HOW TO SET A MAGNIFICENT THANKSGIVING TABLE

Can you believe Thanksgiving is nearly here? Where does the time go??

I love setting the table for the dinners I host and work hard to produce a beautiful and unique tablescape each Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving I am particularly pleased with my table setting which is an eclectic mix of  the vintage Japanese Porcelain that I collect, combined with Venetian Glassware my mother purchased on a trip to Italy, and a touch of modern in the way of Pottery Barn plates and acrylic flatware from Horchow.

This year I decided to use live succulents both as table decor and as favors on my Thanksgiving table. I love how the deep sage green of the succulents blended with the burnt orange in the terra cotta pots, the napkins, the flatware and the Japanese porcelain. All-in-all I am very pleased with this year’s Thanksgiving tablescape.

So today I thought I’d show you how to set a magnificent Thanksgiving table too. Let’s start with the succulents.

I purchased an array of succulents in a variety of types and sizes at my local Home Depot. I then set up shop in my laundry sink (it’s messy work) where I went to town repotting them into urns and terra cotta pots.

After transplanting each succulent into its new pot I watered them well. Once the pots were on my table I didn’t want to have to fool with watering them and risk flooding my table. I then added moss around the base of each plant. It conceals the soil and locks in the moisture too.

You can purchase moss at floral supply stores or at Michaels.

I got these miniature 3 1/2″ wide by 3″ tall clay pots at Arizona Pottery and turned them into what would become cute little party favors.

Other plants went into some green pottery that I had on hand.

Finally I was ready to create my botanical tablescape. I started by laying down an off-white tablecloth. Then I scrunched up a long green tablecloth down the middle of the table, making it like a table runner.

I then placed the largest urn in the center of the table.

I had also purchased a bounty of exotic fantasy pumpkins at Trader Joe’s, which stock the best pumpkins at very reasonable prices. All of the pumpkins I selected were in various shades of green and some had touches of orange. The colors all worked brilliantly together with the plants and the table linens, making for a lovely monochromatic effect.

As you can see, I laid some of the pots of succulents on their sides and then bunched up the tablecloth runner around them.

Then I tucked a couple of sage colored taper candles into brass candlesticks and added some Spanish moss to the base of the candles as well.

My next project was to make place cards.

I like to decide where my guests will be seated and I give a lot of thought to where I locate people around the table. I always put myself at the end of the table closest to the kitchen and Butler’s Pantry.

My husband Brad goes at the other end of the table. I put water carafes and wine decanters next to him, as he is in charge of keeping everyone’s glasses full.

So, here’s how I made my placecards. I purchased a big bag of cinnamon sticks at the grocery store.

Then I went to the paint department at Home Depot and made off with a few paint chips in just the right shade to match my color scheme. Don’t tell Home Depot, although I’ve purchased my share of paint from them so I don’t feel too guilty. I trimmed off the ends of each paint chip and them cut them into equal size pieces that were the perfect size to fit between 2 cinnamon sticks. I then used a fine point brown marker pen to write each person’s name on the cards. I wish I knew how to write in calligraphy. Finally, using a hot glue gun I glued the placecards between the 2 cinnamon sticks and voila, I had an inexpensive and pretty place card that matched my table.

So there you have it: HOW TO SET A MAGNIFICENT THANKSGIVING TABLE

Shop The Look

Clay Pots: Arizona Pottery

Chargers: Sur La Table – (Set of 4 on Sale now for $20.96)

Resin Flatware: Horchow

Napkins: World Market (Set of 6 – $9.99 – Available in 22 Colors)

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