5 Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas: My Holiday Tables Through the Years

Today, I’m sharing a look back at my favorite Thanksgiving tablescape ideas from over the years!

Last week I shared my Thanksgiving tablescape ideas using items I already owned, and it really got me thinking about all of the Thanksgiving tables I have created over the years since starting this blog!

Can you believe I started this blog back in 2017? Almost ten years have passed, and while I don’t have a blog post from every Thanksgiving tablescape I have done, I do have a few that I thought it would be fun to share today! As always, these Thanksgiving tablescape ideas are budget-friendly and perfect for creating a warm, cozy mood for your Thanksgiving dinner!

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2017 Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

Well, here it is! My first ever Thanksgiving table. A lot has changed in my home since 2017, but my personal style in decor has always been a mix of natural elements and thrifted or vintage place settings.

For this particular year, I envisioned a table that was warm, rustic, and full of texture. I chose to use beautiful heirloom pumpkins for the centerpiece of my table, surrounded by different variations of faux eucalyptus.

I love how the eucalyptus greenery brings life to the table and really helps to make the pumpkins “pop”. Decorating with earthy tones and natural elements of the fall season brings so much warmth to this Thanksgiving decor.

2018

In 2018, rather than a traditional fruit and vegetable cornucopia basket, I used gorgeous silk flower stems mixed with harvest accents like neutral pumpkins, fall branches and fresh cranberries. I arranged a beautiful fall bouquet with neutral tones, but rather than simply plopping the floral arrangement in a simple vase, I wanted to do something a little different with it.

I played around a bit and ended up tipping it sideways. I fell in love with it immediately and looked for a container for it to sort of “spill” out of. An old, lime-washed terra-cotta planter did just the trick. I put the bouquet inside and I added some fall foliage and long eucalyptus leaves as a base to fill out the planter opening a bit more.

I then surrounded the planter with neutral, small pumpkins and squash, but I felt like it needed a bit more color. When it comes to Thanksgiving table decor, traditional elements such as mini pumpkins, gourds, apples and berries are a great way to to bring in color while sticking to a fall color scheme.

2019

Technically this year was more of a “fall” tablescape than a Thanksgiving table. Pears, white mini pumpkins, eucalyptus and candlelight make this table-scape warm and inviting and so easy to recreate. A simple, cream colored place setting combined with faux greenery and natural elements gives this dining table charm and texture.

I began with a canvas drop cloth for my table. Nothing fancy, but it was the perfect backdrop for my centerpiece. I knew I wanted to add some candles, as they add so much ambiance to a tablescape. Just a reminder that you don’t have to spend a ton of money on Thanksgiving table settings trying to impress your guests. Simply use a drop cloth, sheet or curtain to create the perfect table runner to complement a neutral color scheme and fall dishes.

I wanted to tie the taper candles to the centerpiece, so I laid some (faux) seeded eucalyptus stems down the center of table and placed the pears throughout. I also gathered the white pumpkins I had throughout my home and mixed those in as well.

2024

So I guess I skipped a couple years there haha but I came back strong in 2024 with one of my favorite Thanksgiving centerpieces! Nearly all of my Thanksgiving tablescape decor has been created from thrifted items and natural elements. Last year, I created this DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece using a little paint and thrifted glass turkey that ended up being the perfect piece for the center of the table!

My sweet friend had picked up a cute little glass or ceramic white turkey from a thrift store and gifted it to me. I wanted to transform it with metallic accents of brass. I purchased some black matte spray paint because I wanted to give the turkey a vintage or antique brass look, and black is great base to achieve the look I was going for.

After spray painting it, I left the turkey out to dry for a few hours. Once it had completely dried, I took it inside to start painting on the brass. I used Rub ‘N Buff in the shade European Gold because it’s not too orangey. I squeezed a small amount onto my cardboard, took my artists brush and dabbed a small amount onto the brush. You do not want to brush deeply, you want to use a light hand to catch the raised parts of your turkey so the black shows through a little and gives it an old, brass feel.

2025 Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

This year I really focused on gratitude and using items I already owned! I used a neutral duvet cover as my tablecloth, and it turned out beautifully. Next, I set out my dinner plates and utensils before adding centerpieces or vases to gage what decor I needed to balance out my table. If you are having a large group for Thanksgiving, consider adding name cards as well to take the guess work out of seating arrangements!

I used a few cloth napkins I already owned and mixed in some soft ribbon to tie napkins, as well as a few wicker napkin rings I already owned. I then used dried stems from around my home and backyard, and laid them down the center of the table to add some depth. I added a few faux pears for a touch of color and texture.

Nothing sets the mood quite like candlelight. I used thrifted brass candlesticks to bring a warm golden glow to my neutral table decor. You can even consider using some yummy fall scented candles from my favorite non-toxic candle company, Antique Candle Co. to set a cozy and delicious smelling mood.

As always, I encourage you to use elements that you love for your own Thanksgiving tablescape! Wether that’s pomegranates, acorns, sunflowers or a plaid tablecloth, using fall decor that you love (and own!) is a great way to create a beautiful and budget friend Thanksgiving table.

Thanks for reading friends! I hope you feel inspired to create a tablescape this year full of items you already own and cherish. Be sure to sign up for my free mini homemaking course below for more holiday decor and hosting tips!

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