Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
On-theme decor is a must for any holiday—especially the ones centered around a festive feast. Case in point? Thanksgiving decorations, which make the day feel even more special if you ask us. We’ll even go so far as to say that the decor is just as paramount as the freshly prepared dishes. Here’s the thing, though: Thanksgiving decor isn’t as easy as, say, Christmas decor because the options aren’t quite as obvious as wreaths, garlands, and trees. That said, this is a good opportunity to get creative. That’s where we come in.
Ahead, you’ll find as many beautiful images as you will actual products to inspire your decorating scheme, so if you want to make your space feel warm and welcoming for the festivities, keep scrolling. From dining tables accented with a collection of miniature pumpkins to handmade place cards that set the perfect vibe, there are a lot of elegant options to consider.
So if you’re hosting the holiday this year, make sure your home feels cozy and on theme. Think pumpkins, fall foliage, and lots of turkey motifs. We’ve rounded up our favorite pieces from retailers big and small that will make your holiday tablescape (and your home) the place to be this year. The best part? You can keep most of the decor out all year round because nothing on our carefully curated list is overtly holiday themed. Trust us, there’s no such thing as decorating too early, so feel free to get in the holiday spirit as soon as temperatures start dropping.
Williams Sonoma Plymouth Gate Dinner Plates, Set of 4
$80Williams SonomaCredit: Williams Sonoma
It’s Turkey Day, after all, so it only makes sense that you feature beautifully designed Thanksgiving dinner plates with the bird on them. Pair the plates with larger plaid ones in fall colors to take the look to the next level.
Pottery Barn Dried Standing Wheat Bundle
$79Pottery BarnCredit: Pottery Barn
Using wheat as a table centerpiece or an accent in your living room is a super-easy way to dress up your home for Thanksgiving. Plus, it adds a rustic touch.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Jupiterimages//Getty Images
Build a Buffet
If you don’t have a classic buffet table, worry not. Feel free to improvise and use anything in sight as a makeshift alternative—even a bench like this one. If it’s long enough to fit all the sides, desserts, and, of course, the turkey, you’re good to go.
Pottery Barn Moroccan Handcrafted Recycled Drinking Glasses
$48Pottery BarnCredit: Pottery Barn
Thanksgiving calls for autumnal colors, but for the feast itself we’re going green. Snag a set of bright glasses handcrafted using recycled materials in Morocco that will add the perfect punchy tone to the table.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Toncoo Wood Place Card Holders, Set of 20
$10AmazonCredit: Amazon
For a rustic Thanksgiving look, use wooden stump place card holders to display the name cards for your guests. You could even put photos of everyone in the holders instead!
Melissa Ross//Getty Images
Keep It Simple
When we hear “pumpkin,” we can’t help but think of Halloween, but there’s no reason we can’t enlist their charm on Thanksgiving. After all, they’re still in season! Instead of carving them, write a sweet message to welcome your guests.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
West Elm Faux Fur Throw
Now 15% Off
$110$93West ElmCredit: West Elm
Most Thanksgiving dinners end with the family gathered in the living room to lounge and digest, so making sure your space is cozy and welcoming is a must. The easiest way to do that? Toss throw blankets on a few chairs.
Anthropologie Jylin Vase
$60WalmartCredit: Anthropologie
No at-home dinner party is complete without fresh flowers, so put them on display in a beautiful vintage-inspired stoneware vase. The maximalist touch doesn’t hurt one bit.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Liliboas//Getty Images
Create a Tablescape
Because most of the evening will take place at the table, make sure it looks its best. Break out your fine china (or everyday plates) and top them with on-theme cloth napkins. Bonus points if you swap out the napkin rings for local florals.
Afloral Artificial Pussy Willow Branch
Now 82% Off
$110$20afloral.comCredit: Afloral
“My grandmother always accented her dining table with a few pussy willow branches, so whenever I see these super-soft buds I think of holidays at my grandma’s house,” associate shopping editor Jessica Cherner says. These are faux so you can use them for every holiday.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
skynesher//Getty Images
Light It Up
These light-up signs are the perfect greeting for any fun and festive Friendsgiving. Arrange the letters to say anything you want (though you can’t go wrong with “Happy Thanksgiving”), and place it on your entryway console.
Pottery Barn Sunflower Napkin Rings, Set of 4
$17Pottery BarnCredit: Pottery Barn
Sunflowers may not be in season by late November, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enlist their beauty to make our Thanksgiving table a bit more festive. This set of napkin rings brings all of the warmth of the summer.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Home Hearth Garden Fall Wreath
$134EtsyCredit: Etsy
Wreaths aren’t holiday specific, so welcome your guests to your home with a full and on-theme Thanksgiving wreath this year. From the fall colors to the matching ribbon, this one has got to be our favorite.
