The Design Edit: Thanksgiving Tablescape: Where Timeless Design Meets the Beauty of the Outdoors

Photo by Merze Lifestyle—I used this 150-year-old soup tureen as the inspiration for this tablescape. The colors and textures inspired by the artistry were incorporated into the rest of the tablescape.

As a designer and someone who loves to entertain, Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to celebrate creativity and connection. Designing a tablescape sets the stage for stories, laughter, and the shared experience of gathering around a table. My Thanksgiving table is all about finding beauty in the natural world, blending vintage charm with modern aesthetics, and embracing the art of design editing to create a setting that feels both abundant and refined. Entertaining is an opportunity to weave together my love of people, good food, and a well-curated space—always with an eye for the thoughtful details that elevate a gathering from ordinary to extraordinary.

The Art of Editing: Creating a Curated Experience

Editing is everything when it comes to design. A successful tablescape isn’t about having the most decorations or the biggest statement pieces—it’s about carefully selecting items that work together to tell a story. Editing down to what truly matters allows each element to shine. For this table, I’ve embraced a mix of styles reflecting my love for classic pieces and my affinity for a clean, modern aesthetic. The result? A table that feels curated, not cluttered—inviting, not overwhelming. My love for entertaining comes through in how I make these choices, always to make my guests feel at ease and immersed in a stunning and comfortable setting.

Design Starts with the Foundation: A Thoughtful Color Palette

Every design begins with a foundation, and this tablescape starts with a light green linen tablecloth. This choice sets a calm, earthy tone, subtly echoing the lush green hues of late autumn. It’s about bringing the outdoors in—a central theme for this table—and it creates a seamless backdrop for the rest of the design. With their rich brown texture, the rush placemats anchor each place setting and add warmth, inviting guests to sit and stay awhile.

Color editing is crucial in any design, especially when working with a tablescape where you want the elements to be harmonious, not chaotic. In the floral arrangement, I’ve restrained the color palette—natural greens, earthy browns, crisp whites, and muted fall hues. It’s about creating a visual flow where no color overpowers the other, allowing the eyes to move across the table quickly. I love that this color scheme subtly draws my guests into a natural, calm space, setting the perfect mood for genuine conversation and laughter.

A Harvest of Colors using The Perfect Floral Arrangement

The floral arrangement for this Thanksgiving tablescape was all about embracing the season’s beauty while adding a touch of elegance and warmth. At the heart of the arrangement were classic autumn favorites: mums in deep russets and warm oranges that captured the richness of fall. Pine cones were nestled among the blooms, adding an earthy, natural texture that mirrored the rush placemats and echoed the embroidered details on the linen napkins. Dried orange slices added a playful pop of color, their golden hue bringing a cheerful contrast to the deeper tones and connecting the arrangement to the small turkey chocolates placed at each setting.

I incorporated ornamental kale, with its lush, sculptural leaves, to add a hint of greenery that tied back to the light green linen tablecloth. At the same time, soft blush and cream roses brought a touch of timeless sophistication to the mix. These elements, with their varied textures and colors, were chosen not only to reflect the hues of the table but to elevate the entire scene with a natural vibrancy. The flowers, a harmonious blend of muted earth tones and bright pops, celebrated the season's bounty—a perfect fusion of nature’s rugged beauty with elegant details. They added just the right amount of color to enliven the table, drawing the eye while complementing the overall design and ultimately bringing it to life.

I love designing the room in which I am hosting my dinner. This is the wreath I designed using this lovely brown satin bow with the bells.

Blending Modern and Vintage: A Timeless Approach

I love the way a well-designed space can feel both nostalgic and fresh, which is why I often mix vintage with contemporary elements. For this Thanksgiving table, I chose mid-century white porcelain dinner plates—clean, timeless, and elegant—paired with pearl-edged salad plates that nod to a more vintage, classic style.

The place setting is a mix of old and new. The placemat is from Juliska. The bottom plate is mid-century porcelain bought in Scandinavia in the 1960s. The top plate is a modern piece from Casa Nova. The napkin is one I sell on my site. My flatware and Waterford are items I was gifted when I married almost 35 years ago!

