Uh oh, your turn to host the family Thanksgiving dinner this year? Worrying whether the turkey is big enough to feed 10 people, and what the heck is that tofurky that your hipster vegan cousin Marty wants? The last thing you want on your plate (haha!) is to also have to worry about how to make your dining room presentable. Here are some quick, easy, and inexpensive ways to decorate your dining room and table so that you can focus on baking the perfect pumpkin pie (and not cause a scandal by messing up nana's recipe)!
1. Candles and tea lights to set a festive mood
Credit: Anastasiia Romanska
Nothing creates instant ambience better than candles. Have a few lighted ones on the sideboard if you have one, and scatter a few tealights here and there in the center of the table. I suggest not having scented ones because, hey, the aroma from your delicious food should be the star! If you have those light dimmers, even better. Turn down the lights a notch, light some candles, and voila! Dinner time!
2. Ornamental squashes and corn to brighten up the room
Credit: Meritt Thomas
I've always been fascinated by ornamental corn. My favorite are the red ones. They look so different and pretty! And usually only available around autumn, making them extra special. They're so easy to display too. Get a small basket or two, and fill them up with a couple of ears. To add even more color to your dining room, fill another small basket or two with those small ornamental squashes or pumpkins. Don't be afraid to have a mix of colors. A mix of green, orange, yellow, and white brightens up the room effortlessly.
3. Tuck a sprig of rosemary into each folded napkin
Credit: Calvin Chai
A little decoration for each person! I love using rosemary for cooking (roasted rosemary chicken anyone?) and I grow a pot of it in my backyard. Just snip a few sprigs of it, enough to have one for each guest. Then in each folded napkin, just tuck a sprig in the front or simply lay it on top. Smell and taste are so intertwined, and with rosemary being so aromatic, it's a great way to say "hey, time to eat!"
4. Nuts for both eating and decorating
Credit: marijana1
Is it just me, or is cracking your own nuts kinda fun too? Sure, I love the convenience of eating shelled walnuts or almonds straight out of the bag (and definitely less messy!), but there's something that appeals to my inner forager instinct to have to work for my food. Nuts are excellent choices for decorating with as well. Pile them up in small wooden bowls. Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans are all excellent choices, especially red pecans for adding a pop of color. Don't forget to lay out some nutcrackers for your guests who want to do a bit of pre-dinner munching!
5. Dried flowers can also look beautiful
Credit: Annie Spratt
Instead of fresh flowers, why not try dried flowers? They fit in perfectly with autumn and something you can buy ahead of time and not have to rush out to get that morning. A lot of craft stores and markets sell dried flowers. I tried making my own dried flowers before. The dried roses actually turned out decent, but the rest looked like sad little twigs, so I'll leave that to the experts! Put them in a matching vase on your sideboard or table and they'll instantly pretty up the room.
If you're the one cooking Thanksgiving dinner, good luck! Have a wonderful time with your friends and family, and remember to take some time for yourself afterwards to recover!
