Stylish Thanksgiving Table Settings & Free Printable Place Cards

Thanksgiving tablescape, table setting pro-tips, free printable place cards, & tons of free Thanksgiving printables!

Are you looking to create a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner table but need a few ideas to get started? Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner or a dinner party for the fall season, this time of year is perfect for curating a perfect space to celebrate with your people, including a Thanksgiving tablescape and table setting!

Easy ideas to make your Thanksgiving Day amazing! – with tips, pictures of how I created mine, free printable place cards as well as more free Thanksgiving printables!

Thanksgiving Tablescapes (& Why You Should Consider One)

Having a Thanksgiving tablescape adds just a little extra when you’re celebrating the holidays.

Growing up, we did all kinds of Thanksgiving tables.

For these special occasions, sometimes it was sitting around a dinner table all together.

Other years, it was buffet-style, when my parents invited anyone who didn’t have a place to go. 

Back in the 80s and 90s – you know, before social media – I’m not sure if tablescapes were a thing.

But, they definitely are now, and a beautiful table can certainly make things cozier during the Thanksgiving season.

Today, I want to share some tips for how to create a tablescape for Thanksgiving as well as give you some Thanksgiving tablescape ideas.  

Let me talk you through some tips, and I’ll show you how I incorporated them into my table.

Tips for Creating a Pretty & Functional Thanksgiving Table

1| Choose a theme for your Thanksgiving table 

A tablescape isn’t just throwing some decorations in the middle of the table for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.  It’s having a cohesive theme that is pretty as well as functional. 

I’ve done a few over the years.

You can see my first Thanksgiving tablescape here, which had a more minimalist and modern farmhouse style.

My second Thanksgiving tablescape here, which was much more rustic farmhouse, vintage style.

This year, I wanted to try something a little different.  

And here’s what inspired me.

I recently answered a query about ideas for a Thanksgiving mantel.

For Thanksgiving, I really like to move a little bit away from the leaves of fall decor to the fall harvest elements of Thanksgiving: corn, wheat, pumpkins…. all of those alluding back to the first Thanksgiving.

I also want to think about changing up the colors as well.

My first year was very neutral colors – modern looks with wheat and mini pumpkins in white, tan, mustard, and navy.

My second year was very warm with browns and oranges.

In general, my house is kinda overrun with burnt oranges, mustard yellows, and browns in the falls.

This year, I wanted to incorporate a little more of the moody fall colors in earthy tones, so my table this year included some greens, greys, and burgundies, to balance it out. 

 

The harvest theme and my color palette led the way for my tablescape.

I also knew I didn’t want a large centerpiece that blocked the view of family members across the table from one another.

First, I went with a cream-colored linen tablecloth and a sage green table runner.

Then, I decided to drape 2 different harvest-type garlands with natural elements laid across the table – one just corn husks, and one with husk, faux corn, and pine cones. 

I added some pillar candles as well as taper candles to keep a warm ambiance.

Then, I just added in some colored and white pumpkins for pops of color and brightness. 

The mix of various autumnal colors was just what I was hoping for and it came together in a beautiful way (in my opinion!). 

As you’re preparing your tablescape, consider your theme. Your goal is to have a cohesive look.

Here are some questions to think about as you’re deciding:  

Do you want a rustic, modern, or traditional style? Or something else? 

Do you want to use decor you already have? Create some DIY crafts or decor from thrift stores? Or maybe upcycle and repurpose some decor you already have (that’s a great way to save some money, too!).

Do you want a color scheme to guide your decor? 

Thinking through your theme in advance will lead to a gorgeous table, guaranteed.

2| Create a dining table that’s functional as well as pretty.

This is where using Thanksgiving decorations on your dining room table can be tricky.

I mentioned the centerpieces which can block guests’ view of one another. There’s also space to consider. I mean, there’s a lot of food that is likely going on that table – from the appetizers to the main course to the desserts. 

It’s a little challenging to think of a tablescape with seasonal accents that can accommodate all that.

You’ll also want think about if you want decor strewn through the middle on a table runner or just a creative centerpiece – or both.

Your answer to that will impact the functionality of your table.

If you’re serving Thanksgiving dinner buffet style, then you really have a lot more freedom as far as your decorations. 

If you’re serving a more formal sit-down dinner family-style, with all the food on the table, you have more of a challenge.

You can handle that in few ways:

• Plan ahead so you make sure there’s enough room on the table for all your food dishes.
• Remove some of the decorations.

Maybe you’ll just keep a few decorations in the center of the table and remove the length of the tablescape.

Or maybe the length is narrow enough that the dishes can fit in between the guests.

Your table size will dictate some of this as will how you want to serve delicious food on turkey day. 

There isn’t a right or wrong way. You just want to make sure you plan ahead so it’s not chaotic when it comes to dinner time.

3| Choose table linens & dinner ware

​Just a few questions to ask yourself.

