Thanksgiving decor for every room! The ideas are easy, inexpensive, and cover the whole house. Check it out!
When November hits, it’s usually full speed ahead on Christmas decorating, Hanukkah ideas, and other wintertime holiday decor. But if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, there is one day you might want to switch into turkey mode. With minimal effort, I might add.
Below are a handful of creative ideas that will make Thanksgiving decorating beautiful and stress-free. Let’s start with the first impression (outdoors) and move our way inside (interior) from there…
Thanksgiving Decor (Outdoor)
The front door and front porch are the first things visitors typically see when they arrive at your home. Adding a festive touch to these areas is a great way to welcome everyone who comes through. This could be as simple as reusing uncarved Halloween pumpkins as a festive welcome that still feels like fall. Vary the height, color, and size of the pumpkins to really bring it all together.
Other simple Thanksgiving decorating ideas include a fall doormat or a simple wreath. Both can be easily made if you want to DIY something, or purchased. Another option to consider for outdoor decorating for Thanksgiving would be a swag made of leaves and berries to decorate the door.
Love this fall wreath for a front door. Order it once and have it year after year!
And here are some DIY autumn wreath ideas if you want to make something. This one involves dried mushrooms, palms, and more.
Thanksgiving Decorations (Indoor)
Scattered throughout the house, small touches of the season can carry the festive tone. Something as simple as throwing a seasonal colored blanket over the back of the sofa can do wonders without overwhelming the space.
And here’s another effortless idea… Head outdoors for a quick nature walk to gather acorns, leaves, and vines. Then fill bowls or decorate the Thanksgiving table with what you found – acorns, dried leaves, or anything else that is considered seasonal.
Leaf swags can be used indoors draped across surfaces such as mantels, coffee tables, and end tables to continue the theme.
Thanksgiving Table Decor
To start the table decorating off on the right foot, cover the table with a tablecloth or table runner in a warm autumn color or a pattern that you love. Don’t have one of those? White, beige, and sand colored tablecloths are a great neutral backdrop for a Thanksgiving tablescape as well.
Another option would be to skip the tablecloth all together and opt for cool placemats and linen napkins instead, like these from Lulu and Georgia (above).
There are so many things you could add when it comes to Thanksgiving table decor, but one of my favorite things to think about for holiday get toegther are the Thanksgiving dinner place settings. You can really make it a part of the decor, without cluttering up the center of the table.
For example, using artichokes on a plate at each seat, with a leather name card tucked in each one, takes minimal effort but looks so chic.
Thanksgiving Candles
Scents such as pumpkin spice, apple pie, cinnamon, and autumn wreath tantalize the air and can even help mask unwanted odors. Even floating some autumn-colored candles in a glass bowl filled with water are a money-saving decoration. But if you’re looking for some good quality candles, I like these beeswax tapers from The Citizenry.
Of course, if you want to go the DIY route, I can show you how to make candles for Thanksgiving and beyond. These homemade candles also make cool gifts for guests to take home after the big meal. OR as a hostess gift if you’re headed to someone else’s home for turkey day.
I also find these food shaped candles from Terrain incredibly charming. They make great Thanksgiving centerpieces and provide some moody light to make things feel cozy.
If you prefer candlesticks and something a bit more dramatic, these DIY rolled beeswax candles would fit perfectly and add to the Thanksgiving vibe with the deep yellow beeswax color. Or go for something a little outside of the box and use small pumpkins as the candleholders, buy carving a hole in the top for candles.
Thanksgiving Centerpiece
When decorating your Thanksgiving table, less is more. Food is the center of attention on this day, after all. So, you can keep it simple with a floral centerpiece or skip the flowers all together and add small pumpkins, gourds, pomegranates, and pears to brighten the table without too much fuss. An example of keeping making a statement, but keeping it minimal, would be the way this Ferm Living pebble dessert stand is styled with pears on and around it. Easy and beautiful!
Or do both, like this Thanksgiving tablescape I threw together one November. It has one large floral centerpiece with autumnal colors, candles, and mini pumpkins scattered around.
A totally different take on a Thanksgiving centerpiece would be creating an edible Thanksgiving table runner. It’s a great way to get guests out of the kitchen and into the dining area / living room mingling and munching on turkey day treats.
Cheese and crackers, fruit, breads, spreads, and jams are all great for an edible Thanksgiving table runner like this. All you need is a long platter (or a long, skinny piece of wood) to get it started.
Thanksgiving Decor for Every Room
Living Room
The living room will be a central gathering place on Thanksgiving Day, and simple touches can go a long way. Seasonal pillows, throw blankets, and a coffee table centerpiece are all you need. The coffee table is also a great place for small snacks and napkins for drinks, etc.
But less expected options are great too – like hanging dried corn bundles from a coat rack, like Calico and Twine has done.
Fireplace Mantle
I love this idea for dried apple garlands from The Merrythought. It would look so pretty on a fireplace mantle, or swagger across a doorway, etc.
Kitchen and Bath
The kitchen and bathrooms will likely be pretty busy on Thanksgiving Day, so there’s not much needed in either place to make it feel festive. Both rooms can quickly be ‘decorated’ with seasonal towels and scents. For example, a rust colored linen tea towel in the kitchen and a similarly colored washcloth or two in the bathroom is more than enough.
Candles, like I mentioned earlier, are also a nice way to bring the holidays to life, without having to do much more than grab some matches. I suggest slightly stronger scents for the bathroom or maybe even a plug in with the same scent, if you don’t want an open flame.
Once you have all your Thanksgiving decor figured out, it’s time to figure out the menu. I’ve gathered up 27 drool-worthy recipes for Thanksgiving to make it easy to get started.