A carefully chosen antique can create a sense of place and heritage, while modern elements keep the design relevant and alive. These choices reflect my love of entertaining, where I want my guests to feel both the comfort of tradition and the thrill of the unexpected.

This combination speaks to the beauty of contrasts: modern design's fresh simplicity meets tradition's rich texture.

Layering Textures: Crafting Depth and Dimension

Texture is a designer’s secret weapon, adding richness and depth to a table without overwhelming the senses. The crispness of the porcelain plates, the softness of linen napkins embroidered with evergreen and pinecones, and the rough, organic texture of rush placemats all create a tactile experience. Each texture invites interaction, drawing guests closer and creating a comfortable and refined environment.

The key to using texture successfully is restraint. It’s about knowing when to add and when to hold back—creating balance so that the textures feel complementary rather than competing. A well-edited table has enough layers to feel cozy and inviting but remains cohesive. In this case, I chose natural materials like linen and rush to echo the outdoors, while refined details like embroidered napkins and crystal glassware add just the right amount of sophistication. For me, entertaining is about creating an experience where my guests feel enveloped in beauty, and texture is the bridge that ties everything together.

Designing with Intention: Thoughtful, Personal Details

A great tablescape is all about the details, and the ones that matter most are the ones that feel personal. I added turkey-themed place cards, giving each guest a designated spot, and small turkey-shaped chocolates—a playful, lighthearted gesture that adds a bit of whimsy to the table. These small moments are where personality shines through, offering guests a glimpse of what makes the space unique and welcoming.

Editing plays a huge role here, too. It’s easy to want to add more, but design is about knowing when to stop. The details should feel like part of the larger narrative, not an afterthought or decoration for decoration’s sake. It’s about striking that balance between what’s fun and what’s elegant, creating a table that feels effortless and inviting, not staged or fussy. These choices are about hospitality at its finest—making each guest feel valued and comfortable, surrounded by thoughtful design.

Light as a Design Tool: Creating Ambiance with Candlelight

Lighting can make or break a tablescape. I wanted a warm, welcoming atmosphere for this Thanksgiving table, so I used small votives and candlestick holders to add soft, flickering light. There’s nothing quite like the glow of candlelight reflecting off Waterford crystal goblets, creating little moments of magic across the table.

When designing with light, editing is essential—less is often more. A few strategically placed votives create an intimate atmosphere without overwhelming the table. Lighting is about creating ambiance without distraction, using light to highlight the textures, colors, and details you’ve carefully chosen. For me, lighting isn’t just about seeing; it’s about setting a mood where guests feel they can linger, relax, and truly enjoy the moment.

Using What You Love: Don’t Keep Beauty Hidden

One of my biggest design philosophies is to use what you love, and use it often. Design shouldn’t be about saving the best for later—it’s about celebrating every day.

For this table, I pulled out pieces that bring me joy: heirloom crystal, the antique tureen that tells a story, and linens that I adore. This table reminds us that our homes should be filled with the things that make us happiest, not the things we think we should hide away until the “perfect” occasion arises.

The centerpiece is a 150-year-old soup tureen. It has been in our family for a very long time an was recently passed on to me. I am thrilled to use it as a centerpiece. It is so very special to me, and I wanted to show my guests how lovely it is. The colors in this tureen was the inspiration to the whole color palette of this design.

“Great design isn’t about what you add—it’s about what you choose to keep. It’s the art of editing with intention, creating a space that tells your story with beauty, purpose, and authenticity.”

— Mary Madore-Hickey

The Design Edit Takeaway

The art of editing isn’t about limiting yourself; it’s about making intentional choices that resonate with you and what you want to express. This Thanksgiving tablescape is a celebration of nature, tradition, and a love for gathering. It’s about bringing the outdoors in, mixing old with new, and creating a table that feels genuine, warm, and welcoming—a space where timeless design meets the beauty of the outdoors.

So, as you prepare for your next gathering, think about what you truly love—the textures, colors, and pieces that mean something to you. Don’t be afraid to edit, mix, layer, and use what you have. Because the most beautiful tables are the ones that tell your story, inviting guests to sit down, stay awhile, and make memories that will linger long after the candles are blown out. It's in these thoughtful details and intentional choices that timeless design and the natural world come together, creating an elegant and inviting atmosphere.