Simple Thanksgiving Place Settings

Remember The Reason For The Holiday

When I was a child decades ago, my family celebrated all holidays with my mother’s good china. On each of those occasions, I helped rinse the china and dry it. We put a lace tablecloth on the dining table with the good china, mother’s silverware, and crystal. It didn’t matter if it was Thanksgiving or Easter. In my young mind I called the fine china “turkey plates” since we had turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now as an adult I enjoy seeing all kinds of decorative plates and the gorgeous tablescapes that are created for a specific holiday.

Putting together a Thanksgiving tablescape is something I usually enjoy. I love mixing and matching items I already have to create a new look. Combining some vintage items with some dollar store and thrift store finds can help you create a unique Thanksgiving tablescape. Other times when life is hectic I just want a nice, simple table.

Really the reason for Thanksgiving is a day to remember our blessings and be grateful. We invite friends and extended family to share the meal with us. I’m a senior citizen and have eaten many holiday meals with lots of people. I’ve cooked for others, and I’ve been invited to join others. The real joy of the day is to share space and food with others. Today I want to discuss celebrating with casual holiday tables. Set a pleasant table that welcomes everyone to sit and to share.

Setting The Modern Table

If you are generous and have invited lots of people, you may find yourself short on plates that match. In the decades of my life, I’ve attended plenty of meals with friends or extended family where 2 or more sets of dishes were used. It doesn’t matter. You can use your everyday plates. It’s the spirit that matters.

If you set the table with two designs, I would try to alternate patterns in the place settings which creates a more coordinated look. If your two sets of dishes clash, borrow a set from a friend. Remember white or black dishes are perfect for every season. It’s knowing what to add that makes a table special.

In the modern world, entertaining is more relaxed. For some families, casual and informal is the preferred style. Most designers agree the important thing is a selected color palette when combining china. The patterns can vary but the colors go together. I say it’s your table; do what makes you happy. If you love beautiful purple plates, go for it.

Buffet Style

For a large number of guests try a buffet. Place the food on a sideboard or island with stacks of plates, jars of forks, spoons, and knives. It is acceptable to use multiple sets of china or a heavy paper plate in this situation. Flimsy paper plates would not hold a heavy dinner. Be sure to add a tall stack of paper dinner napkins. Have the plates and food go left to right. Let your guests go two at a time. Have the turkey pre-sliced. Desserts should be presented as one helping, i.e. sliced pie or cake. If you have no bar, sideboard, or island, place the food on your table. Use standing TV trays to hold the plates, glasses, and utensils.

White or Black Plates For Thanksgiving

For your Thanksgiving table with nearly all plates, I would add natural, rustic elements. It doesn’t have to be expensive. The woven circular place mats look great with most plates. It works with a bare wooden table or on a tablecloth.

Below is a relaxed informal table with fall leaves hanging from the overhead light.

For the center of the table cut branches from a tree in the yard. Bring in colored leaves for the table or buy a bag of leaves at the dollar store. Add pumpkins, candles, or flowers. Below HGTV shared this beautiful table with a plaid tablecloth, woven mats, and white plates with brown napkins on the plates. The center piece is fresh flowers with autumn leaves.

How about white plates and DIY denim napkins?

To Have & To Host has a wonderful black and white table with with buffalo checks. Black and white buffalo checks are classic, casual, and very versatile. Small white pumpkins on a black tray with brown leaves complete the look. It’s a lovely simple table.

According to Good Housekeeping you can make a bold, graphic table even if you don’t have the right linens.  Lay graphic gift wrap across the table. Write each guest’s name onto a cardstock rectangle with a gel pen and slip it into the fork prongs. That’s so easy and inexpensive.

Use Your Blue Plates

If your dishes are a solid blue and you think they don’t look like fall, think again. I love blue with sand, beige, brown, peach or orange. Below is Stone Gable‘s lovely Thanksgiving table of blue and white.

I love blue and white china and have a small vintage set I collected over the years thrifting. If you have a set of blue and white dishes, use them on top of rattan chargers to set the table. You may use a white table cloth or show the beautiful wood of your table. Either is the perfect base for a holiday table..

Turquoise and teal are my favorite colors in the fall since my home has more coastal colors. It is wonderful with tan, brown, peach and orange. Below is a turquoise place setting with the addition of a Dollar Tree Thanksgiving paper napkin.

Add Placemats or Chargers

Having a small collection of placemats and chargers makes it easy to raise the beauty of a table. Dollar Tree and Walmart are two stores that offer inexpensive placemats. I’ve also found cute ones at thrift stores. Several years ago, I was inspired by Pier One‘s autumn leaf placemat. I sewed Dollar Tree leaves in a circle to be the “faux placemat” for my fall tables.

The colorful leaves work well with many plates. Below is a white plate with Dollar Tree Thanksgiving saucer and napkin.

The next year I made Wood Slice Chargers using Dollar Tree chargers and small wood slices. It really was easy and inexpensive to make. I really like the way it adds wood to a fall table.

Sometimes I use inexpensive wood-look chargers. I bought mine at Walmart. Your choices for placemats are many, and it doesn’t take a lot of money to entertain.

In conclusion, I hope you’ve been inspired with new ideas. Holiday celebrations are for us to enjoy and share. Be kind to yourself and others in planning the day. I thank you for visiting and reading. I am grateful for your visits in the last year. I wish everyone a happy time with family and friends.

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