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Mauve and GREEN Thanksgiving Tablescape INSPIRATION

11/8/2017

Holiday Hosting and Styling Tips

With the holiday season here, I know many of you are already making travel arrangements and booking your calendars with family dinner, Friendsgiving brunches, or just celebrating the holiday spirit. This year I've got a few Thanksgiving table decor inspiration for your Turkey Day celebration! Seasonal cocktails, traditional dishes, and the turkey, make a classic Thanksgiving menu ideal for the holidays. However, if you really want to get creative and would like to create a fancy menu, most definitely do so! I wanted to leave the cooking part to your imagination, so that I could focus on creating an inspo, especially for you hosts out there. I believe hosts have a deep appreciation when it comes to applying a creative touch to a dinner-table design. I hope you find some inspiration from this post and the future posts, for your Thanksgiving decor.

In a few of my recent blog posts, floral centerpieces made statements. Flowers can accentuate any decor while candles add to the mood. (In case your've missed it, check out last year's post, thanksgiving party with fresh produce, for a non-floral setup). For this particular inspiration, I’ve partnered with my florist friend, Fri Longtchi from Beau Decor, and picked up this beautiful fall centerpiece that’s synonymous with autumn colors and harvest season. The burnt-orange pepper, tucked in between the floral, is my favorite part of this arrangement! It just-so-perfectly adds to that Thanksgiving vibe, and caters to my taste for spicy food! (Can we call it a spicy bouquet? I know... my sense of humor is pretty bad.) This holiday has much to do with breaking bread, sharing a meal, and enjoying your harvest goodies. During the month of November, I enjoy incorporating fruits, veggies, and edible choices into the design or styling elements.

Don't hesitate to make the focus about food. Personally, I went for edible favors because I always think of food during this time of year and I'm not even ashamed to admit that. This year, to start the meal, we have pears as an appetizer. If you want to add place-cards, here are few style tips:

Gather a few pears and a holiday ornament in a basket. Wrap basket with a bow and a gift tag (a great gift for the host or favor for the guest)
Wrap a thin bow around the neck of the pear with your guests name on it
Put a spiral name-card around each pear. Secure with a food stick or cocktail stick
Simply place a small name-card or thank you card on the plate
Skip name cards entirely

A FLORAL CENTERPIECE FOR SPRING THROUGH FALL

The inspiration piece for this set-up and color palette was the salad plate. I saw these at HomeGoods and immediately knew I wanted them for this table. The mauve napkins complemented the touches of plum colors of the floral and grapes. It also brought balance to the shades of green, yellow, and gray on the dinner plates. HomeGoods is newlyweds’ heaven! When I moved into our apartment a year after our wedding, I pretty much visited the store twice a week. Never know when they get a piece that would fit and feel right at home. The salad plates definitely reminded me of harvest season. Something about the wrinkly texture of linen table cloths and soft fabric runners in generous proportion, gently flowing off the table, make everything feel more inviting and whimsical. I absolutely loved this table cloth. Brag on point! It's natural and 100% linen which makes it so soft and... linen like. Using the earthy tone overlay helped balance the other brighter shades on the dinner table. The dinner plates were also from HomeGoods, and a gift from one of my cousins. You can find similar dinner plates at Crate and Barrel or Target.

Speaking of Target, have you guys seen the new Hearth & Home collection from Chip & Joanna Gaines of Magnolia? Oh my goodness! Their work really resonates with me, and I watched all their shows on HGTV! These designers brought their home and lifestyle brand to Target exclusively, and it's a collection of not only home decor and dining products for holiday hosting, but also holiday stationery and decor. I've linked a few of my favorites (below) that goes well with this inspiration and the topic at hand.

THANKSGIVING BAR CART STYLED TO PERFECTION

My design never feels complete without the bar-cart styling. I had used pumpkin decor sparingly the previous year, but they’ve made a come-back on my dinner table (for next post!) and bar cart this year, heavily and repeatedly! Whether you have a bar cabinet or a console table, the holiday season calls for Apple Cider, Pumpkin Spice and everything nice. You can use your "table" as a hot cocoa bar, a dessert or pie station, or a drink station. Include your holiday cocktails, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and begin feasting with a thankful heart!

I hope these inspire you to create something of your own to enjoy your own holiday with family and friends. If you decide to share this with your friends and family on social media and beyond, I would consider it an honor. I'm so thankful for your visit and your support. If you get to use any of the tips, I'd love to hear from you! And if you ever have questions, please reach out. Happy Holidays!