A day set aside to gather and be grateful—and share amazing food—is our kind of holiday. Our tradition is to invite “Thanksgiving orphans," friends not able to join distant family. We love the merry mix of familiar and fresh faces around the table.
Talking
Turkey
Because
we want seasonal decorating to fluctuate like the guest list, we decorated our
dining room for flexibility. Cross-back chairs and a trestle table add a
graphic punch and mix with other styles, like the upholstered parsons chairs,
to avoid a matchy-matchy look.
Mix
it Up
Our
furniture moves around a lot, so I go for classic designs in
neutral fabrics and finishes. Take the simple, country console. I fell for its
driftwood-like finish—it works with the darker woods and woven ready-made
curtains. The bonus? It can also be a media console.
Whites
Always Work
To
keep the focus on the feast and guests, we like to keep things calm – but not
dull! Mixing dinnerware patterns gives each place setting more personality.
Some years I mix vintage pieces in with new classics purchased along the way.
To keep it simple, update the china cupboard with whites, creams or neutrals.
Easy
Elegance
This
year the theme is refined rustic using textural autumn accents. A loosely woven
runner anchors the theme and the tableware. To keep it simple and
sophisticated, go for a tone-on-tone look using cool white porcelain pieces or
creamy stoneware.
Focal-Point
Centerpieces
Planning
ahead also leaves time to think about the centerpiece. For fun, mix it up and
bring different elements into play. Candles are a must for special gathering,
but this year I’m tucking them into lanterns instead of candlesticks. A
smattering of mini gourds and leaves add pops of seasonal color.
Nuts
for Nature
Centerpieces
don’t need to be elaborate to be memorable. Think about what mood you want to
create, then add a few surprises. Nature’s bounty creates foolproof instant
style: Look how chic mixed nuts and simple votive candles look in a modern
platter.
Not
Just for Kids
Don’t
forget to make the kids feel special! Who could resist these charming woodland
friends? They're so adorable that we'll need to work a few onto the “big kids’”
table.
What are your favorite table-setting ideas for the holidays? Share them
in the comments section. And be sure to check back here for more tips from the
teams at Better Homes and Gardens and the Walmart Blog.