A Thankful Themed Thanksgiving Tablescape {2013}

If you’ve been around here for awhile you already have an idea of how much I like tablescapes. I mean don’t get me wrong vignettes are my favorite, but isn’t that what a tablescape is? A glorified vignette! I’m here today to share with you a mock tablescape I came up with for Thanksgiving this year. It’s mock, because we don’t have Thanksgiving at our house, so the pressure of entertaining is off, but I still love any chance to set the table. My son helped me with this one, and teaching him how to set the table was so much fun. The pride on his face was worth it all.

 I used everything I already had to create my Thanksgiving table this year. I chose a theme, and carried it throughout my entire dining room, from the table, to the chalkboard door, to our thankful tree.

I love wheat bunches and anything white (HA HA) so I knew I wanted to incorporate both. I used plates from 3 different sets that I have. The larger dinner plate is from my white plate collection (Marshall’s), the middle plate is a beige plate from our everyday plates (IKEA), and the top plate is from my china collection (inherited from my Aunt). The napkins my mom gave to me in a welcome basket what I got my first apartment (forever ago), and the pinecones I had just from years past decorations.

 I used the pinecones as place card holders for simple white tags I wrote the word “Thankful” on. Instead of writing everyone’s name down on a place card, I chose a word, to remind guests of what the season is all about, and that way guests can still sit where they like.

 I chose a simple saying for the chalkboard, just to set the tone for the room. I put the date down on the chalkboard and place cards, because I thought it would be cool to see as years pass, a new theme for each year, and the date to remember what year it was. This year we are thankful for so much! And remembering this during the holidays is a great way to stay in perspective and not get caught up in the everyday hustle the holiday season can bring. I’ve challenged myself with not buying any new “decor” items this holiday season, to be thankful for the SO much that I have, and remind myself so many others have less. It’s not about the things, but the people around you, and celebrating together.

 To start the table I put a simple white tablecloth down (Walmart forever ago!) and then placed on top I rolled out some brown postal wrapping paper to keep with my neutral theme. In this middle I placed a piece of drift wood I pulled off the beach this past summer. I think it washed a shore just for me, it was the perfect piece of weathered barn board. I began by grabbing my faux white pumpkin for the middle, and then put two white pitchers of wheat on both sides. I surrounded them with some more gourds, my brass candlesticks, white candles, and a few more pinecones. Once everything was in place I wrote in chalk all around the table the same message from the chalkboard door. It was fun to doodle on the table, and super easy way of adding some interest. It catches your eye when you walk by 🙂

 With everyday plates, a few accessories, and a simple reminder, I have a great table to host Thanksgiving or any dinner party this holiday season.

This year was the first year we did a thankful tree. Or I should say I finally had time to do one. You can see it in the background in the photo above. I loved the idea, and the simple reminder of what we are thankful for. It was fun to hear our kids say things as precious as “I’m most thankful for you!” and then as silly as “my favorite color pink” or “dinosaurs”. It was a tradition I will be doing every year, because it’s such a great way to slow down and really reflect on all we have to be thankful for.