To create an impressive Thanksgiving dinner table, you’ll want to dress it up with more than just delicious food and drinks. Whether hosting an intimate Friendsgiving in your apartment or gathering the entire family in your home, a stunning tablescape makes your space feel cozy and welcoming.

A holiday doesn’t truly feel like one without a bit of festive decor. The sight of pumpkins and autumn foliage imbues us with the holiday spirit, and so should your Thanksgiving table. Prioritizing personalized yet practical table settings such as handwritten place cards or menus adds a sincere touch.

No matter how masterful your cooking is, remember that dinner guests are seated for long periods waiting until the next course. Naturally, the meal is a conversation starter, but investing in decor gives guests something else to discuss over a glass of wine. Unsure of what to do with your table? Keep reading for a guide to Thanksgiving centerpieces, color schemes, and everything else you need to celebrate the holiday in style.

Themes

Consider the amount of space available to you. Will you serve your dishes from the dining table or elsewhere, like a kitchen island? If it’s the latter, you have more surface area to work with, which means you’ll need a full selection of decorations.

When mentioning Thanksgiving, it goes without saying that food comes to mind. Perhaps you might also think of childhood art class turkeys, frigid temperatures, reddish brown and orange hues, and apple cider. Oh, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Countless decorations draw inspiration from each of these, making for limitless elegant combinations. Since Thanksgiving decor isn’t specific, this is a great opportunity to experiment with themes. Here are some ideas:

1. Gratitude

A gratitude theme epitomizes what Thanksgiving is all about without being too cliché. Set a jar in a central location and include pens and slips of paper at each place. Invite your guests to write what they’re thankful for and add it to the jar. Throughout the night, read the notes aloud. Likewise, if you’re into giving party favors, you can gift your guests a way to practice gratitude, such as The Five Minute Journal.

2. Nature

Leaf, pumpkin, and even turkey decor are right on brand for a nature theme. Turn your table into a walk through the season with designed plates, dried flowers, pinecones, maple leaf napkin rings, and miniature pumpkins. Serve drinks like spiked apple cider and cranberry punch.

3. Farm-to-table

Another nod to nature, a farm-to-table theme embraces the foundation of a good meal: gorgeous fresh ingredients. Scatter real or faux fruits and vegetables across the dining table and incorporate plenty of greenery. Think bright cranberries, tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, and pomegranates.

4. Around the World

An ode to identity, the around-the-world theme is best for potluck-style dinners where everyone brings a traditional cultural Thanksgiving dish. Craft a special place setting for your friends and family that champions their origins. A quick and simple addition, like mini flag cocktail picks, can take a table from drab to fab. Before serving dishes, invite guests to describe them.

Color Schemes

Although we often see orange associated with Thanksgiving, it’s perfectly acceptable to design with any colors. Maybe you want to keep the table traditional yet fashionable with an all-gold or white scheme. Similarly, you may go with the nature theme, embracing yellow, mahogany, and moss hues.

To curate a table with an aesthetically pleasing color balance, layer the colors when setting places for the most visual appeal. You should pick a foremost color or pattern and no more than three accent colors. Make a unique impression by avoiding popular color schemes (all-plaid, gold, or white).

Centerpieces

A beautiful centerpiece emphasizes your theme and serves as an eye-catching statement. These arrangements instantly elevate your decor, and the best thing is that you can DIY them at home to fit any theme. Better yet, if you fall in love with your Thanksgiving decor and wish it could grace your table past the holidays, you’re in luck. When made with fresh foliage, centerpieces can last up to one year with proper care.

Hosting your first Thanksgiving dinner can be daunting. With so much to do in what feels like so little time, coordinating your tablescape ensures confidence in your food and home. Follow these tips to serve up a night that looks just as good as it tastes for an unforgettable holiday experience.