30 Thanksgiving Decoration and Table Setting Ideas

So, from choosing a color scheme and designing your tablescape, to decor that guests will notice before they even step inside your home, read on to discover Thanksgiving decor ideas that are perfect for every type of celebration.


If you have the honor of hosting Thanksgiving (or even a Friendsgiving celebration) this year, you know that there are all kinds of little details to think about. And while the food and the people you choose to surround yourself with are the most important parts of the holiday, the Thanksgiving decor you incorporate into your space can help set the tone for the type of celebration you’d like to have.

When thinking about how you’d like to decorate your space, envision the type of Thanksgiving dinner you’re hoping to have. Is it warm and casual? Is it elegant and sophisticated? Or will it be full of little kids? Using the answers to those questions — and your personal style — to help guide your decor choices means you can’t really go wrong. But, if you need some additional Thanksgiving decorations inspiration, we’ve rounded up 30 beautiful ideas.

So, from choosing a color scheme and designing your tablescape, to decor that guests will notice before they even step inside your home, read on to discover Thanksgiving decor ideas that are perfect for every type of celebration.


Decor

1. Festive Color Schemes

Before you dive into all of the small decor details, it helps to settle on a color scheme for your Thanksgiving dinner, as picking a palette and sticking to it will create a cohesive (and Pinterest-worthy!) experience for your guests. You can’t go wrong with a classic color scheme inspired by warm fall foliage — think pumpkin orange, warm golden yellow, and rich brown. But we also love unexpected color schemes like…

  • Harvest moon: deep blues, purples, burgundies, and terracotta
  • Autumn rose: blush pink, soft beige, and earthy green
  • Misty morning: cool-toned blue, forest green, and stone

2. Welcoming Porch Decor

Go beyond traditional pumpkins and set the tone for your Thanksgiving dinner before your guests even enter your home by adding some thoughtful decor details to your front porch. For something unexpected, borrow a small side table from inside your home, and set it outside to use as a pedestal for a pretty planter filled with fall flowers. You could also hang a beautiful woven pouch filled with an arrangement of artificial flowers in your color scheme from an exterior wall or front door.


3. Simple Flower Arrangements and Artful Vessels

Even the simplest flower arrangements can be taken to the next level when paired with a design-forward vase or vessel. Minted has a beautiful selection of vases designed by independent makers from around the world — grab a couple to use as decor on sideboards, entry tables, kitchen islands, and even in spare rooms where your guests will be spending the night.


4. Warm Candles

A tablescape featuring tall tapered candles will never go out of style. This year, use candles to add more than just a warm glow to your space by selecting tapered or pillar candles featuring unusual colors, textures, or even personalized details. Then, pair them with sculptural candle sticks and candle holders to add in another layer of visual interest to your table.


5. DIY Pumpkin Candle Holders

If Thanksgiving is synonymous with pumpkins for you, skip traditional candle holders in favor of this fun (and super easy) DIY idea. We love how these would look if they were incorporated alongside a runner made up entirely of multi-colored mini pumpkins.

Photo and Idea by Zevy Joy

Photo and Idea by Zevy Joy


6. Seasonal Accent Pieces

One of our favorite things about the holiday season is the opportunity to swap out your usual decor with accent pieces that are just a little bit more festive. Changing out your trinket trays or blanket baskets for ones that lean into the rich colors of the season and adding in sculptural decor items to your bookcases, mantle, or coffee table will help make your space feel more special, especially for guests that come over all the time.


Table Setting

7. Table Linens

Skip the standard white table cloth for an artful table linen that ties into your overall decor theme and color scheme. Minted’s global community of independent artists have lent their eyes for pattern, texture, and color to our collection of table linens — all of which are sure to make your table feel like a piece of art.

