Looking for Thanksgiving inspiration? This week I’m sharing farm-stand table decor and menu ideas from past holidays — natural, easy ways to celebrate the harvest.
Thanksgiving Plans
We are approaching the end of October, so that means it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. (No, not Christmas — yet!)
With the kids all married, our family alternates holidays. Last year I hosted Thanksgiving, and this year we’ll all gather together for Christmas.
So, for Thanksgiving I’m heading to Maryland to celebrate with my daughter Zoë, her husband Sam, and his family who live nearby. I’m definitely looking forward to some Mim-Poppy time. And of course, I always enjoy being with Zoë and Sam too.
Even though I won’t be setting a Thanksgiving table or planning the menu this year, I still want to share some inspiration with you. Thanksgiving can get overlooked these days in the rush to Christmas, but it remains one of my favorite holidays.
The idea of gathering with loved ones to give thanks resonates deeply with me. And as a vegetarian, celebrating the bounty of the harvest does too. That abundance is what inspires me when planning the menu and setting my Thanksgiving table — heavy on the veggies and extra light on the turkey.
This week, I’m sharing some favorite ideas from past Thanksgivings: seasonal dishes and simple table decor that can be picked up right along with your farm-stand or grocery haul.
Shopping the Farm-Stand for your Table Decor
This year, instead of faux florals and turkey figurines from the big-box stores, shop your farm stand for your table decor.
Keeping the harvest in mind, look for seasonal produce — squash, corn, apples, pears, beans, and of course pumpkins. Think outside the box with leafy kale, purple cabbage, golden cauliflower, jewel-toned tomatoes, and red onions.
Then shop your home for items to corral and add structure to all this bounty — baskets, bowls, trays, or boxes. Wood, copper, and brass add warmth to the table. Pottery adds color, and glass creates sparkle.
And don’t forget soft lighting. Candles of all shapes and sizes are my favorites this time of year.
For table linens, try a fun mix of patterns to complement the colors of the produce, or a simple solid to make those colors pop. Choose the style that feels most like you.
Here’s a little inspiration from years past.
An Outdoor Harvest Table Set With Fall’s Bounty
This table from a few falls ago came together easily and organically with what I could find at the farm stand — and a few things pulled from around the house and garden.
I gathered what caught my eye — golden pears, earthy beets, red and yellow onions, and multi-color heirloom tomatoes. Summer and winter squash, kale, collard greens and a rust-colored pumpkin. Soft burgundy amaranth and dried limelights. All those colors and textures felt vibrant and abundantly alive.
To pull it all together, I used a basket, a painted wooden bowl and pedestal, and an asymmetrical arrangement of pillar and votive candles.
Simple blue and yellow linens made the perfect backdrop for all the colorful abundance.
I set this table outside, but it would be lovely indoors too.
Abundant Harvest Thanksgiving Table Setting
Several years ago I created a very special Thanksgiving table inspired by the beautiful embroidered linens I was gifted by Coral & Tusk — the Abundance table runner and Three Sisters napkins.
The “Three Sisters” — corn, beans, and squash — are companion crops traditionally grown together by Indigenous peoples. I loved the idea of honoring this farming practice at a holiday that began as a celebration of the bountiful harvest. Corn, beans, and squash also seemed like an easy, inexpensive, and festive decoration for the table — a fresh take on the traditional cornucopia!
For the centerpiece, I poured dried beans into an elegant glass footed bowl, then layered in colorful flint corn and a mix of winter squash. A few wispy faux stems added a soft, natural touch.
To finish the look, I sewed some brightly patterned placemats to go with the linens, but plain ones in white or a fall color like gold or green would work beautifully too.
Getting My Table Mantel and Hutch Ready for Thanksgiving
Last year — our first Thanksgiving with the grandkids — I kept things simple but still leaned into natural elements.
The starting point once again was a table runner — this time with a fall-leaf pattern in gold, rust, brown, and blue that echoed the late-autumn leaves outside my window.
First came the centerpiece: a footed wooden bowl filled with dried gourds and a single velvet pumpkin. It was simple, seasonal, and just enough to set the tone for the table.
Next, I gathered my collection of brass candlesticks and added candles in golden yellow, rust, and blue. A few double-ribbon bows in rust satin and golden yellow velvet added a soft, festive touch, tied to the light fixture above the table.
The place settings came last: thrifted rattan placemats, blue-and-white striped dishes, and vintage silver flatware. I also added a mix of patterned napkins I sewed myself, in colors that picked up the gold, rust, brown, and blue in the runner — a simple way to tie everything together.
