DECORATING FOR THANKSGIVING by Stacy McSpadden

The Thanksgiving holiday has become one of my favorite days of the year, especially as I have grown older and had the opportunity to host my family on several holiday occasions. The meaning behind Thanksgiving is so simple and the menu is a favorite of most Americans. Decorating your home can be just as easy and fun as well.

Mother Nature has given us a vast palate of color during the fall season. All the reds, oranges, and golds blend with any style you might have in your home. This time of year is a great opportunity to enhance your décor with a piece of the outdoors. The dining table is the best place to make an impact with your Thanksgiving decorations. Whether it is formal or kid friendly, you have several style options depending on how you like to celebrate.

As a society, we have become less formal in all aspects of our living, but the holidays are a great time of year to serve dinner on your wedding china that is packed away for such special occasions.  The uses of traditional orange and blue tones are making a strong comeback this season, and are perfect for the Thanksgiving table.  Your china may be a basic bone color with a gold or silver rim, but introducing Spode Blue Italian serving pieces or Mottahedah Sacred Bird and Butterfly accent plates with their orange tones will really liven up your table. Add your Grandmother’s crystal and Strasbourgh silver, and you have set a formal table that even the residents of “Downton Abbey” would envy. You can still pull nature in with your centerpiece of colorful fall leaves and mums, as well as different root vegetables and nuts, like winter squash and acorns.

Handmade pottery is a great look for Thanksgiving and one of my favorites. The textures and hues that pottery provides mix in well with the pieces of nature that you bring in for your fall décor. In my opinion, the first Thanksgiving table was probably dressed with serving pieces that the Pilgrims created by hand. This part of the country is known for master craftsmen who specialize in hand-thrown pottery. I love setting my table with my collection of McCarty’s Pottery and a centerpiece of different sized pumpkins, gourds, and winter vegetables. All of these can be picked up for a great price while you do your shopping at the local grocery store.

For the large family full of kids, fun paper products are a great option. Thanksgiving can be a lot of work for the cook, so the last thing she wants to do is wash a lot of delicate dishes at the end of the meal. There are so many great paper products that are festive and fun. These aren’t your basic Chinet plates. You can find turkey motifs, as well as products that almost look like that fine china, but are disposable. The good news is that you can clean up in 10 minutes by throwing everything in the trash or recycle bin. If you have kids, a fun project to do before Thanksgiving is to make placemats decorated with handprint turkeys. And maybe you don’t want everything to be this informal, but paper products and handmade crafts are great for the kid’s table. 

No matter how you choose to serve your Thanksgiving meal, the important thing is to make it as easy and fun as possible. You may really like dressing up your formal table, but the important thing is to make memories, be thankful, and enjoy the day with your family and friends.

Stacy McSpadden
Manager of Interior Design Services
Chestnut Hall Interiors
3075 Forest Hill Irene Road
Germantown, Tennessee 38138
901.753.8515

stacy@chestnuthall.com