Thanksgiving is often the first big hosting occasion of the season, and it tends to land right when life is already at full speed. The good news? A beautiful table does not need to add stress to your plate (pun intended). Whether your hosting style is modern and relaxed or classic and layered, you can style your Thanksgiving table in minutes.
Start by thinking about the dinner you’re hosting and how you want it to feel. A modern, relaxed look suits a casual or intimate dinner, while a traditional table is a natural fit for a formal, larger gathering. It all depends on the style you want to achieve, and here’s the simple way I think about it:
For a modern look, edit. For a traditional look, layer.
Either way, you can begin with pieces you already own and add just a few seasonal elements to bring in fall colours and textures. No big shopping trip required.
The Modern Thanksgiving Table
Let’s clear something up: modern does not mean minimalist! We still want to capture the warm colours of the season. We’re just being selective about how we set the table.
- Let the table shine. Skip the tablecloth and let the natural material show. A simple runner or a set of placemats adds warmth and texture without covering up your beautiful tabletop.
- Choose a tight palette. Pick two or three warm, earth-tone colours, such as ivory, warm brown or muted green. It evokes a fall palette without overdoing it.
- Keep place settings relaxed. Use your everyday neutral dinnerware and add one seasonal layer, like a napkin.
- Mix, don’t match. Combine materials such as stoneware, ceramics and linen. When your colour palette stays cohesive, these pieces feel connected rather than mismatched.
- Resist the urge to fill every inch. Let your palette and a few well-chosen pieces do the heavy lifting.
The Traditional Thanksgiving Table
Hosting a more formal dinner? You’ll use many of the same pieces, but with more layers, richer colours and a little more structure.
- Bring in the tablecloth. It instantly creates a more formal feeling. Choose one rich, solid colour or a seasonal pattern.
- Go deeper with colour. This is your chance to use richer fall shades like burgundy, deep green, rust and cream, or a seasonal pattern such as plaid for that cozy, traditional feel.
- Build the place setting. A full set of appetizer, dinner and dessert plates gives the table its formal look, and you don’t need a matching set to get there. Finish with textured glassware to elevate the whole setting.
Add One Seasonal Moment
Here’s my favourite rule: whether your table is modern or traditional, you only need one strong seasonal moment to make it feel like Thanksgiving. Not five. One.
- Modern: Keep the centrepiece simple and leave some negative space. Candles are a perfect example.
- Traditional: Go for a layered centrepiece that draws the eye, like seasonal foliage or a harvest bundle of gourds and seasonal foods.
For both, don’t forget the practical side. Your guests need to be able to see and speak to one another across the table! A gorgeous centrepiece that blocks the conversation has missed the point.
Final Thoughts
The biggest difference between these two looks isn’t how much time or money you spend. It’s how you style the pieces.
To get either look at home:
- Choose your hosting style.
- Pick your colour palette.
- Shop your home first.
- Add one or two seasonal elements to complete the look.
That’s it. A table that feels warm, welcoming and put together, with time left over to enjoy the people sitting around it.
Which table are you setting this year, modern or traditional? Tell me in the comments, and save this post for when you’re ready to set the table. Here’s to creating spaces you love, and to a very happy Thanksgiving!
Watch the video on Morning Live
Watch my segment Two different Thanksgiving tables depending on hosting style on CHCH Morning Live.
Shop the Look
Ready to set the table? Find direct links to all the Pottery Barn tableware, linens, and decor used in this article and video.
Modern Table Styling
Table Runner
Place Setting
- Rattan Round Placemats (Honey)
- Acacia Wood Charger Plate (Brown)
- Stoneware Dinner Plates
- Oversized Linen Napkins (Hunter Green)
Cutlery & Glassware
Centrepiece
Traditional Table Styling
Tablecloth
Place Setting
- Plaid Stoneware Dinner Plate
- Plaid Stoneware App Plate
- Figural Leaf Stoneware
- Linen Napkins
- Turkey Napkin Rings
