Beautiful Thanksgiving Tablescapes for Intimate Gatherings and Cozy Celebrations

By Jill Brooke

Whether it’s for Thanksgiving dinner or weekend lunches, think about creating a special table decor to boost your spirits and everyone else’s.

These days we need humor and beauty which is why we chose DanielleRollins’ table. Notice how the lifestyle author of “A Home for All Seasons: Gracious Living and Stylish Entertaining” found a cute napkin as a conversation starter as well as used patterned tablecloths – which we love.

So consider collecting clever napkins for specific holidays or just to use for cocktail parties. They are not expensive and always fun.

McQueen’s flowers also used lovely tablecloths to boost the festivity including a subtle stripe that paired so beautifully with yellow roses, the color for friendship and joy. They are so inventive and met them when I was covering the Chelsea Flower Show.  In another display, they used a simple leaf to set the mood with a line of pale lavender and peach roses. Love that combo, don’t you? Something special was created on an ordinary wooden table with just a little bit of creativity and focus.

We also liked Ashley Fox’s pale color palette and her homemade dried leaves to create napkin decor. Those dahlias with mixed coral and pink were pretty fab too. She just has such a lovely touch with her garden-inspired touches.

Of course, this is a secret to beautiful table settings. Find your color palette and then be an artist in that color wheel. Always find one item to match your flower and then one that is a contrast.

For example, look at contrasts here with artist Katie Herman. Napkins are always an easy way to update any table with added style and pizazz along with napkin ring holders. This turkey sets the tone of the night though take away the napkin ring and put a floral ring there and voila, it’s a fun lunch decor.

Last but not least, my dear friend Carolyne Roehm shared this table for small but beautiful gatherings. Love how she always uses fruits or nuts in her decor to make it more special. And always, when you are at her house, the flowers are perfectly ripe in bloom. That is her special magic but she tells me she buys the flowers a day or two before so she can see what is blooming best.

And as far as tablecloths, event designer Mindy Weiss quilted together family photos to create this runner which we thought was a great idea. As well as helped inspire the last photo of using flowers on napkins along with a colorful tablecloth. After all, we do need cheery right now.

Among many things to be thankful for, let’s think about flowers which do bring both joy and comfort, and simultaneously soothe. and brighten any environment. Love to all.

 

Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and the editorial director of FPD.

Photo Credits: Annie Watts for Danielle Rollins image, Carolyne Roehm, Katie Herman, Mindy Weiss, McQueens Flowers.