Are you serving on a bare wood holiday table with just some Thanksgiving decorations (or not)? 

Do you want a tablecloth – plastic, vinyl or linen? 

Are you using cloth napkins or paper? Or both?

Are you using porcelain/ceramic/China plates or paper? Metal or plastic flatware? Glasses or plastic cups?

Listen – let me put your mind at ease on this one. It’s totally appropriate to use paper plates and plastic gold flatware well! There are no rules to how fancy or formal Thanksgiving needs to be.

And they make party supplies so fancy these days! 

If you’re hosting, you’re doing the heavy lifting. It’s totally OK to take a few shortcuts!

​This year, I chose a linen table cloth (complete with wrinkles!); prior years, it was bare. My only reason for doing so was because I don’t love the color of the wood on my table! 

But a linen cloth does fancy things up a little, especially if you’re using paper and plastic.

I mixed and matched – cloth and paper napkins, along with plastic gold flatware. Porcelain plates with plastic and paper on top. And I’m real happy with the result! 

​Your guests are there to visit and enjoy delicious food, not critique the formality of your Thanksgiving decor!

4| Create place settings

If you’re having a sit-down dinner, even a simple Thanksgiving table setting creates a little more of a formal table for the holiday season.

My goal this year was to have a casual and cozy table feel, yet with a very finished and polished look, if that makes sense!

This year, I used round jute place mats instead of charger places for more casual table settings. Then I added folded cloth napkins, white plates, and salad plates.

On top of that, I put a cute paper napkin for some unexpected color, along with plastic gold flatware with a black ribbon, which is such an easy addition to add a little extra.

I felt it was a nice mix of convenience with a little bit of a fancy feel!

Of course, there are other ways to create informal or formal tables for a sit-down dinner – charger plates, wood slices, unique napkin rings, using all breakables or using all disposables. 

You can also include a printable Thanksgiving menu at each chair, for an extra fancy touch!

You’re the host – you get to choose what YOU want!

If you’re looking for more Thanksgiving place setting ideas, I have 40+ more to give you so much inspiration!

5| Include place cards at table settings

If you’re having a large gathering – or even a small gathering – place cards add a little extra touch to let guests know they are planned for and welcome! 

 

It also can help if there might be some awkwardness in guests choosing their own seats. 

Or, if you want to be very intentional about who you bring together (or who you’re keeping apart!).

I especially love DIY printable place cards – and have some to share with you today!

Free Printable Thanksgiving Place Cards: Two Designs

I created 2 different versions you can get for free at the end of the post. Both are designed to be set up tent-style or can be inserted in place card holders like these pumpkins – or one you make yourself!

One design is in a fall floral theme (design carries over to the back so you can write on either side – or both!).

The other design is a more traditional harvest pumpkin style.

I also included blanks, in case you want to write your own message or use them as cards for your menu items! That works especially well when you’re serving buffet-style!

 

To me, place cards are the finishing touch – whether for people or the pumpkin pie and other goodies. It’s just that little extra!

Fill out the box at the end of the post to grab yours! Be sure to not click away as you’ll be immediately redirected to the download! You’ll receive a 4-page PDF with 2 pages of each design, one with ‘thankful for’ pre-printed and one page of blanks!

More Free Thanksgiving Printables

If you’re looking for other free printable resources for Thanksgiving, take a look below! So many ideas from wonderfully talented bloggers to make your Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving Celebration) wonderful!

Listed in order they appear on the pin (more or less)!

Homemade Heather – Thanksgiving Dot to Dots

Creatively Beth – Printable Thankful Tree and Leaves

Smiling Colors – Printable Grateful Worksheets

Try it – Like it – Create It – Napkin ring cutting template

Artsy-Fartsy Mama – Thanksgiving Color by Number

Me and My INKlings – Thanksgiving Doodles

Tried & True Creative – Thanksgiving Printable Placemat

Persia Lou – Thanksgiving Maze Printables

Laura’s Crafty Life – Thanksgiving Word Search

The Denver Housewife – Turkey Toes Bag Topper

Our Crafty Mom – Printable Thanksgiving Card Ideas

Lemon Thistle – Thanksgiving Conversation Starters

Hand Letter Printables – Gratitude Activity Sheet

 

More Inspiration for an Easy & Wonderful Thanksgiving Day

If you’re looking for more ideas for Thanksgiving – whether it’s Thanksgiving table decorations or food ideas for kids – and more! – take a look below!

35 Amazing Thanksgiving Side Dishes for Kids

40+ Rustic Farmhouse Thanksgiving Place Settings for a Stunning Holiday Table

25 Psalms of Thanksgiving & Praise (+free printable)

Thanksgiving Menu Planning Sheet 

If you tried any of these ideas, I’d love to see them! Please tag me on Instagram @100affections and I’ll share in my stories.

Other thoughts? Leave a comment!

And grab your free printable place cards by filling out the box below!