I have made no secret of my dislike for the word “tablescape” in the past. Who has time for a tablescape? A whole table to be scaped…like it’s a yard or a patio or something. We are not planting trees or laying stones here, we are just setting a table!! I am typically a big proponent of more informal entertaining – mixing my nicer things with casual pieces to lend a relaxed air to cocktail and dinner parties. But this is Thanksgiving we’re talking about, my friends. And if there is one time when I fully endorse, and even look forward to pulling out all the fine china, placing the stemmed platinum-rimmed water goblets next to said china, and the scaping of tables, it is now. So with unabashed hypocrisy, I present to you my Thanksgiving tablescape for this year.
(details on the dining room rug HERE!)
Bre from Rooms for Rent has organized a really fantastic group of bloggers for a whole week of Thanksgiving tablescapes. I’ll update the list at the bottom of this post each day as the posts go live. I’m actually going to be sharing my Thanksgiving table with you in two parts. Today is more an overview of what I put together. If you come back tomorrow I’ll show you what the table looks like with the tealights lit, share sources for all the pieces I used, talk about how I put the whole thing together, and even share a spiced drink recipe I’m looking forward to serving this year.
One thing I realized as I put this look together was how easy it can be if you narrow down a few elements you want to use and just layer them on top of each other. I wanted sort of an exploded cornucopia look, with natural elements in jewel-toned colors.
A little brainstorming on natural, seasonal elements in jewel colors brought me pretty quickly to clementines and purple mums, both of which are readily available at most grocery stores. The moss and artichokes added some green, which I always like to have a bit of. The coral napkins are just orange enough to feel at home with fall colors and just pink enough to feel fresher than a pure pumpkin orange.
I was just talking with my mom over the weekend about how beautiful bare branches are, and if you have trees in your yard you have free decorations! I think branches with several “arms” look most dramatic and striking as part of a table arrangement.
I tucked a few mini white pumpkins in among the moss, artichokes, clementines, and tealights. I love those little white pumpkins and buy a bunch every year, but I wanted them to be more of an accent for this table and not the main focus. The berries were practically an afterthought but just the perfect filler I needed. No exaggeration – I finished decorating the table yesterday, jumped in my car to go pick up my daughter from a friend’s house, and as I was getting back in the car to drive home noticed this tree in my friend’s yard positively dripping with berry branches. I quick ran back inside her house and said, “Hey, can I pull some branches from your tree?!” Always be looking around you, there is inspiration everywhere!
That’s it for me today – don’t forget to stop back tomorrow for more details, sources, and a yummy spiced bourbon punch recipe!
And make sure you check in with the other ladies sharing Thanksgiving tablescapes as part of this tour. All their posts are linked below.
DAY ONE
Rooms FOR Rent
Finding Silver Pennies
Eclectically Vintage
Migonis Home
Kindred Vintage Co
DAY TWO
Maison De Pax
French Country Cottage
The Chronicles of Home
Just Destiny Mag
Thistlewood Farms
beautiful! i love the berries and the plum colored mums added to the mix- stunning colors along the table!
Thanks, Cassie! Color was my muse this year. Actually, wait…color is always my muse. ;)
So so beautiful and the photography is spot on again.
Thanks, Julia – how nice, especially coming from you, my master photographer friend!
A kaleidoscope of nature’s colorful gems perfectly photographed.
Thank you so much, Patty. That is just what I was focusing on and I love the way you phrased it – nature’s colorful gems. Beautiful :)
It’s so pretty!! I love the colors and the genius composition of it all!!
Thanks, Amber :) Floral arranging is not my strong suit so thank you for calling my scattered arranging genius!!
LOVE all the pretty colors and the branches. It really plays nicely against your new rug. x
Thanks, Danielle! I have had the nuttiest week so far but am so looking forward to catching up on everyone’s tables later this week!
Jennifer – this tablescape was so beautiful and I love all the colors, gorgeous job!
Thanks, Annie! I’m not usually drawn to purples but I really was feeling them this year :)
Your color story is blowing my mind! Soooo beautiful!!
xo Michael
You are so sweet – this made me smile :) Thanks, my friend!
Haha I have the same thoughts! I love to look at pretty tables capes, but I didn’t know people actually made them for guests! I’m noticing a common theme of fresh produce and jewel tones in many tables capes and I love it. I’ve used it in my own as well :)
amandakatherine.com
Seriously – I always find it so funny how so many of use can be on the same wavelength and not know until things are published!
Ok well I know where I would like to spend Thanksgiving! You might not like the word tablescape but you are made a pretty one friend! And that rug…omg.
You are funny – wish you were close enough to join me for a spritzer!!
That rug is so gorgeous! I am really loving the colors you used here and your photos are lovely! xo
Thanks, Kristin :) I think I will be googly-eyed over the rug for a looong time!