Thanksgiving with Style Mutt Home

By Chelsea, Style Mutt Home

Greetings, All! I am thrilled about today’s topic of discussion – Thanksgiving tablescapes! I know there are brilliantly grand images floating around Pinterest, magazines and in the design world, but my desire is that this post inspires you a little differently. Thanksgiving is a day full of warmth and gratitude. I have the best memories of shared conversations and laughter, good jokes, (and bad), looking back over the year behind and sharing plans for the year ahead. But mostly, I remember the faces of those near and dear to my heart. These things are far more important to me than what the Thanksgiving table spread looks like.I love and admire this scene by Norman Rockwell. 

Notice anything in particular in this picture, (besides a thousand things)? Not a single piece of table decor. No flowers or candles. Nothing grand. But it’s so beautiful, isn’t it? Would this be so hard?

I don’t know about you, but for me? YES! I adore decorating and making things pretty. That’s not something I feel anyone should ever apologize for or feel ashamed of. It’s very calming to work on ones home. So, how can we create a simpler Thanksgiving table that highlights the faces around it, rather than hides them?

I designed three tablescapes to use for inspiration. They’re simple, budget friendly, and can be whipped out in very little time. Let’s have some fun!

Tablescape No.1: Whiteout
Whether you’re stuck on how to dress your table or you prefer a clean, quiet spread, you can’t go wrong with a whiteout. It’s easy, (no figuring out what matches or doesn’t), linens can be thrown in the wash with bleach afterwards, and separate pieces can be used as-is year round, or for other creative projects down the road, (like fabric dying or adding pom-pom trim).

If you desire some height in your tablescape, I suggest something thin and ‘see-through’, so the piece doesn’t prevent anyone from seeing those across the table. Twiggy branches are perfect for this since they’re soft and sculptural, add an element of warmth, and better yet, they’re free! These were from our backyard!

Gold dipped silverware add just a touch of sophistication and glam to each place setting. Tip: I just used Rustoleum Metallic Gold spray paint. It adheres to the metal perfectly and the texture feels consistent with the rest of the handle. 

Tablescape No.2: Sophisticated Black + White
If you desire a stronger table presence, this bold mix of patterns in a striking black and white color scheme is a sure winner. With some subtle touches of gold, (the gold dipped silverware, trim around the dessert plates, and sconces in the center), this table setting looks special and sophisticated without being overly formal. 

A touch of greenery always breathes life into a room. It doesn’t take much for an impact and these sprigs are doin’ the trick.

Three quite different tablescapes that are equally lovely and festive,  but none that compete for all the attention when you sit down on Thanksgiving. And then, special moments and sweet memories will happen. 

Enjoy this Thanksgiving and have a happy holiday season!

~Chelsea