Papier Place Cards
Now 18% Off
$62$51PapierCredit: Papier
If you’ll be hosting this year, take all of the stress of figuring out where to sit away from your guests. Instead, jot down their names on these charming place cards and pop them on everyone’s plates.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
DNY59//Getty Images
Go Rustic
We’ll never opt out of a beautiful wreath that’s perfectly seasonal. Case in point: This one that’s made entirely of artificial fall foliage and accented with faux berries. Either hang it on your front door or prop it up behind the buffet table.
Crate & Barrel Emmett Antique Brass Taper Candle Holder
$40Crate & BarrelCredit: Crate & Barrel
No holiday table is complete without a few taper candles. Dress them up in these antique-inspired holders and call it a day.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Polaroid Now I-Type Instant Camera
$116AmazonAlso Consider
$120Walmart$120Kohl’sCredit: Amazon
Bring some sentimentality to your table by using old family photos as place cards. It’s such a nice way to honor and celebrate family members who are no longer with you, and they can also serve as a memorable party favor (if you’re willing to part with them or made extra copies!). Or, use a Polaroid camera to make new memories with your guests.
Maryna Terletska//Getty Images
Take It Outside
If you live in a place that’s warm on Thanksgiving, why not consider an alfresco feast? After all, a festive dinner under the stars sounds pretty nice, right?
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
West Elm Foundation Glass Vases
$22West ElmCredit: West Elm
Fresh flowers throughout the house—not just on the dining room table—are crucial at Thanksgiving. Even better if you use pretty orange vases like these. Did we mention they’re less than $20?
Liliboas//Getty Images
Set the Mood
Turn off the lights (or at least dim them) and arrange a few candles around the table to create a warm and inviting vibe. Bonus points if the candles feature a fall-specific scent.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
NICROHOME Fall Paper Lanterns, Set of 12
$32AmazonCredit: Amazon
You don’t have to stick to a quintessential orange, yellow, and brown color scheme to set a festive Thanksgiving scene, but it doesn’t hurt either. These easy-on-the-eyes paper lanterns add the warmest glow to any space—especially the dining room.
Crate & Barrel Crosby Natural Teak Lantern
$498Crate & BarrelCredit: Crate & Barrel
Lanterns? Check. Pumpkins? Got ’em. Wreaths? You betcha. Just throw in a gorgeous seasonal floral arrangement, and it’s a done deal.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
stocknroll//Getty Images
Turn off the Lights
Before your guests arrive, dim the lights and light a few taper candles that will set the mood in all the right ways.
Williams Sonoma Orange Spice Garland
$180Williams SonomaCredit: Williams Sonoma
Liven up the staircase by wrapping a garland around the railing. Everything looks more festive with a little greenery—even the kitchen.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
istetiana//Getty Images
Use Seasonal Produce
There’s no need to go overboard on place settings. Simply tie a piece of twine around your cloth napkins and drape them across the plates. Finish off the look with a miniature pumpkin.
Terrain Orange Flower Cotton Napkins, Set of 4
Now 64% Off
$44$16TerrainCredit: Terrain
If blue isn’t your thing, opt for a more Thanksgiving-themed set of napkins. These are embroidered with orange florals and a white border.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
The Holiday Aisle Primitive Burlap Flower Teardrop
$33WayfairCredit: Wayfair
Wreaths are great, but door hangings are even better for someone who’s looking to switch it up a bit. Using dried florals means you can leave it up all season long.
Half Baked Harvest
Mix a Drink
Technically, a cocktail isn’t decoration, but when it’s this beautiful we beg to differ. Accented with a star anise pod and cinnamon stick, this orange-hued spiced persimmon old-fashioned is decor enough, if you ask us.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Muscab Disco Ball
$18AmazonCredit: Amazon
It’s not a proper Friendsgiving throwdown without a disco ball. We love how this one adds some playful kitsch and glitz to an otherwise neutral dining room.
Dimitrie Ragar / 500px//Getty Images
Play With Your Food
These sweet powdered sugar decorations work on any cake or pie—and let you skip the icing step. Simply place a few leaves atop your baked good of choice and sprinkle powdered sugar (ideally using a sifter) on top. Remove the leaves, et voilá!
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
West Elm Classic Velvet Floor Pillows
$54West ElmCredit: West Elm
The kids’ table can be chic too, you know! Place an assortment of these colorful, earth-toned pillows on the ground as floor cushions and then incorporate a few pumpkins, vases, and candles for a centerpiece.
Homner Pop / 500px//Getty Images
Make an Entrance
Re-create this setup using pumpkins, pinecones, and even a few string lights on your front porch.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Steelside Wallace Steel Round Firewood Log Rack
Now 40% Off
$50$30WayfairCredit: Wayfair
A soft blanket, crackling fire, and cup of coffee are the secret weapons to keeping warm and cozy on a crisp November day. Better yet, add an impeccably styled mantel. Even if you have a gas fireplace, you can keep a few logs nearby for atmosphere!
