It’s all in the details

Who’s hosting?

Thanksgiving is that time of year when we gather with family and friends to give thanks and count the blessings in our lives. I always cherish this time with my family and love the traditions we have made.

This year I have the honor of hosting Thanksgiving for my family. If you are lucky to be hosting, you know that setting a festive table and decorating can be a fun part of the preparations!

A few tips

I’d love to share a few tips I’ve used in the past on how I go about decorating my own home for Thanksgiving. As always, I hope that you’ll share a story with us about your traditions or experiences with decorating in the comments below!

The Table

Because this holiday is primarily about eating, I tend to focus on the table first. Even with a lot of dishes on the table, you can keep the decor simple but festive and leave room for the turkey and fixings.

Vintage Plates and Chargers

Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to bring out your special plates and crystal that have been tucked away for most of the year. I think it’s nice to add a vintage piece or two to the mix - it will enrich the whole design of your table and break up the pattern a little. Add a woven, rattan charger and vintage pheasant or turkey plate and you’ll have a textural base that works well at Thanksgiving or any other time of the year.

Name Tags, Place Cards and Pumpkins

Of course, this is not necessary for every family gathering, but wouldn’t it be nice if family members could find their spot without circling the table a few times? It also saves a lot of arguments of who should sit where and with whom. At the moment, I am loving petite white pumpkins or fall leaves picked from outside to personalize each place setting. Get yourself a gold felt pen and print or scribe (calligraph) each person’s name to use as a decorative place card.

Candles and Vintage Candle Holders

If you normally use white or off-white candles for your table, perhaps this year you’ll try a new color? You can choose from many colors, but I’m especially loving the autumnal palette of burnt oranges or shades of aubergine purple. I paired these caramel-toned candles with vintage brass candlesticks with a darker worn patina. By using a combination of sizes, it gave the table a different vibe and is not too matchy-matchy. Use your imagination and try not to play it too safe.

Napkins

I always use linen cloth napkins and like to use a simple fold on each plate. Instead of placing your napkin off to the side of the place setting, try tucking it below your vintage plate and adding a sprig of wheat or berries to add texture and nature to the theme.

Florals - Front and Center

This is my favorite part of decorating. It doesn’t always have to be a flawless professional arrangement designed from a flower shop like ours.... but when it does, we have you covered - see button below to order a holiday centerpiece.

In a pinch, you can look to the great outdoors to create a simple beautiful floral centerpiece. At this time of year, look for dried hydrangea blooms, clematis vine and the last bits of autumn leaves left behind in the garden. Fill a tall vase with your foraged gatherings to display on your island. Another option is to create tight bundles in cute bud vases along the table. The only thing to remember is to keep the flowers low so your family members can view each other from across the table. We want the flowers to compliment, not overwhelm.

I hope that some of these ideas have inspired you to elevate your Thanksgiving table decor. As you can see, a little decor can go a long way! By making our tables simply beautiful with a personal touch, we enhance what’s most important - the people we’re with and the time we spend, together.

xoxo,
Sandra

As a little thank you, I wanted to share my favorite cranberry sauce recipe. Enjoy!

Sandra’s Homemade Cranberry Sauce
10 - 12 portions

Ingredients
12 oz. fresh cranberries (1 bag), well rinsed
1 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup raspberry-cranberry juice
Zest of 1 orange, grated

Instructions
Combine ingredients in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil.
Lower heat to medium and cook until cranberries pop open (10 min).
Skim foam off the top and allow the sauce to cool.
Transfer to a covered dish and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Recipe adapted from The Silver Palette cookbook