Your thanksgiving table is the centerpiece of your celebration of gratitude. It’s typically filled with the traditional (and perhaps some nontraditional) dishes, but more importantly, it brings family and friends together to express thanks.
We’re well aware of all the roles your table plays during the Thanksgiving holidays, so we’ve collected our favorite ways to dress it up this year. We hope you’ll be thankful for these simple, but elegant tips!
Set Up a Side Table
If your table will be filled with an abundance of food, consider setting up a side table to hold the overflow or to serve as a Thanksgiving buffet. Don’t forget to spruce it up with a pretty tablecloth or possibly even some of the touches mentioned below.
Place Table Settings the Day Before
Between getting the cooking and cleaning done, take some of the pressure off your day-of schedule by putting out the place settings the day before. Turn bowls and glasses upside down to prevent dust from collecting. Plus you can enjoy your decorated tablescape!
Select Your Theme Prior to Decorating
Have a plan before you get started, but remember, you aren’t bound by traditional color schemes or elements. While oranges, yellows, reds and browns are typically associated with the season, explore pairing the unexpected, like turquoise and green or a simple green and white.
Go Big … Or Not
You can opt for luxurious fabrics, layered with runners, place settings and centerpieces. Bold napkin rings, statement plates, patterned napkins or metallic elements. Or you can choose a more minimalist approach with natural touches, like fresh fruits, greenery and candles.
Explore the Unexpected
This doesn’t only apply to the color schemes you use, but allow yourself to get creative by appealing to all senses. It can simply mean lighting a pumpkin- or cinnamon-scented candle, or it can mean filling a votive with coffee beans and nestling a festive-color votive in them and letting that aroma fill the air. It may not be appropriate at the dinner table with so many other scents competing for attention. However, when you serve dessert or are relaxing in a family room, it’s just about perfect!
Add a Personal Touch
Set the table with handmade place cards, or napkins folded in a special way. This is also a great opportunity to encourage your guests to express their gratitude. Perhaps include a small card for each guest to identify three things they are thankful for, or a question that everyone can take turns answering.
We can’t do all the decorating and cooking for your Thanksgiving meal, but we can help you with the cleaning, before or after the big day! The professionals at Sweet Home Cleaning Service add their special sparkle to homes on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, including Fairhope, Point Clear, Montrose, Daphne and Spanish Fort, as well as Foley, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. We’re also available for commercial and rental property cleanings in the same area. To book your appointment, contact us today!
