Table Setting for Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner is an important event in the calendar of most Americans and dressing the table for the occasion helps to set the scene for what you hope will be a joyful gathering of family and friends. Whatever your budget, take inspiration from ideas you see on television, in stores and in magazines to create a tablescape that captures the colors of the fall season and the true meaning of this special holiday. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Colors

Visit your local fabric store and buy some yardage of cotton fabric to make an inexpensive tablecloth and coordinating napkins. Use one color for the tablecloth and a contrasting color or colors for the napkins. In particular, a brown tablecloth will hide spills and stains made during the meal, and makes a great base color when contrasted with napkins, dinnerware and candles in pumpkin, mustard and khaki colors.

Style

No matter your design style, it's possible to dress your Thanksgiving table to reflect both the season and complement the room's current decor. For example, if your taste is very contemporary, dress your table with tablecloth, napkins and dinnerware in white and offset them with a selection of small gourds and pumpkins. Make a stack of the gourds as a centerpiece, arrange them in a line down the center of a rectangular table or fill a large, clear glass hurricane vase with a selection in different colors. Alternatively, cut slits in small gourds and use them as placecard holders. If your taste is more traditional, use rich fall colors in your linens and dress your table with heirloom china and silverware. Set out a floral centerpiece in deep red and orange that features roses, lilies and berries, and place taper candles in silver or crystal candlesticks.

Nature

Bring the outdoors inside by dressing up your table with acorns, pine cones, twigs, and brown, golden and red leaves that your kids have collected from outside. Use individual pears or apples that still have their stalks as placecard holders by writing each guest's name on a gift tag and tying it to a piece of fruit.