Trinx Carennac Hello Pumpkin Non-Slip Door Mat
Now 19% Off
$36$29WayfairAlso Consider
$64WalmartCredit: Wayfair
Opt for a fall-friendly runner or welcome mat by the door instead of the one you used all summer. Bonus points if you line the front steps with pumpkins.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
ilona shorokhova / 500px//Getty Images
Don’t Forget About the Kitchen
Even though the main event takes place in the dining room, your guests will certainly be in and out of the kitchen all night, so don’t forget to add a few decorative touches. From streamers to miniature pumpkins, there are a lot of options to consider.
Kseniya Ovchinnikova//Getty Images
Enlist the Kids
If you have kids, let them in on the decorating fun. Whether you give them guidelines or let them run free, you’ll love welcoming guests with art made by your little ones.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
The Pioneer Woman Glass Cake Stand
$41WalmartCredit: Walmart
While some guests are into the main course, others are all about the dessert, so when bringing out the sweet treats, be sure to do so using an elegant cake stand.
Le Creuset Apple Pie Dish
Now 20% Off
$60$48Sur la TableCredit: Sur La Table
It’s not Thanksgiving without pie—specifically apple pie. So whip up some Granny Smiths in this apple-shaped Le Creuset pie dish, which is so adorable that it will certainly steal the show.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Maryna Terletska//Getty Images
Go Overboard
Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse to go a little over the top when it comes to your table decorations, which can certainly incorporate the food. Pomegranates, ripe figs, and cheeses don’t need any dressing up to look gorgeous.
VMANOO Outdoor String Lights
$15AmazonAlso Consider
vmanoo.comCredit: Amazon
If you live somewhere warm, entertain guests on the front porch. Any porch, no matter the location, can look fall ready with the right Thanksgiving decoratation. String lights also make it feel more intimate.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
DomeStar Artificial Pumpkins, Set of 12
$16AmazonCredit: Amazon
If you want to stay on theme without going overboard, decorate your space with a dozen mini faux pumpkins in crisp white. Because they’re not real, you can use them every year.
Terrain Pollinator Iron Wreath
$168TerrainCredit: Terrain
Hang wreaths in your windows to reap the benefits of the Thanksgiving feels both inside and out. It’s super easy, so you won’t have to spend too much time decorating to make your space feel festive. This iron one is heirloom quality.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Bloomist European Recycled Glass Jar
$98bloomist.comCredit: Bloomist
For an incredibly affordable and easy Thanksgiving decoration, put some wheat or dried florals in a bell jar on a console table or mantel.
Monique Lhuillier Juliana Dinner Plates, Set of 4
$56Pottery BarnCredit: Pottery Barn
If you’re tired of orange and black come Thanksgiving, opt for a set of white dinner plates that go with a muted, earthy tablescape. An early fall alfresco dinner party is the perfect way to transition to the new season. Plus, it’s always a good call to take it outside and enjoy the weather while you still can. Instead of flowers, use large candles and fall fruits like pears to animate the table.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
DII Cotton Plaid Napkin Set
$13AmazonAlso Consider
$13Walmart$27QVCCredit: Amazon
Having different cloth napkins for various occasions may seem a bit excessive, but we think keeping a few on hand for each season is certainly within reason. This set, which features a warm-toned plaid pattern, is perfect for fall.
BunnyEar Pampas Grass
AmazonCredit: Amazon
Hang a menu behind the buffet table to animate the walls and to help everyone better navigate the Thanksgiving spread. Then add tufts of pampas grass for a little organic decor moment.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Maryna Terletska//Getty Images
Downsize It
While some hosts like inviting lots of people to their Thanksgiving feast, others prefer to keep the guest list small. If you fall into the latter group, go big on the Thanksgiving table decorations.
beEsom 100% Pure Beeswax Pillar Candle
$14EtsyCredit: Etsy
Use beeswax candles for a romantic, on-theme centerpiece, or let them flicker on a mantel or inside a fireplace. A grouping of several looks especially gorgeous.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Material The Linen Tablecloth
Now 64% Off
$130$47MaterialCredit: Material
If traditional Thanksgiving motifs clash with your dining room decor, you don’t have to weave them in. Opt for colors that feel warm and modern, totally inviting, and definitely not fussy.
Gracie Oaks Magnetic Chalkboard
$83WayfairCredit: Wayfair
Greet visitors using a hanging chalkboard. Feel free to go the extra mile and frame it with autumnal leaves.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Liliboas//Getty Images
Curate a Color Scheme
While we’re big fans of fall hues, there’s no need to swath your entire dining area in a dark and moody scheme. Instead, opt for lighter colors accented with reds, oranges, and yellows.
Cool Beans ‘n Sprouts Indian Ornamental Corn
$5AmazonCredit: Amazon
Save a seat for your guests with colorful dried corn, complete with their name in neat cursive on the husk. It’s okay to be a little corny during the holidays.