How to Style Your Thanksgiving Table

Unlike many other mainstream holidays, Thanksgiving isn’t centered around gifts or extravagant parties. At its core, this holiday is all about gratitude, an opportunity to sit around a table with your loved ones and enjoy a meal with meaning.

So much of what we do at Dune is helping you create a home that feels true to you, a place where you can snuggle in for a solo night or gather with your friends for a special occasion like Thanksgiving.

If you’re struggling with styling your Thanksgiving table this year, we’re here to help. You can check out our Pinterest page for visual inspiration, or follow our quick tips for styling your Thanksgiving table.

Color

When you’re thinking about how you’d like to style your table this Thanksgiving, color is probably the first thing to come to mind. We’d recommend sticking with a few tonal colors this year on one side of the temperature spectrum or the other (we’re always partial to warm tones). The simpler you keep your color scheme, the more sophisticated your table styling will be.

Texture

Textural elements can add a lot to a table setting. Dinnerware is often created from smooth ceramic, stone, and glass, and picking a component to your styling that is rough or, frankly, more interesting to the touch makes your guests’ eyes dance. Whether you choose a woven runner, macrame chargers, or feathery florals, incorporating an item or two that is distinctly different from the typical table setting will make your styling stand out.

Layers

One just isn’t enough as far as we’re concerned. Stack dinnerware of many shapes and shades for dimension, then add a handmade cloth napkin, a small appetizer plate, and a single wheat frond for a natural touch. Don’t limit your layering to your table setting either. Create vignettes across your table with candles, mixing bowls, and vintage glasses to personalize your styling to your home.

Height

The key to achieving a professionally styled look for your Thanksgiving table is to consider height. The typical host will focus on function, obsessing over table settings and dinnerware. The interiors-obsessed host will embrace layering and varying heights, using vintage candlesticks, natural cuttings from trees in your yard (if you’re lucky enough to still be experiencing fall!), and stacks of seasoning bowls to create visual interest.

Ambience and Mood

Finally, for a Thanksgiving table that truly matches your style, think about the mood that you want to invoke at your event. Is this a gathering full of gratitude and impact, meant to inspire and remind your guests of all that is good in their lives? Keep your color tones neutral and deep to convey the meaning behind that message. If you’re hosting a lighter affair, opt for creams and tans with pops of bold color like pink or sienna. Set the mood with flickering candles, or let natural daylight stream through your dining room windows during a Thanksgiving lunch.

Whatever your preference, we can help you achieve the look you’re going for. Pop into the shop, and let us help you get inspired this holiday season.