Bright whites and creams continue to be a huge home decor trend so it makes sense that this is one of the most popular Thanksgiving tablescape themes. A great accent color to add in with these are natural muted greens. This looks very clean and fresh which is a nice departure from the classic warm rich hues that we normally associate with the season.
livingwithlandyn.com
maisondepax.com
Pumpkin Theme
Another one of our favorite tablescape themes is to make it pumpkin centered. We like this theme because there are so many different directions this can be taken. Simple orange pumpkins with red and brown accents are always a great choice. Another route you could take it is with silver or gold pumpkins. This can be accomplished by spray painting them with metallic paint which can also help to preserve the look of the pumpkins themselves.
randigarrettdesign.com
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Woodland Theme
Woodland themes are hugely popular in everything from weddings, to general home decor and especially in seasonal decor. This can include everything from wood slices, to pine cones, to foliage to animals. These examples show how this can be incorporated into your Thanksgiving table. This is a nice way to bring the outside into your home for the holiday.
Wedding season is officially upon us, and with that comes the need to buy gifts. If you would like to stray away from the customary pots and pans or other household wedding gifts, decor gifts are a great option!
Wreaths
etsy.com
Wreaths make a fabulous home decor wedding gift! As the happy newly wed couple gets home and they are swimming in gifts like dishes, towels, and small appliances they may soon realize they don't have those fun personal touches that truly make a house a home. Giving the gift of a nice wreath for the front door is a fantastic way of providing them with that unique personal touch.
etsy.com
etsy.com
Monogrammed Table Runner
thepinningmama.com
Another home decor gift that makes for a great wedding gift is a monogrammed table runner. These photos show three different examples of how this can be done. These simple runners can go with many different decor styles so you don't have to worry about coordinating exactly with what they have in the space. Stay neutral in color, and simple in font and you will be good to go!
allthingsheartandhome.com
etsy.com
Custom Last Name Signs
etsy.com
Finally, a custom last name sign is another great decor gift to give as a wedding present. This is a sweet and sentimental gift that can be hung in any number of spaces throughout the home. There are countless options to choose from with these types of signs so you can choose one that feels most like the couple to you. Etsy is always a great source for items like these.
My husband and I hosted Thanksgiving for his family for the first time this year. I loved it!! One of my favorite parts of the hosting process was setting the dinner table. Gorgeous pumpkins from a local farm adorned various parts of our house throughout October and November, so I gathered them at the base of a fun outdoor lantern stand. (The stand might look familiar since I used it for a July fundraiser event. For that tablescape, I incorporated fresh daisies, appropriate for the summer season.)
The benefit of this lantern stand is that it is tall enough for the lowest lantern to hang above eye level when guests are seated at the table. One element we often overlook when setting the table is the ability for our guests to converse freely. It is important to select a focal point for the table that is low enough to talk over or tall enough to see under. There is nothing worse than sitting down to enjoy a delicious meal and having to peer through the candelabra or flowers to chat with friends.
Here are a few creative ideas that can inspire you to make your own beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas table.
A simple red cloth gathered underneath a grouping of silver candlesticks, hand-carved Santas and a vine of glittery berries makes a stunning centerpiece for a large table.
Clustering pieces that vary in height adds dimension to a centerpiece. Don't be afraid to turn items on their sides to make things more interesting.
For those who prefer something more traditional, gathering a plaid fabric around a beautiful floral arrangement makes any table gorgeous.
A few weeks ago I was at a fundraiser with my husband and a couple of our friends.When we sat down for dinner, none of us could see the person sitting across the table from us.There was a gorgeous (and very large) azalea plopped in the center of the table.We promptly moved the flower to the floor so we could all converse with ease.
We want centerpieces to be eye catching and attractive.It's important for the piece to not be too small, as well, or it will look dinky in comparison to the table or the room itself.There is a fine line between impressive and intrusive for centerpieces.If a centerpiece obstructs a view and has to be displaced, it's purpose is not being served.Here are a few photos of some appropriate focal points for the table that still allow conversation to flow.
Low & Spralling:A great go-to style that ensures your guests can see each other, talk openly and pass food without problems.
Clustered: An interesting grouping can create visual interest and varied levels of height that still don't interfere with the view across the table.
Tall & Thin: When the surface area of the table is important, shooting for the sky is a good idea.
If you have a table where guests will not be seated, than there are no restrictions as to height or width.Food tables are often a great place to do something very grand and over the top because function is not important.
