and friends whom you cherish but might not be present at your table, use a special piece that is meaningful to you and reminds you of them – your grandmother’s serving spoon or your aunt’s antique butter dish.