Your Thanksgiving table is symbolic, welcoming one and all to a special time of year to regroup, recharge, and most of all, be grateful for being together. Set it accordingly.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we tend to focus our attention primarily on the people around our table and the food on top of it, but it's just as important to pay attention to the table itself. Whether we realize it or not, table linens set the tone for the meal and provide the platform on which our meal is delivered, so let’s look at some options for the big day.
Keep Things Simple
Thanksgiving is all about tradition, but you don’t have to sacrifice style for sentiment. Table linens don’t have to scream Turkey Day. The food and atmosphere—the roar of the football game coming from the next room, the tantalizing cinnamon smell of pumpkin pie—shout Thanksgiving loud and clear all by themselves. Your table linens are merely the backdrop, leaving you free to go in a variety of directions that suit your style and decor.
One possibility is to stay on the simple side with your linens and let your dishes take center stage—especially if you’re using high-quality or sentimental dinnerware that you want to prominently display. (“Look! It’s Great-Grandma Barbara’s gravy dish!”). Try choosing a table linen that provides a canvas-like background for your tabletop decor, like this Autumn Vine Tablecloth that offers a clean yet strategically understated appearance.
(Pumpkin) Spice Things Up
Do you thrive on warm, traditional Thanksgiving colors? Choose a tablecloth that mixes mixes tradition and style, like this floral one. Pair it with a set of richly hued napkins to add an air of elegance.
Or maybe you would like to try something a little different from tradition. For a splash of excitement, check out this kate spade new york Charlotte Street table runner, which makes an ideal backdrop for a palette of warmer colors. Or you can opt for a mirror-image effect with this alternating tablecloth. The polka-dot pattern is undeniably eye-catching, yet subtle enough not to overpower the rest of your décor.
Think Practical
If you're facing a huge holiday party crowd and don’t necessarily value style over convenience, you can always go the route of an attractive vinyl tablecloth. These work especially well for kids’ tables or outdoor gatherings, and they make cleanup a snap.
Can’t figure out what size tablecloth you need? No worries! Check out this handy tablecloth buying guide and find out everything you need to know about the world of tablecloths.
Amid all the hustle and bustle of the Thanksgiving festivities, paying attention to your table linens in advance will help you keep your focus where it belongs: on family, friends, and food.
Happy Thanksgiving!