Decorating For Thanksgiving...A Home Tour

Hi All,

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just a few days away? It seems as though it was just yesterday that I was carving Jack-o-lanterns and welcoming all of the little Trick or Treaters knocking on my front door! It’s even harder to believe that in a week’s time I will be up to my eyeballs in tinsel and mistletoe!

Today I wanted to share with you a little tour of my home all dressed up for Turkey Day. I don’t get too elaborate for Thanksgiving. I like to keep my decorating simple, creating a few focal points that lets us know it’s time to be grateful for all of the blessings in our lives.

My mantel is one of the first things I tackle when decorating for any holiday. It is the focal point of the living room and well, its a mantel right? It just screams “Decorate me!”

In the center of the mantel I placed a vintage inspired metal pail filled with a bunch of dried straw, flanked by a pair of $.99 ceramic turkeys I bought a few years ago.

I created the beautiful floral centerpiece at the end of the mantel a few Thanksgivings ago. I love this piece and it was so simple to create. All you need is a 6-8″ clay pot, a hurricane glass which you can find at many thrift shops, a candle, ribbon and some fall floral picks from your local craft store. Add a little hot glue and Voila! you have a beautiful one of a kind fall centerpiece.

My everyday mercury glass candle holders were topped off with some leftover Halloween mini pumpkins. The large mercury glass pumpkin was a gift from my mom this year. She got it at Pottery Barn and it can actually be used as a luminary by inserting a battery operated tea light underneath.

The addition of small pumpkin decorations, silk fall leaves, pine cones and berries tucked here and there complete the look of this year’s Thanksgiving mantel.

I created this banner with some card stock I had on hand, vintage book pages, vintage Thanksgiving postcard images and glittered letters. It says “Give Thanks”.

Once the mantel was completed it was time to turn my attention to the formal dining room. I wanted to create a tablescape that would impress my guests and make them want to come in, sit and enjoy a home cooked meal with family. (Shh, and perhaps to distract them from any dishes that did not come out just right!)

I started out with a basic tablecloth and added a second lace tablecloth on top of it. I then began adding layers of decor, building my tablescape one piece at a time. For the base, I placed on the table a gorgeous fall floral garland adorned with glittered pumpkins, berries and leaves I snagged for 80% off last week at Michael’s. Then it was time to start tucking.

I nestled some of my favorite Thanksgiving accessories into the garland. I just bought this exquisite mercury glass cake stand from Ballard Designs and wanted to showcase it in the design scheme. I placed an upcycled thrift store pilgrim woman, another Pottery Barn MG pumpkin luminary, turkey figurine, leaves and pine cones on top for an instant centerpiece.

A TIP FOR YOU:

Dress up each place setting by wrapping a napkin around silverware, tie it with a simple raffia bow and tuck in a piece of straw. Place it in the center of each plate for a touch of whimsy.

I found a couple of plain papier mache apples in the $1 bin at Michael’s. I decoupaged them with vintage book pages and sprinkled them with glitter. I think they look great tucked in among the florals. Notice the dried orange slices here and there? I dried my own apple and orange slices in my oven. They smell amazing and look great too!

I had a couple of bare spots in the tablescape that needed something. After shopping around the house I came up with this….

… a small glass ginger jar filled with dried black beans. Sometimes you don’t have to look any further than your own pantry for decorating inspiration.

ANOTHER QUICK AND EASY DECORATING TIP:

Add some popcorn kernels to the bottom of a glass candle holder, old mason jar or pumpkin candy dish like this one. Place a candle to the center and you have instant holiday decor. This can work for Christmas too! (Just lose the pumpkin)