4 Fast Tips for Decorating Your Thanksgiving Table

The holidays are upon us, and for some, that means a very busy and stressful schedule. Whether you’ll be dedicating your time to cleaning, baking, shopping, or decorating, try incorporating some culture into your festivities. While Thanksgiving is an American holiday, there’s no reason why you can’t turn the day into a fall themed food fiesta for family and friends. Here, some easy tips to freshen up any turkey get together.

Tablescape

Fortunately, you don’t have to go too far from the color wheel when decorating for fall. The classic colors of Latin culture are perfect for autumn themed décor (convenient!). The red, orange, yellow, and burgundy colors so loved in Latin culture can be found in the fallen leaves of autumn. Visit your local craft store and buy fake leaves (silk leaves look the most realistic) to scatter on your coffee table or mantel. If you like the look but don’t want to worry about the loose leaves, secure them under a transparent cloth or placemat.  

Making a centerpiece for your dining table is another great way to utilize the leaves. Glue the leaves under a decorative pumpkin or bunch of apples to create a centerpiece that will last all season. While at the craft store, pick up some glass jars, wide enough and tall enough to be filled. Toss in some leaves and straw and place a battery-operated tea light at the bottom. Convenient enough to display anywhere in your home, these glass votives evoke the coziness one feels inside on a chilly autumn day.

Placemats and dishware are two items that remain on your table throughout the entire meal, so you’ll want to choose them carefully. Check your local craft or home goods store for colorful leaf and acorn shaped placemats, dishes, and bowls. To finish your look, tie silverware together with a colorful ribbon, pliable straw or elastic beads.

Next, decorations to help you set the mood… [pagebreak]

Tablecloth

A tablecloth of any kind is a simple way to bring a homey feel to your dinner. Staying with the color theme, you can take the simple route and stick with a solid color. If you are on a budget, try visiting your local dollar store for a solid color tablecloth. This option is also perfect for those hosts who frequently entertain big parties, but don’t have time to clean up a big mess. You can also find tablecloths that are seasonally printed or have cutouts around the trim.           

To really evoke the theme of a Latin Thanksgiving, seat your guests at a table covered in a Mexican serape. While these blankets are usually bright and vibrant in color, there are some versions with earth tone colors, such as browns, tans, hunter green, and reds. Although these colors may be a bit more difficult to come by, searching online is your best bet though you might also get lucky at your local Target or department store.

Wall Décor

What better way to show your appreciation on Thanksgiving than to hang a flag? Give thanks for your family, friends, and country by using your respected country’s flag as a wall decoration. If you have the wall space, go all out with a large version. If you are pressed for space, simply buy the wave-able handheld flags and stick them in a potted cactus plant or in glass jars.

Also feel free to turn those colorful leaves into a festive wreath to hang on your wall as well. Buy a plain wooden or straw wreath to use as your base. Add fake pumpkins, mangoes, papayas, acorns, and cranberry clusters. Using colored ribbon, tie in a bow at the base of the wreath to add an elegant decorative touch.

Scents

It isn’t autumn until the scents of apple, pumpkin, and cinnamon fill the air. Fortunately, these scents are colored to match perfectly with the rest of your decorations. Display the candles in jars or on wax-proof plates or coasters. If your house is already filled to the brim with holiday decorations, opt for a plug-in version with scented oil. 

Decorating for the holidays doesn’t always have to be stressful, especially if you know where to go. Most, if not all of these decorations, can be recycled year after year. They are budget friendly, creative, and add the perfect touch of autumn to your home and tablescape.

Happy decorating!