8. Pumpkin Place Cards

This sweet DIY is perfect for adding a personal touch to your tablescapes. We recommend dipping your pumpkins in glitter that corresponds to your color scheme — gold is perfect for a classic fall scheme, where silver or even bronze could offer a more unexpected touch. And, if you don’t have the DIY chops to have fun with script when making the actual place cards, you can always repurpose one of our wedding escort card designs for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Photo and Idea by Best Friends for Frosting

Photo and Idea by Best Friends for Frosting


9. Leaf Place Cards

For another fun seasonal twist on palace cards, try this DIY. Start by gathering up some leaves (or heading to your local craft store to buy some faux leaves), and dusting metallic spray paint over their tips. Then, write each of your guests names in metallic Sharpie as the perfect finishing touch to a luxe-meets-rustic table setting.

Photo and Idea by Lark & Linen

Photo and Idea by Lark & Linen

10. Eclectic Napkins

Napkins are one of the easiest ways to add a layer of visual interest to your Thanksgiving table decor. We love going for napkins in colors or patterns that play off of those found in your table linens for an eclectic, bohemian look, or keeping it simple by picking a napkin in a solid color in a hand-spun texture for something more subtle.


11. Cute Napkin Rings

If you don’t have time (or the DIY skills) to artfully fold your napkins, you can still elevate them by threading them through a cute napkin ring and placing them on top of your guests’ plates.

12. Dish Display

Planning to put your collection of vintage cast-iron skillets or Le Creuset dutch ovens to full use this Thanksgiving? Displaying them on artful trivets (and having cute serveware on hand) is a great way to turn a simple buffet into a beautiful moment for your guests.


13. Pretty Placemats

Another way to add a layer of visual interest to your table is through placemats, which do a nice job of framing each of your individual place settings. Go for placemats in a solid color and interesting texture for a more minimal vibe, or practice a bit of pattern mixing by choosing placemats in a complementary color, but a contrasting pattern to your tablecloth or napkins.


14. Butcher Paper Table Scape

For more casual (or kid-filled!) gatherings, ditch the tablecloths and placemats all together and instead cover your table in a long sheet of butcher paper. You can then use chalk or marker to frame each place setting with festive shapes and your guests’ names. For a thoughtful touch, we also love the idea of writing a prompt like “I’m grateful for…” and leaving space next to each of your place settings for your guests to share everything they’re thankful for this year.

Photo and Idea by One Charming Life

Photo and Idea by One Charming Life


15. Organic Coasters

Regardless of the overall vibe you’re going for with your Thanksgiving decorations, it is always a good idea to incorporate elements that feel organic. We love how these stone coasters lend a rustic, earthy vibe to dining and coffee tables — go for the dark gray to up the drama or pick the rose quartz coasters for an unexpected soft touch.


Accessories

16. Fun Throw Blankets

The best Thanksgiving dinners always spill over into conversations around the fire — so lend your living room a cozy, festive atmosphere with a few fresh throw blankets for the season. Our collection features a wide variety of woven blankets that will fit right in with any decor style and color scheme.


17. Thank You Notes as Decor

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, so show your loved ones just how much you treasure them by writing each of your guests a personalized thank you note for attending your dinner. You could use these notes as place cards on your table or decorate a blank wall with them by hanging them using twine or fishing line from a dowel or branch.


18. Fall Art Prints

If your dining room already features a gallery wall, it is a fun idea to swap out your existing art for a few fall-themed art prints. Look for photographs, illustrations, or paintings that tie into both your Thanksgiving decor theme and the overall vibe of your home to make the biggest impact.


19. Charcuterie Boards

Make your appetizers feel as special as Thanksgiving dinner itself by creating a charcuterie board that doubles as a centerpiece for your table or bar area. Start by picking out a special artisan-crafted wood cutting board or tray to serve as your foundation, and then layer it up with charcuterie staples like gourmet cheese (extra points if you use leaf or acorn-shaped cookie cutters to mold soft cheeses into festive shapes), salami, nuts, and dried fruit. And, for a bit more flair, incorporate edible flowers, leaves, and mini pumpkins in the color scheme of your Thanksgiving decor onto your board.


20. Preserved Florals and Greenery

For decor that you’ll be able to bring back out for years to come, incorporate a few arrangements of faux or dried florals and greenery in with fresh flowers. Cluster small fronds of dried pampas grass into bud vases for a boho-minimalist tablescape, or grab a few of your favorite vases and create a fall-themed arrangement of fluffy extra-large pampas grass, eucalyptus, and other dried flowers.


