Thanksgiving Dining Room Decor: How To Create An Inviting Look

Have you started planning your Thanksgiving dining room decor? This year, I wanted our space to feel warm and inviting, filled with traditional fall colors like burgundy, gold, brown, soft green, and touches of orange.

By mixing a few DIY projects with thrifted finds, I created a cozy, timeless look that celebrates the beauty of the season.

We hope you’re excited to take a tour and see how our dining room came together!

Start with a Warm Color Palette

One of the first steps in creating an inviting Thanksgiving dining room is selecting a color palette that has a cozy feel.

This year, I drew inspiration from a collection of thrifted flowers I found, which featured the richest shades of burgundy, deep gold, and touches of green.

Here are the flowers that became the foundation for the entire room—from the table setting to the mantel and even the china cabinet.

Next, I incorporated various textures with these colors to add depth and interest.

Velvet, brass, wood, and natural elements, such as leaves and pumpkins, create a layered and welcoming space.

Starting with a palette you love makes it easier to pull together a cohesive look!

Especially when you’re incorporating DIY projects and thrifted treasures, like we did.

Tip: Pick two or three main colors and then use smaller accents to highlight them. For example, I used burgundy in the candles and florals, gold in the candlesticks and table accents, and touches of brown throughout to keep the look lively and festive.

Create a Beautiful Thanksgiving Table Setting

Centerpiece

The centerpiece really sets the tone for any Thanksgiving dining room decor.

First, I arranged the thrift store flowers in a vase using my favorite method, which is detailed in the full tutorial here.

On either side of the arrangement, I added two amber glass candle holders with burgundy candles to add warmth and balance to the table.

Look at the top left corner of the picture above and notice that the candles on the table match the one in the brass candleholder on the mantel.

The mix of colors and textures in the flowers, along with the soft glow of the candles, instantly makes the table feel inviting and festive.

Place Settings

Now let’s set the table!

For the seats at the ends of the table, I started with a gold charger and my Lenox Eternal china dinner plates rimmed in gold, topped with a brown-and-white salad plate from Hobby Lobby.

The other four seats feature a DIY leaf-and-acorn charger plate (you can check out the tutorial here), the same Lenox dinner plate, and vintage brown transferware turkey salad plates.

Instead of traditional glassware, I set the table with cups and saucers—brown transferware for the end seats, and matching sets for the other four—adding a charming, slightly vintage touch.

Gold utensils complement the warm color palette beautifully.

Last but not least, I finished each place setting with a light brown cloth napkin, wrapped with a mini grapevine wreath as a napkin ring, and tucked in two faux gold oak leaves for a subtle, seasonal accent.

Layering different textures and colors like this makes the table feel intentional, cozy, and ready for a festive Thanksgiving meal.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns, colors, and textures. Using items you already have—combined with a few DIY touches—can create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind tablescape without feeling overdone.

Add Warmth with a Festive Fall Mantel

Your mantel is a great place to carry your Thanksgiving dining room decor theme from the table into the rest of the room.

If you don’t have a mantel, this same arrangement of mirror, garland, pumpkins, and candles would look beautiful on a buffet, sideboard, or console table.

Just make sure to layer items and vary heights for visual interest

DIY Fall Garland

I started with a vintage-inspired gold mirror as the backdrop, which adds elegance and reflects the warm autumn colors in the room.

Then, I created a DIY garland filled with soft autumn hues that echo the colors in the table centerpiece—burgundy, gold, brown, and subtle green.

I draped it down the mirror and the mantel to create a cozy, layered look that feels festive but not overwhelming.

Velvet Pumpkins and Candles

I added three green DIY velvet pumpkins for a touch of elegance and softness.

To bring in warmth and a subtle glow, I used brass candlesticks with burgundy candles, which tie back to the table’s color palette.

The combination of textures—velvet, metal, and natural elements—makes the mantel feel rich and inviting, perfectly complementing the table setting.

Tip: When styling a mantel, aim for balance and layers. Group similar items in odd numbers, vary heights, and repeat colors from your table to create a cohesive look throughout the room.

Style Your China Cabinet for the Season

The china cabinet is one of my favorite spots to decorate because it ties the whole Thanksgiving dining room decor together.

I started by filling the shelves with a mix of white and neutral pieces—white plates across the back, along with pitchers, ironstone, milk glass vases, and stacks of dessert plates.

Once the base was in place, I brought in fall elements to add warmth and color.

I added a DIY wheat arrangement for texture and placed two pumpkin picks in front of it.

To bring in even more color, I tucked a couple of leaf picks in front of the pitchers along with small grapevine pumpkins.

On the stacked plates, I displayed a charming set of honeycomb items—a gold gourd, an orange pumpkin, and a brown acorn.

Then, I placed another pumpkin pick and a small painted pumpkin on the cake plate.

Remember the DIY book page leaf garland I made earlier in the season?

It was neutral on one side and full of fall color on the other.

For the final touch, I flipped it around so the colorful side showed and laid it across the bottom shelf.

Now, all the colors from the centerpiece and mantel garland are echoed here, pulling the entire room together beautifully.

Tip: When styling a china cabinet, layer your items from back to front—start with plates or trays, add medium-height pieces like pitchers or vases, then finish with smaller decorative touches. Repeating colors from other areas of the room creates a cohesive, intentional look.

Add a Festive Touch to the Bar Cart

To complete the room, I added a few simple decorations to our bar cart.

I started with an amber glass bottle and filled it with two cream-colored pampas grass stems for a soft, airy texture.

Next, I placed a glass vase filled with light brown bunny tails to bring in another natural element that complements the warm tones in the room.

For the centerpiece of the bar cart, I added a cornucopia I found during last year’s fall clearance sale at Hobby Lobby—it was such a steal!

I filled the bottom with oak leaves that match the napkin holders on the table, then layered in a pumpkin pick and a small painted pumpkin.

The result is a balanced mix of texture and color that coordinates perfectly with the rest of the Thanksgiving dining room decor.

Tip: If you don’t have a bar cart, you can easily recreate this same look on a sideboard or console table. Just vary the heights of your pieces to create interest and keep your color palette consistent with the rest of your space.

Closing Thoughts

Decorating our dining room for Thanksgiving is one of my favorite seasonal traditions.

I love blending classic pieces with DIY projects and thrifted finds to create a look that feels both elegant and personal.

The rich fall colors, soft candlelight, and thoughtful details make the room feel warm and welcoming—just what you want for a day centered around family, gratitude, and great food!

I hope our Thanksgiving dining room decor inspires you to create a cozy and meaningful space for your celebration this year.

Whether you start with a beautiful centerpiece, a festive garland, or a few simple accessories, the goal is the same—to make your home feel inviting and full of love this Thanksgiving season.

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Until next time, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

Blessings, Donna and Rich

More Thanksgiving Decor Inspiration

Want to see how we decorated for Thanksgiving in years past? Check out the following posts:

• 2024 Thanksgiving Dining Room Decor
• 2023 Dining Room Thanksgiving Decor
• 2022 Thrifted Thanksgiving Table
• 2021 Fall Home Tour With Decorated Tables

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