Thanksgiving is all about family – being with the ones you love and sharing a special meal in thanks of all we have in our lives. It’s a great time to hold old memories close while making plenty of new ones. From the tiniest babies to the most treasured grandparents, Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect on everything meaningful in our lives.

To create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for those you love, it helps to put a little thought into your Thanksgiving Day feast. Here are some tips to consider in helping you set the perfect Thanksgiving Day table.

A Mouthwatering Thanksgiving Day Menu

There’s no denying it – the food you prepare for Thanksgiving is going to get most of the attention when everyone sits down to eat. As lovely as your table may look, it’s just tough to compete with a juicy, crisped, golden brown turkey, heaps of buttery mashed potatoes, and fixins’ as far as the eye can see.

Elegant Approach

Choose all the traditional favorites of Thanksgiving and serve them in your best china or other special dishes and bowls. Add a chef’s touch with a little garnish here and there. If you don’t already have the technique nailed down, take the time to really learn how to best carve a turkey – this is all part of the true beauty of your table. Finally, try something new this year – an agesold, forgotten family recipe or another special dish you’ve stumbled upon that lives up to that ‘wow’ factor.

Kid-Friendly Approach

To get the kids involved in the holiday prep, allow them to vote on one holiday dish that they are responsible to help make this year. It should be a new, creative dish they will be proud to share and talk about with relatives and guests. Whether it’s an appetizer, side or dessert, get your little chefs involved in cooking and baking from a young age and they’ll be delighted to help you each and every year going forward.

Individual Place Settings

Some of the most impressive dining tables owe a lot of credit to the linens and the individual place settings at hand. Give some thought to your theme and color scheme before you tackle this aspect of your Thanksgiving Day table – it’s so easy to get lost in the wide array of beautiful accessories for your table.

Elegant Approach

Select a table cloth and coordinating napkins to give your table a great foundation. Choose a selection of beautiful plates and place the napkins creatively at each seat, whether in an origami style fold or sweetly draped between the stacked dinner plate and bread plate. Set out the serving ware where you plan to place each platter of food. Give each guest a glass for water, juice, wine or other beverages according to your menu.

Kid-Friendly Approach

Allow your children to add their own special touch to the dining table. Even with the most elegant of place settings, your little ones can still design place cards for each guest who is coming to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.

A Gorgeous Centerpiece

The centerpiece for the holiday table sometimes has a set origin, arriving as a gift from one’s spouse or even as a hostess gift from a special family member. Other times the creativity of the centerpiece is entirely up to you.

Elegant Approach

Consider over-the-conversation florals and ornamentals to bring a lovely flourish to your dining table this Thanksgiving. This style of centerpiece allows you to add drama to your table without taking away from the available space or the guest interaction. Add a nice set of pillar candles or space out a few small votives to enhance the mood without crowding
the table.

Kid-Friendly Approach

Kids can be so creative, so why not let them in on the fun of Thanksgiving? Invite your children to create their own centerpiece for the kids’ table. Or, if you’re feeling daring, have them paint or decorate small glass votive holders in advance of the holiday, affixing real fallen leaves for a stunning display of the season.

Festive Decorations

For as many personal style preferences that exist, you can find even more options to decorate your dining table for Thanksgiving. Stay sweet and simple or take a more comprehensive approach to your Thanksgiving decorations.

Elegant Approach

A quick scan on Pinterest or through the home section of your favorite department stores may have you drooling over all the possible ways you can decorate your table for the holidays. Whether you prefer some scattered flowers or simple tealights and a little fall garland, or even a complete fall scene of décor in the Thanksgiving theme, a little creativity can go a long way in tying together your dining table’s visual appeal.

Kid-Friendly Approach

If your kids are in the Thanksgiving mood, allow them to make a few small decorations to place on or near your dining table. Small turkeys made with construction paper and wiggly eyes or a cute leafy design of handmade garland can be a pretty addition to your décor. A little holiday craft swiftly becomes a fun and memorable activity while also adding to the beauty of your family gathering.

Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect on everything meaningful in our lives.

The idea of a perfect Thanksgiving Day table is sure to vary from one family to the next. Whether you’re feeling traditional or a bit more modern, you can find countless ways to personalize your Thanksgiving dinner table for the guests you plan to host. The most important thing to remember is that filling the seats of your Thanksgiving table with those you love is what
really matters.