Decorating For Thanksgiving…A Little 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!”

Thanksgiving-Decor-Mantel (3)

 

 

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.

Thanksgiving-Decor-Mantel (7)

 

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”.

Thanksgiving-Decor-Mantel (4)

 

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!)

Thanksgiving-Tablescape (2)

 

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.

Thanksgiving-Centerpiece (3)

 

 

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!

Thanksgiving-Decoupaged-Apple

 

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

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… 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)

Pumpkin-Candy-dish (1)

 

 

Thanks so much for visiting today. I hope you will have a very happy Thanksgiving full of great food and company!

~Lisa

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