After you’ve created and sent out your Thanksgiving invitations, it’s time to think about the Thanksgiving table! There can be a lot going on at the Thanksgiving table. People chatting and enjoying the savory dishes you worked so hard to prepare. Adding in a elegant centerpiece is the cherry on top of your cooking and baking efforts. Check out these elegant ideas to showcase your bountiful feast.
Cornucopia
What says Thanksgiving better than the horn of plenty on your table? Visit your local craft store to purchase a
cornucopia basket. Fill with seasonal small and medium sized gourds, dried leaves and flowers. You can throw in a few fresh pieces of fruit to add color and texture. If you’d prefer to use the cornucopia as a serving dish, set on a cloth napkin and fill with rolls. Add in small oranges adorned with whole cloves.
Pumpkins
Were your kids sad to throw out their Halloween pumpkins? Purchase a few small pumpkins and hollow them out. Fill them with dried flowers and leaves. Line the table with them and add in some votives or tealights. Be sure to use a candle with light or no scent so you don’t overpower your food!
Handpainted Pumpkins
Another fun and decorative use for pumpkins is to paint them. This is a good one for kids to help create. Small hands are the perfect template for handprint turkey. Paint your child’s hand and stamp onto the pumpkin for the body of the turkey. Use a fine tip paint brush to create the face and other details. Use your imagination! Decorate the pumpkins with other Thanksgiving and Fall inspired motifs of leaves or Pilgrim hats etc.
Cranberries
Use a few clear vases of varying size and shape (cylinder shape works best). Fill vases with raw cranberries. Depending
on how big and how many vases you use, you may need several bags of cranberries. Add water (not too much, you want the cranberries to stay close together, not float.) You can also just fill small vases or votive holders with a bed of cranberries and set votives or tealights on top. Add in tapers in simple gold or silver candle holders or use tealights to accompany the vases along your table.
Place Cards
Use mini pumpkins as place cards. Use paint or a fine tipped permanent marker and write each guest’s name on them to set in front of their plate.
Trace your favorite leaf from your yard onto construction paper (fall colors or silver, gold etc). Write each guest’s name on the leaves. Gather up small pine cones or purchase from craft store. Hot glue leaves to the pine cones and place in front of each plate.
