Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?
When it comes to planning our Thanksgiving menu, one of our favorite elements, after the roast turkey and pumpkin pie, is the Thanksgiving table setting. The guest room prep, grocery shopping and cooking and baking can feel like a chore, but decorating the table is the fun part. Your guests will love the extra special touches you added to the table, like Thanksgiving place cards and Thanksgiving centerpieces.
Luckily for you, we've done the legwork work of rounding up the best and most beautiful Thanksgiving table setting ideas out there. Browse through our list, then surprise your guests with a gorgeous, thoughtful tablescape this holiday season. There are a million little things you can do to set the table with pizzazz and style. And whether you're looking for a more casual, elegant look or something a little more glamorous, there's something in our list for you. Go ahead and use one of these ideas as is, or simply use them as a jumping off point from which to dream up some Thanksgiving table decor that's uniquely you. Happy holidays!
1
Bowtie Napkins
Beautiful tones of orange and gold make for an elegant Thanksgiving table. And don't forget to give that napkin extra love by forming it into a bow shape and slipping a gold napkin ring over the center.
2
Add An Unexpected Element
Harmonicas do double duty as a placecard holder and party favor for this casual setting. Pair with transferware plates and mismatched tonal linens to layer on the fall feels.
3
Kids Thanksgiving Table Setting
When it comes to pint-size partygoers, embrace the butcher-paper-as-tablecloth. It evokes a rustic feel, doubles as a coloring surface, and makes for quick cleanup. You can also add fun activities like an “I’m thankful for” fill-in-the-blank list or Thanksgiving-themed word search at each place setting. Bundle colored pencils with the napkin to keep clutter at bay.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
4
Simple Monograms
This thoughtful idea looks impressive but is very simple. Simply loop baker's twine into an initial and place on the plate. Pair with a seasonal tablecloth and folded paper leaves.
5
Nostalgic "Face" Cards
Allow Thanksgiving family and friends to enjoy a walk down memory lane with a cute photo placecard.
To make: Simply cut a shallow, 1/4-inch-deep channel into the top of a wooden spool (a fine-tooth blade hacksaw will do the trick). Insert a small photo, and place at the relevant setting.
6
Table Setting with Vintage Finds
This simple and beautiful setting brings out vintage favorites, like a wool blanket repurposed as a placemat and a wooden spoon that becomes a placecard with a name written in white acrylic paint pen.
To make napkin ring: Drill small holes through nuts. Thread nuts onto a 5-inch-long piece of wire, shape into a circle, and twist ends to secure.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
7
Ombre Pumpkin Centerpiece
Paint small white pumpkins in differing shades of red and pink to create a lovely ombre effect down the center of the table. Add single maroon flowers in bud vases here and there for a light floral touch.
8
Mini Orange Pumpkin Place Card
All it takes is a fancy gold push pin and rough torn card stock to turn the cutest mini pumpkin into your guest's place card.
9
Leaf Place Card and Acorn Napkin Ring
Nature is the theme of this classically fall hued table. Hot glue acorns to lengths of brown waxed twine and use to tie up rolled napkins. Apply gold leaf to a portion of a preserved maple leaf and use a gold paint pen to mark with guest's initials.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
10
Cinnamon Stick Placecard Holder
Welcome guests with a the scent of warm spices. Wrap the ends of cinnamon sticks in red twine and slip place cards in the stick's natural crevice to create place cards.
11
Button Napkin Ring
This neutral toned place setting is just cute as a button! To make either buy wood buttons or drill small holes into small wood rounds. Thread holes with white twine and tie around napkins.
12
Embroidered Table Runner
Remember Thanksgiving guests from years past with a hand embroidered table runner. Have guests sign their names with a disappearing sewing pen and then stitch over each signature.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
13
Mix-and-Match Plaid Table Setting
This playful setup features place cards fashioned from embroidery hoops, plaid-covered pumpkins, and layers of checked cloths. Feel free to mix it up with your favorite patterns—just be sure to stick with autumn hues for a cohesive look.
14
Neutral Tones Table Setting
Full of neutral tones, including painted pumpkins, this setting is modern and sophisticated. Mercury glass votives add a layer of much-needed patina.
15
Wire Leaf and Stitched Edge Paper Runner
Put a 12- by 12-inch sheet of birch bark to work as a place mat atop a kraft paper runner with whipstitched edges. Next, create the wire leaf place card holder. A gingham napkin, ceramic plate, and wood-accented flatware complete the look.
For the wire leaf: Download our leaf template. Place template on foam block and insert pushpins along curves of leaf. Cut a 25-inch piece of 16-gauge wire. Starting at the stem, bend wire, using the template as a guide. (Loop wire at the back of the pins where the shape dips and around the front where it curves out.) Wrap excess wire around base to finish.
For the runner: Cut a piece of 18-inch-wide kraft paper to desired length. Punch holes with an 1/8-inch hole punch, ½ inch from edge and ½ inch apart along the length of the paper. Thread twine through holes; knot at end. (Tip: We used wine-colored twine to stand out against the kraft paper.)
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
16
Personalized Place Settings
Use old family photos to help guests find their seats—and to inspire "remember when" banter. Layer on top of simple white linens and surround with colorful fall arrangements to complete the look.
17
Bright Blue Table Setting
Blue may not seem the obvious first choice when it comes to selecting a color scheme for your Thanksgiving dinner. But here, helped along by obvious autumnal touches (gourds, pinecones, and a vintage-inspired lantern), it makes perfect sense—and it's creative and interesting to boot.
Get the tutorial at It All Started with Paint.
18
Punched Paper Runner
Punch out a delicate border along the edge of a kraft paper runner. Add a not-too-sweet pop of color with a green charger and top it with a complementary patterned plate. Sculptured flatware offsets an unapologetically bold floral napkin, which doubles as a place card.
For the runner: Cut an 18-inch-wide piece of kraft paper to desired runner length, then use an edge puncher to add a decorative touch along the edges.
For the place card: Tie linens with ribbon, embellish with foliage, and tuck in a decorative place card.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
19
Simple Table Setting
Grab a white paint marker to create this "place card/place mat" combo on plain kraft paper. Round out the no-frills setting with a marble charger and an ivory-colored plate, then add a hint of sparkle with silver-flecked linens and pretty acrylic flatware.
For the paint marker place mat: Cut an 18-inch-wide piece of kraft paper to desired runner length. In pencil, lightly draw three sides of a 16-inch square, leaving the top side open. Write guest's name in the center of the open space, extending the lines on either side of the name to complete the square. Trace over the pencil lines with a white paint marker.
20
Simple and Elegant Table Setting
Linen napkins, a small length of twine, and whatever greenery you happen to have on hand is all it takes to make this simple place setting come to life. Eucalyptus or even fresh sage would work beautifully, but so would twigs from your backyard.
Get the tutorial at Your Marketing BFF.
