If you’re the kind of very crafty dinner hostess who loves to make the whole table an experience like we do, then we’d be willing to bet that you’re just as into tablescapes and place settings! There’s just something about going that extra mile to provide out loved ones with some extra festivity during family gatherings like Thanksgiving dinner that makes us feel happy, so we’re always on the lookout for inspiration around this time of year.
Just in case you feel like you could use some guidance when it comes to DIY fall and Thanksgiving tablecsapes and place settings too, here are 15 of the very best ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search!
1. Painted burlap Thanksgiving place setting
If you’re going to put in all the time and effort it takes to make your own Thanksgiving place settings, would you actually much rather to so in a way that can be reused each year, or during other fall time gatherings? Then we think you’ll really appreciate the way A Night Owl outlines the process of making these adorable painted burlap cutlery bags that add a bit of rustic fall colour to the table (and that are also really fun to make).
2. A simple knotted burlap and rosemary setting
Do you actually really like the idea of making something from burlap but you’re just not sure that you’ll have time to stitch a whole cutlery pocket and paint it because you’re celebrating early and you’re a little rushed for time? In that case, we have a feeling you might get along a little better with something like this knotted burlap and fragrant rosemary sprig place setting suggested in detail by A Pretty Life!
3. Place name ribbons in fall colours
If you’re the kind of person who has always loved name customization and can be found monogramming just about anything then we have a feeling this next suggestion from Make It, Love It might be right up your alley! Their simple tutorial shows you how to transfer crafting letters onto fall coloured ribbons, as well as how to tie them around each person’s plate using hemp string.
4. Pumpkin, pineapple, and gourd table scape
In your house, does harvest mean just about as much as Thanksgiving because you come from rural traditions and your bountiful dinners like this are part of what you’re thankful for? In that case, we think you might adore the way Simple Easy Creative created a tablescape based around natural things like pumpkins, gourds, pineapples, apples, and artichokes! Turns out food can be just as beautiful as it is delicious.
5. Outdoor gathered burlap and scattered leaves tablescape
Do you actually live in the kind of place that’s so warm all year round you could eat Thanksgiving dinner outside if you wanted to? Then why not do so, and incorporate that right into how you present your table to your guests? We’re basically in love with the way Joy in The Works made this beautiful tablescape that involves gathered burlap and scattered leaves from the actual surrounding trees that have been allowed to blow right across the table (and by that, of course, we mean strategically placed to look their best)!
6. Turkey shaped folded napkins with pinecone bodies
If you’re definitely living in the kind of place where the weather requires you to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner inside but you’d still really like to incorporate some element of what you’d find in the yarn if you ate there, then we think you might really dig the way Between Naps on The Porch made these funny turkey place settings! They show you how to use a pinecone as the body, a pipe cleaner as the head and neck, and a napkin folded like an accordion to be the tail feathers.
7. Branch wound pumpkins tablescape
Were you quite intrigued indeed by the mention of including pumpkins in your tablescape but you’re just not sure the other examples you’ve seen so far had quite enough pumpkins for you? Then we have a feeling you might get along a little better with something like this tutorial from Suburban Living that shows you how to line pumpkins all down the centre of your table and wrap them beautifully in thin branches!
8. Fall nature themed tablescape
Did our brief mention of bringing the fall nature outside in actually pique your attention quite well but you just can’t help feeling like you’d rather see more than the previous ideas outlined? Then we’d be willing to bet that you’ll quite enjoy the way Between Naps on The porch filled a tiered serving tray with pinecones, leaves, antlers, acorns, and other fall things as their tablescape.
9. Simple, natural baskets tablecscape
Do you have the kind of home decor scheme that’s already quite rustic and fall appropriate but you’re looking for simple, low maintenance ways to tie the tabletop where your Thanksgiving dinner will happen right into that? In that case, we think maybe you’d get along quite well with something like this simple idea from Postcards from The Ridge that suggests using burlap and woven baskets, as well as woven placemats, and then scattering the spaces in between with leaves.
10. Rustic but elegant Thanksgiving table
Just in case you quite liked this simply rustic, almost farmhouse inspired idea that we were just talking about but your house also has a slightly more prevalent sense of grandeur about it that you’d rather not lose, here’s another take on a similar design! Dancing Dog Cabin shows you the details of how they paired woven things and natural fall elements with things like antique silverware and fine china to create a mixture of rustic and elegance all in one place.
11. Simple and frugal tablescape
Did we really hit the nail on the head when we talked about working on a time constraint, but you’re actually also working on a budget too? Well, that doesn’t have to mean you can’t make a lovely tablescape for your Thanksgiving dinner! Check out how I Dig Pinterest made their simple fall setup using affordable supplies largely from the dollar store, arranging it all in just a few minutes.
12. Ruched fabric and mini pumpkins tablescape
Did we almost grab your attention when we started talking about gathered burlap because you love the texture running down the middle of the able, but you’re just not sure that burlap is the way you want to go? In that case, we have a feeling you might get along a little better with something like this ruched fabric table runner tutorial featured on Amanda’s Parties To Go. We loved the way they scattered theirs with miniature pumpkins in all different colours!
13. Simple fall tablescape using old books
Have you actually been scrolling through our list hoping to find a simple way to give what you’ve already got to create a fall tablescape with some kind of levels, so it looks like it has more dimension? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Anderson + Grant did that very thing using old books! The big, vintage looking volumes give everything an old fashioned feeling that’s got a lot of charm and appeal.
14. Wood slice tablescapes
Perhaps you’re actually looking for an alternative to trays for certain things on your table because you’re limited on serving trays and you want to use all the ones you’d normally put down for actually serving your food? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Clean & Scentsible replaced theirs with large cut wood slices that they sanded and stained beautifully!
15. Black, white, and gold Thanksgiving table
Did we catch your attention quite well when we started talking about establishing a sense of elegance at your table, but you’d actually like to take the idea even further and get into the realm of unique glamour? Then perhaps a slightly unconventional colour scheme would be your best but! We’re obsessed with the gorgeous way Giggles Galore built a black, white, and metallic gold fall tablescape that truly grabs the eye of anyone walking into the room.
Have you made other kinds of pretty DIY Thanksgiving place settings and tablescapes before that you were very happy with indeed but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!
