Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

Whether you’re hosting a small dinner party or a more casual get together, the traditional Thanksgiving table setting can be a bit limiting. Here are some non-traditional Thanksgiving table setting ideas to fit a smaller table.

Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas (For A Small Dinner Party)

Use A Smaller Dinner Table

This is the first Thanksgiving at our home that we will be using this smaller table. While this table may be small, it’s mighty! Our dining area is one of the first things that our guests see when arriving at our home for turkey day. It’s dressy enough for guests and casual enough that we eat dinner here daily!

With a round or oval shaped table you get that cozy feel that might be missing in a larger rectangular table. Still, at this table we have seated 6 guests and they definitely felt comfortable enough to linger awhile. We don’t have a dedicated formal dining room, so this smaller table suits the room well.

Use A Table Setting That Revolves Around A Thanksgiving Centerpiece

After many years of hosting Thanksgiving dinners from large to small, there’s one thing that I’ve learned about table setting. That is to treat Thanksgiving table settings like a special event and not as an afterthought. Your guests will definitely remember a great meal, but they will also recall a beautiful tablescape!

On this Thanksgiving table I created a centerpiece that’s pretty easy to copy in your own way. My main color is pink, which is definitely not traditional in terms of palettes & shades. With lots of blush pink roses I utilized one of these – vintage French champagne bucket as the table centerpiece and filled it with some of the roses. Then I surrounded it with 3 velvet pumpkins and a trio of vintage brass candlesticks with classic Wedgewood blue dinner taper candles. Every table setting needs a touch of the unexpected and the leopard print velvet pumpkins definitely add just that!

With a centerpiece that is low to the table there is no need to remove it when dining, so it’s a win/win in our book! You could certainly utilize tablecloths or a table runner, but I chose to be simple here.

Utilize A Buffet Style Table

Since our dining table is small we do our service on the kitchen island. Dinner with guests is  served buffet style, and it’s a time tested method when entertaining in our home. It’s easy to go back for seconds for Thanksgiving dinner, and everyone usually does for my dad’s famous stuffing!

Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas – Dinnerware, Silverware & Linens

For the place settings I incorporated some golden glam with thrifted metallic chargers and the gold wine glassware. Start with a white dinner plate topping the charger (if using one) and add a mix of china patterns on top. Plates do not need to match and you can create a stack with your everyday dishes and flea market finds. I created my stack thinking of color, with these white lace dinner plates, antique French ironstone plates in cream and blue and topped each stack with a green cabbage leaf plate.

Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas – Flatware

Just as with plates, you can mix a fork, knife and spoon…so see what you have or head to a thrift shop and poke around! For an unexpected casual mix, this bamboo flatware tones things down from dressy to casual. You could also incorporate gold flatware like this set, or this set. If you have family silver mix that into your tablescape for sure! If not…here is a lovely set and another right here that I sourced on Etsy.

Cloth Napkins Add Style To Your Thanksgiving Tablescape

These up to date ruffled tassel napkins bring in more autumn color and great style! These napkin rings are copper and in this post you’ll get some great ideas for making your own pretty napkin rings! Find 20 FREE Thanksgiving place cards in this post! We are also fans of monogrammed napkins and found some in this shop that can be custom made. Of course vintage monogrammed napkins are fabulous and you can probably score these at local estate sales.

White Pumpkins & The Sideboard Display – Thanksgiving Decorations

I’m not a fan of orange pumpkins and prefer white in terms of real pumpkins. We found some large ones at the local home improvement center and mixed them in on the sideboard display. Two large Chinoiserie vases hold more blush pink roses and a dough bowl is filled with the Chinoiserie pumpkins that I made in this tutorial. More of the luxurious velvet pumpkins and Wedgewood blue candles round out the sideboard display and add texture.

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You’ll find lots more Fall inspiration and ideas if you look right HERE! Be sure to visit my friends who are sharing today as well.

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