T-giving table scapes.

RIngReady

Yeah we are hosting our first Thanksgiving at our new house this year and it will be the first time most of these people will be at our house, so I really want it to look nice. I really want the table to look pretty, but am struggling because I am not crafty, not a designer and don't have the time to spend hours on a table. My table isn't huge, but it will sit 8 comfortable, but it is fairly thin. 

My questions:

What do you ladies do to decorate the table, and if you have centerpiece things, where do you put the turkey and all 6 side dishes?  

TheWop

I'm not crafty either, so I don't have any DIY suggestions, but you could order a flower arrangement from a local florist as your centerpiece. 

We do buffet style, so most of the dishes are on the counter.  Only rolls and salad are on the table for us.   

Good luck and have fun!

getitdone

We too do buffet style because there is too many people for us to all sit at one table. I went to Garden Ridge and bought 2 beautiful fall floral arrangements in orange pots to put in the center table. I also have a very pretty table cloth with fall colors and matching cloth placemats. I prefer to buy the linens to make the table look nice because they can be used year after year.

A-to-the-C

First, buy a table cloth & runner in fall colors (pick a combination that you like). Second, run to your local craft store and buy some fall leaves. Spread them along the center of the table, and possible on your counter or buffet server. Third, get some votive candles & either ceramic or real different sized pumpkins, and distribute acoss the table. Voila, Thanksgiving tabelscape easy peasy. You can kick it up by adding a "centerpiece" of flowers, a cermaic turkey, or a cornicopia (sp?)

candreco

I can't believe people actually use the word "tablescape."  Aunt Sandy strikes again!

I use a solid fall colored tablecloth, with small pumpkins and gourds and some short candles scattered around, and serve food buffet style because I hate having a cramped table.  I don't like having tall centerpieces as they are hard to talk around.

Ginger

Considering your table is so small, I'd recommend setting up a buffet.

As for decorating the table, just keep it inexpensive with fall colors. There probably won't be room on your table for placemats so keep that in mind.

EastCoastBride

A-to-the-C:

First, buy a table cloth & runner in fall colors (pick a combination that you like). Second, run to your local craft store and buy some fall leaves. Spread them along the center of the table, and possible on your counter or buffet server. Third, get some votive candles & either ceramic or real different sized pumpkins, and distribute acoss the table. Voila, Thanksgiving tabelscape easy peasy. You can kick it up by adding a "centerpiece" of flowers, a cermaic turkey, or a cornicopia (sp?)

This is along the lines of what we do. We keep all the decorations small, too. Then this allows us to keep some of the dishes on the table.

RIngReady

Great ideas. Thanks ladies! I have ordered one very small arrangement of flowers to be delivers T-giving morning and bought a really pretty golden tablecloth last night. I will continue to look for a table runner. 

I feel better that so many of you keep it simple. I just kept reading and seeing these amazingly detailed tables and I felt like a T-giving failure before it even started.