21. Cider or Hot Cocoa Bar

If you know not everyone will be drinking wine or cocktails at your Thanksgiving dinner, setting up a fun seasonal hot drink bar can be a great way to offer all of your guests something special to sip on! In addition to setting up the bar with a warming plate complete with a pretty pot full of cider, hot cocoa (or even pumpkin spice latte!), stock the area with a collection of gorgeous handcrafted mugs for a sophisticated vibe.


22. Special Serveware

For dishes that are best served family style — think salads full of fall produce, stuffing, or even cranberry sauce — swap out your everyday serveware for a collection of one-of-a-kind serving bowls. Grouping bowls and dishes in different styles give them an air of a collection of family heirlooms perfect for casual Thanksgiving gatherings, while picking a few serving bowls and dishes from the same artisan offers an elegant and cohesive look.


23. Dried Orange Garland

For decor that is sweet and simple, string up a few garlands of dried orange rounds on your hearth, sideboards, or even the window above your kitchen sink. This budget-friendly DIY is beginner friendly — but, if stringing the rounds of dried oranges together proves to be too challenging, they look just as pretty when loosely arranged down the center of your table.

Photo and Idea by Call Me Cupcake

Photo and Idea by Call Me Cupcake


24. Pinecone Garland

Another simple and seasonal DIY, this Pinecone garland is a beautiful way to incorporate some organic textures into your Thanksgiving decor! We love how it looks against a white hearth, walls, or even hung from the bar of your kitchen island. You can go glam by adding gold foil to the pinecones like the DIY-er did here, but keeping them in their natural state is just as beautiful.

Photo and Idea by The Sweet Occassion

Photo and Idea by The Sweet Occassion


25. Fall-themed Floating Tea Lights

Have some leftover dry cranberries, citrus slices, and rosemary sprigs? Turn them into a beautiful part of your tablescape by placing them in mason jars filled with water to create a festive floating tea light display.

Photo and Idea by My Family Thyme

Photo and Idea by My Family Thyme


Personalization

26. Make It Fancy with Menu Cards

You’ve spent weeks planning the perfect lineup of dishes for your Thanksgiving dinner, so why not show off your thoughtfulness by finishing off each place setting with a beautiful menu? Minted’s wedding menu collection is full of designs that can be easily customized to suit a Thanksgiving party — just look for one that features a fall color palette and that ties into the overall aesthetic of your other decor.


27. Personalized Takeout Boxes

The best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers! So do one better than packaging up turkey and stuffing in ziploc bags by picking up some restaurant-style takeout containers to send your guests home with. As an extra special touch, you can create a custom sticker to seal each one off with.

Photo and Idea by Honestly Yum

Photo and Idea by Honestly Yum


DIY

28. DIY Minimalist Wreath

If your personal style leans minimalist or Scandinavian, this simple wreath is a beautiful way to add a bit of festive flair without compromising your aesthetic. It would look great on a doorway, hung above a mantle, or even on the hood above your range.

Photo and Idea by Sincerely Marie Designs

Photo and Idea by Sincerely Marie Designs


29. DIY Indian Corn Wreath

Nothing feels more traditionally Thanksgiving than beautiful, multicolored ears of Indian corn. We love how this wreath puts the natural beauty of the corn on full display, and is sure to get your guests excited about all of the festive food that awaits for them inside your home.

Photo and Idea by Stonegable

Photo and Idea by Stonegable


30. Painted Acorns

Gathering up acorns from outside and painting them — either spraying them completely in metallics or just painting the bottoms in a palette of three or four colors — is a super versatile Thanksgiving DIY project. Sprinkle them across your tablescape, add them to trinket dishes, use them to anchor a pillar candle, the sky’s the limit!

We hope this list has sparked your creative spirit and gotten you more excited than ever to host your Thanksgiving celebration! If you’re looking for invites to your Thanksgiving dinner, Minted offers a huge selection of invitations (as well as Thanksgiving-focused holiday cards) for you to choose from, so you're sure to find one that matches all of the decor you plan to incorporate into your Turkey Day festivities.