15 Best Thanksgiving Table Settings for 2023 (2024)

FAQs

What is the best table setting for Thanksgiving? ›

A table arrangement full of leafy stems, clusters of berries and brass candlesticks can benefit from an unexpected touch like pears (apples, artichokes or figs can work too). The best part is once the night is over, you can use the produce or encourage family and friends to take them home.

To set a table, start with the dinner plate at the center. If you want to add a salad plate or small dish for sides, put it right on top. Along the left side, add the dinner fork and salad fork. On the right, place a knife and a spoon, if needed.

Start with a color scheme for your Thanksgiving table setting. Look to nature for inspiration. Think earth tones like brown, green, and white, or go for bolder shades like purple, orange, and crimson. You can also use your artificial fall greenery as the basis of your décor palette for a cohesive look.

Keep your Thanksgiving centerpiece simple so you're free to focus on the food! Fill a low concrete bowl with mini white pumpkins, pinecones, stones, and white berry sprigs. Add in cranberries or small clementines for an additional layer of color.

The fork is placed to the left of the plate. Place the knife to the right of the dinner plate and then set the spoon to the right of the knife. Set the water glass in the top right corner, above the knife. The napkin can be placed on top of the dinner plate or beneath the fork.

On the left side of the plate, place the dinner fork closest to the plate with the salad fork to its left. On the right side of the plate, place the knife with the serrated side facing inward, and place the spoon to its right. Lastly, glasses should be placed the right above the plate.

"A casual jacket or blazer is an instant outfit maker, creating a polished, put-together look without trying too hard," Kelly says. "Match your top to your pants or jeans, add the blazer and the outfit is done!" When planning Thanksgiving outfits, it's best to embrace comfort and personal style.

Ahead, we've compiled a list of our favorite modern Thanksgiving traditions—and not all are about food: You could kick off the day with a turkey trot (or, if you're like us, a Bloody Mary bar), host a post-dinner game night or movie marathon, take a group photo in matching, holiday-themed pajamas, make DIY place cards, ...

A traditional Thanksgiving table setting might start with a tablecloth, a table runner, and cloth napkins finished with napkin rings. It may include a centerpiece of flowers, pumpkins, autumn leaves and/or fruit, votive or taper candles, and formal china, silverware, place cards, and wine and water glasses.

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What is the seating arrangement for Thanksgiving? ›

According to our etiquette expert, Peggy Post, tradition dictates that when everyone is seated together, the host and hostess sit at either end of the table. Honored guests (moms, dads, and in-laws) are placed to the host's and hostess's right and then left.

The fork is placed to the left of the plate. Place the knife to the right of the dinner plate and then set the spoon to the right of the knife. Set the water glass in the top right corner, above the knife. The napkin can be placed on top of the dinner plate or beneath the fork.

The cornucopia that is an important fixture on many Thanksgiving dinner tables is a wicker basket that is shaped like a horn. It is filled with fruits of the harvest. As a symbol of prosperity, it is commonly called the “horn of plenty.