The next time you host a party, keep these ideas in handy and create a centerpiece that works for you & your guests.
...or pie, or steak, or green beans or whatever they want on these fabulous plates!I am madly in love with all the new melamine dishware that has come out this season.I got a glimpse into the trend in a back issue of Better Homes & Gardens.Then I spotted it in abundance at my visit to America's Mart in March.Once back home, I started seeing it pop up on the shelves of Target, HomeGoods and local boutiques.If you don't know what melamine is, it is a type of plastic that is stiff and unbreakable.It has always been great for children to use or to take out on picnics or to tailgate parties.Until recently, the selection of pattern and color has been limited to solid colors and maybe the occasional stripe or sports team logo.NOW, the design options are fabulous!When I first saw some of these plates I thought they were ceramic plates because the colors and patterns were so unique.Imagine my surprise when I picked one up and discovered it was light-weight and plastic.
These dishes are something the whole family can eat on without worry that one might get dropped on the floor and shattered.Some of them are even gorgeous enough to replace the good china when guests come over.I wouldn't be surprised if brides start registering for these as their everyday dishes because they are too cute to pass up.See what I mean:
America's Mart display
French Bull plate grouping
Monogrammed plate from Janice's Invites
Can't you see Easter lunch being eaten off of these beauties?!?! Happy table-setting!
I am often asked how to re-create stellar looks seen in magazines without spending major cash, so I hope you enjoy me sharing this “get the look for less” piece with you.
The Setting:
I participate in a fundraiser event called Freedom Fest for the Woodford County Humane Society. For this event decorators transform horse stalls (on a fabulous Versailles farm) into dining rooms as well as decorate tables under the main party tent where the guests can dine. This year, I took on a table instead of an entire stall and here is how it all came together…
The Inspiration:
I was really taken in by this photo (House Beautiful). I am a texture person, so this tabletop decor resonated with me. I love to mix unexpected textures together or to have a simple color palette made more interesting by the textures of the pieces I use in a space.
The Real World:
I instantly knew the tree (pictured above) was not for me, but beyond that I felt that everything was easily reproduced and I focused on the centerpiece as a starting point. During my one and only trip to IKEA, I emerged victorious with these 5 white vases in varying heights (IKEA Salong $7.99 and $4.99). Having varying heights of vases is interesting but it lacked the punch I wanted, so I pulled out my old Napa Valley CD crates and turned upside down to create another level for the table. The crates also introduced the wood element to the tabletop. I wanted to incorporate moss to layer another nice texture and to provide some color to an otherwise demure centerpiece. Beyond that, the goal was to keep the flora for the vases simple, much as Donna Karan did in my inspiration photo, so I simply relied on my local florist (Mellow Ellis, owner of the Cutting Garden) to work her magic and provide beautiful white flowers and simple greenery (flowers vary in cost based on the type you select). Toss in a few twig balls (Pier 1 Imports $1.99 each) for a nice contrast to the vases and BAM! we have a snazzy little centerpiece.
The next piece to my puzzle was each place setting. The white ceramic plates I used were easily secured, compliments of my kitchen cabinets. Now if you aren’t the proud owner of basic white dishes, you can find sets at your local Target, Meijer, Pottery Barn, etc ranging in price $25 and above. For my tablecloth, I chose to introduce a new textile and texture- crinkled silk- in an off white shade (rented from a local linen company for $15.00). The idea of having the stark white plates and off-white cloth sit directly against each other made me shudder, so I slipped in basketweave bleached burlap placemats to separate the two (Katie Brown collection at Meijer, $3.99 each). A trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond produced basic cotton napkins in a camel color (Bed Bath & Beyond $1.99 each) that I haphazardly pulled through ceramic napkin rings (Home Goods $6.99 per set of 4) to top off the plates. As a hostess I always like to provide a gift and in this instance I hand-painted dog and cat caricatures in silhouette form on a wine glass for each guest. The simplicity of the silhouette complimented the rest of the table and the animal theme reminded the guests why they are attending the fundraiser- to raise $$$$ for the Woodford County Humane Society.
I am a frugal-ista at heart so I cannot contain my excitement when I find a good deal. And man, did I get a great deal on everything here!!!! I challenge you to pull out that magazine photo you love and re-create it, too.
Happy tablescaping*!
*I am known to make up words, but this is a real word. It actually refers to the decoration of a table.*
