By Amanda Nichols
he fragrant scent of pumpkin spice is in the air, which can mean only one thing – fall has arrived, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. While you plan to gather friends and family for a holiday meal, we’ll help you set the mood by offering color schemes, design elements, and décor tips to give your guests a feast for their eyes.
Set the Color Palette
Traditional Thanksgiving colors will never be out of style. Using flowers or fruit in bright seasonal colors like orange, red and yellow will instantly evoke the comforting feelings of the season. But what do you do if those colors don’t pair well with your place settings? Or if you want to delight your guests with an unexpected hue? If you are looking for less traditional palettes to be woven into your design scheme, consider these contemporary color combinations suggested by House Beautiful:
• Pink and Gray
Pink isn’t the first color to come to mind when you think of Thanksgiving. But when paired with gray and white, and accented with gold, it looks quite elegant.
• Copper and Gray
Gray also works well with copper, and copper works for just about any season. Warm woods and silver accents work with this palette, as well.
• White and Purple
Be on trend by incorporating Very Peri, Pantone’s 2022 color of the year, into your design décor. The intense purple of Very Peri combined with accents of classic white will instantly brighten your setting in an unexpected way.
Set the Table
Small design elements will transform your Thanksgiving table setting from meh to marvelous. You want to create a tablescape that is elegant but also functional. When in doubt about the number of items displayed, remember less is better – your table décor should not be overwhelming. Put together the perfect table with these tips from the online interior design service Decorilla:
Pair dried berry twigs with dried ingredients, such as mini corn cobs or cinnamon sticks, to represent a Thanksgiving harvest. For a casual centerpiece, a few twigs with a few eucalyptus leaves will do the trick.
Opt for low but add height. Décor and candles must be short enough for guests to see and interact with the person sitting across from them. You can add height with thin, tall candlesticks or delicate twigs.
Limit your color palette. To create a chic table setting, stick to two or three colors and an accent hue. You can use the outdoors or even your menu ingredients as inspiration.
Seasonal ingredients can double as décor. Humble squashes, star anise, and whatever is fresh from the harvest can double as Thanksgiving table décor. One or two can be very impactful on a dining table.
Mix crockery, glassware, and cutlery. Mix differently shaped and textured plates, juxtapose copper and silver and add unique glassware – have fun with the essentials.
And finally, add vintage pieces, like vases or cutlery. Antique items can add instant personality to a table.