Thanksgiving Tablescapes

Thanksgiving is a lot of things to many people and is a very important holiday for many families. It is a time to get together and to spend time with each other. And it's nice to show off your home a little as well and to impress your guests with your decoration choices. The Thanksgiving table may be the second ranked item of the night second only to the dinner itself. Here are some ideas for your Thanksgiving tablescape that you can use to make it your own.

Color themes - Color is one of the most important parts of any holiday and there are many that people associate with Thanksgiving. Reds, oranges, yellows and browns are the most commonly thought of colors. Some designers and other people may think that these colors are drab and too earthy to make a good design, but there are many ways that these seasonal colors can be incorporated into your design. One the easiest ways to add color to your table is to think of the table and chairs themselves and decorate them in these colors. Make or buy a new tablecloth or dining chair covers to match the season and make the colors an integral part of the design. Bold colors and patterns can really be a great way to decorate for the season even if you don't have a lot of money to spend or aren't feeling particularly creative. You may be surprised how good your table and dinner look when you add the turkey and other sides with some simple and bold colors on the table.

Whimsical themes - Thanksgiving doesn't have to be a serious or even classic décor to make it fun and exciting. You can make it a lot of fun and even include the children when you are planning things and making the crafts. They will have a great time making little turkeys that can be placed at various parts of the table. It's also great to add place name tags for all your guests. These can be made by taking some ink in the seasonal colors and making little turkeys on the cards with your fingerprints. Add some googly eyes and the name of your guest and you have a perfect whimsical nametag that can them be used for scrapbooking or looked at afterwards to remember the occasion.

Natural theme - Thanksgiving is ultimately about the harvest season and giving thanks for the bounty that we receive during the harvest. Keep in mind the origin of the holiday when you are planning your tablescape and you can add many things that follow the natural theme of the season and the harvest. If you have your own garden, you can grow and decorate using small pumpkins or gourds. If you plan on using these items, keep them outside as long as you can to keep them fresh and then add them about a week before you are going to have your big dinner. Mini pumpkins, which you can now find at almost any craft or grocery store, can be a great way to decorate your table. Natural fall leaves preserved using hairspray can also be great to litter all over the table to make it feel like the woods and the season in general.

Remember to keep your table balanced and interesting. There should normally be some king of centerpiece or larger item in the middle of the table that will draw everyone's attention. If you aren't sure whether something will work out, just spend some extra time thinking about it and try and figure it out in your mind. If you need to see things before making them, you can go to the craft store and look for ideas and help making things there if needed. Be creative and remember to give thanks during this holiday season.