Break out the roaster and fancy napkins—the holidays will be here before you know it! Seriously, I have to start my holiday prep in June, or I won’t get everything done. You’ll find me hunting down fabulous charger plates, glowing holiday candelabras, and party crackers when it’s a million degrees outside. As the saying goes, anytime is a good time for holiday cheer. (OK, maybe that’s just my saying.)
My holiday feast prep always starts at the same place: my dinner table. After all, a beautiful holiday tablescape makes up for the rolls I might have burnt a little bit. It sure hides all those scratch marks my cats have made on my tabletop too. No matter who’s coming over for holiday dinner, it’s all about setting the right mood for the feast.
Pull Out The Plaid Table Runner
You can’t deny that rusty orange, red, and brown plaid screams, “Happy Turkey Day!” I’m pairing this darling table runner with my grandma’s candelabra and a bunch of tiny pumpkins for this year’s big feast. It’s completely on theme, and it’s going to make my dessert table shine.
Holiday Hard With Ringtail Pheasant Napkins
Ahh, the pheasant. It might not be a turkey, but this noble bird still belongs on cotton napkins for the holidays, right?! I’ll be honest: I’d prefer my pheasant in a roasted form on my holiday dinner plate, but I’ll take these napkins too. They’re crazy fun and earth-friendly too.
Add An Earthy Touch With Rattan Charger Plates
Did you know there’s an upscale holiday dinner version of those raffia paper plate holders you had growing up? I know, it’s exciting. These natural rattan charger plates are perfect for snuggling your dishware and protecting your table. If you’re bored of your plain old plates, you need these.
Put A Ring On Those Napkins
You know what you should do if you like that napkin? Put a ring on it! You don’t want that gorgeous napkin getting away, after all. These brass mesh napkin rings are perfect for keeping your holiday tablescape orderly. You know I’ll be using them to make my amazing pheasant napkins look even prettier.
Light It Up With Tealight Turkeys
We all have that one relative who cannot help but mess up a family dinner by getting too serious. Do I want to talk about politics and economics on Thanksgiving? Nope! I want to have fun, and that’s what these brass turkey tealight holders are all about. If your holiday dinner gets too serious, these turkeys are sure to make you smile.
Set The Party On Fire With Taper Candles
Look, I’m the kind of lady who has a candle for everything. I would never lay out a tablescape without some. The trick with picking candles for a tablescape is to avoid anything scented. Vanilla sugar cookie votives mixed with turkey and dressing? NO. I’ll use these gorgeous tapers instead, thanks.
Throw On A Jacquard Tablecloth
Nothing says, “I’m grown up and successful”, like a jacquard tablecloth. I love this tablecloth’s marriage of classic style and a modern color scheme. It’s the perfect base for an earthy holiday tablescape that won’t make you feel like you turned into your mom.
Pass a Thankful Salad Plate
Let’s face it: green salads are only there at holiday dinners to make us feel better about all the other crap we’re going to eat. But hey, why not serve them on beautiful salad plates? These work well for bread and desserts too.
Deck Out With Seasonal Dish Towels
Even the most glorious holiday dinners come to an end. With that comes…dishes. So many dishes. I keep my holiday cheer going strong from post-dinner cleanup to the dessert table with festive accents like these fall dish towels for my kitchen.
Go Five Star With Linen Napkins
Cloth napkins are awesome because they’re good for our planet. It just so happens that these linen napkins are also a five-star addition to your holiday tablescape. They’re so fancy local restaurant. Classy and environmentally responsible? Win!
Secure Those Tapers In A Pewter Candleholder
My aunt hated that I used cheap glass candleholders from the dollar store for my holiday candles, so she not-so-discretely gifted me these pewter autumn leaves candleholders last year. I hate to admit it, but she might have been right about this whole candleholder thing. These beauties really take the table up a notch.
Get Tasty With Pumpkin Salt and Pepper Shakers
At the first sign of fall, I get out these pumpkin salt and pepper shakers. What can I say? I love the little wagon they sit in. In fact, I’d keep them out year-round if my husband didn’t make fun of me. Such glorious pumpkins will always have a place on my holiday tablescape!
Serve Some Turkey On A Turkey Platter
This turkey platter isn’t just a turkey platter. It’s a turkey-turkey platter. Decorated with a turkey and big enough to hold a lot of turkey, it’s the only logical choice for your…turkey! Yes, your grandma might have owned this too, and that’s OK. It’s what we call timeless.
Choose A Coordinating Salad Bowl
There’s no way that I’m going to let that token green salad hit my holiday tablescape in an ugly bowl. This natural wooden salad bowl with salad spoon and fork is perfect. Even the simplest of salads looks elegant in it.
Scatter A Peck Of Artificial Pumpkins
I’m going to be straight with you: I don’t care if you don’t love pumpkins. Pumpkins ARE fall, and they belong on your holiday tablescape. Go for a cute mix of plaid, white, and burlap pumpkins to scatter around that table—it can be your modern take on a classic theme.
Head To The Dessert Hour With Darling Mini Mugs
Coffee time after holiday dinner used to freak me out. Sure, I have a lot of coffee cups, but none of them look very nice. So, I stashed a set of these super-cute Thanksgiving mini mugs in my cupboard. You’ll never catch me serving hot holiday beverages in ugly old mugs again!
This Ceramic Pumpkin Dish
What a perfectly cute fall-themed dish. Use it for your fall table or to keep your cute candies in. This is perfect for the fall season – you can use it all the way from September through November!
Set The Scene With A Fall Wreath
My friends and neighbors all know that I have a thing for wreaths. Why wouldn’t I? Hang a beautiful fall wreath, and your guests know that they’re in for a festive good time as soon as they arrive. After all, a warm welcome is an essential part of any holiday dinner.
Keep Your Beverages Fresh With A Bottle Stopper
For me, all fall holidays are sparkling apple cider holidays. The only thing worse than running out of sparkling cider is pouring from a bottle that has lost its fizz. This autumnal bottle stopper ensures your beverages stay fresh and bubbly all night long.
Keep Drinks Sorted Out With Glass Charms
The holidays might be a time to get together with friends and family, but that doesn’t mean you have to share germs with them. We all know how easy it is to get drink glasses mixed up during a busy holiday dinner. Avoid those “I think this is my glass…” moments with these fall-themed glass charms.
Fill A Vase With Fall-Themed Potpourri
Acorns represent fall almost as much as pumpkins do. That’s why I plop a bunch of acorn caps in a glass cylinder for my table. They make a perfectly autumnal accent piece. Bonus: befriend some squirrels after dinner by tossing out some acorn caps. Wait, I’m kidding. Don’t do that.
Protect Your Table With Fancy Trivets
Did you know that you’re not supposed to set hot dishes on your tablecloth? I learned that lesson the hard way the first time I hosted Thanksgiving dinner. That ruined tablecloth drove me on a hunt for attractive holiday trivets. Protecting surfaces has never looked so good.