Each of these tables, whether overflowing with farm-stand abundance, centered on a meaningful harvest tradition, or kept simple with just a few natural touches, has its own charm.
SHOP MY THANKSGIVING TABLES:
This year’s Coral and Tusk Thanksgiving Collection
Veg-Forward Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Of course, a beautiful table deserves an equally delicious meal!
To provide some ideas and inspiration for this year’s feast, here are two Thanksgiving menus I’ve shared in the past.
While our family includes both meat-eaters and vegetarians, we all love veggies. So yes, there’s a turkey — but the focus is always on the sides. They really are the most creative and interesting part of the meal, aren’t they?
I hope you’ll click through to the posts for all the recipe links, but these are a few of our favorites:
Note: NYT Cooking is my go-to for recipes. You can see certain recipes for free, but for full access you must subscribe. In my opinion, if you enjoy cooking, the $50 annual fee is totally worth it.
Pumpkin and Cheddar Strata — Hearty and delicious. Can be made ahead and popped in the oven the day-of.
Shingled Sweet Potatoes with Harissa — This has become my son Jack’s signature holiday recipe. It takes a bit of work, but the depth of flavor is unforgettable — and it makes a beautiful presentation.
Apple Cheddar Pistachio Salad with Creamy Shallot-Date Dressing — This salad has a lot of steps, but they create a delicious mix of flavors. It’s a fresh complement to all the rich dishes.
And of course, here’s my signature Brussels Sprouts recipe:
Read the full blog posts:
Our Family’s (Mostly) Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu
Our Family’s 2024 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
The menu might change a bit each year, but a veggie-forward feast is always at the heart of it for our family.
Some Reflections on the Holidays
The holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving, can be full of lofty expectations. And blog posts like this one, with table and menu ideas, can sometimes set the bar even higher.
So while I hope you enjoy this post — and maybe take away a little inspiration for your table or a recipe or two to add to this year’s menu — I also encourage you to remember what Thanksgiving is really about.
Giving thanks. Gratitude for family and friends. For food on the table and a roof overhead. Good health, if you’re lucky enough to have it. The opportunity for education. A job you love. Or whatever it is you personally feel thankful for right now.
I was reminded of all this when Covid interrupted our “Abundant Harvest Thanksgiving.” My daughter-in-law and I ended up sick and isolating in the guest cottage for the entire holiday week. You can read more about how we overcame disappointment and made the best of it in my post The Best Laid Plans.
So don’t let this post lead you to forget that Thanksgiving isn’t ultimately about table settings or menus. It’s about being together. And if, on top of that, you have a beautiful table and delicious food, then I think you have much to celebrate.
Planning your Thanksgiving table? Save this post for later on Pinterest.
This Week Into Next
It’s been a busy blogging week!
On Thursday, I joined some blogger friends to share how we’re making our homes cozy this time of year. I posted an easy tutorial for giving an antique-style painted finish to the outside of an old wooden bowl, then showed you the unique way I styled it in a stack with other bowls. This simple stack brings together everything I love about fall decorating — warmth, texture, color, and just the right amount of story.
👉 Read it: How I Stack Wooden Bowls to Add Cozy Texture and Color for Fall — and be sure to check out my friends’ posts too. They’re linked from mine
A Watercolor Workbook
Speaking of friends, Danielle from Finding Silver Pennies — blogger, talented artist, and fellow Cornishware collector — sent me a copy of her new Watercolor Workbook.
I love watercolor art and have always been curious about trying it myself. Danielle’s workbook is the perfect opportunity to do just that. It includes:
- 10 coastal projects with step-by-step instructions
- 4½ hours of painting videos
- Easy watercolor techniques and tips.
It’s a great workbook for beginners like me — I can’t wait to get started! Stay tuned for original art created by MiM.
👉 Learn more and order your own workbook here. While you’re on Danielle’s site, be sure to check out her line of notecards, calendars, notepads, and home goods featuring her beautiful original watercolor designs. (I told you she was talented!)
Revival Rugs
A quick reminder: Sunday the 26th is the last day to shop Revival’s Birthday Sale. You won’t want to miss 20% off at my go-to site for one-of-a-kind vintage rugs.
👉 Click here and enter code HAPPY8 for your discount.
I’m headed to Minnesota next week for some Halloween fun with my sweet grands Jamie and Mira. 🎃 If I don’t see you next Saturday, I’ll catch you the following weekend.
Be well, friends!
