How to Style a Vintage-Inspired Thanksgiving Table

It’s no secret that I love to set a table! And there is no better occasion for a tablescape than Thanksgiving! With each table I set, I try to incorporate both new and old — vintage and modern — along with sentimental touches. You can add so much charm, warmth and personality to your table by adding these elements. So, this year, my Thanksgiving table is filled with vintage charm and a touch of family history. From thrifted finds to my Grandmother Jessie Anne’s ceramic turkeys, each piece tells a story and brings warmth to the holiday.

My strategy for styling a vintage-inspired table is to mix linens, layer plates, add candlelight and incorporate sentimental heirloom touches. Thoughtfully thinking through these elements creates a beautiful, cozy and nostalgic setting for gathering and gratitude.

Step 1: Experiment with Linens, Dishes and Glassware Combinations

When I start a tablescape, I lay out all the potential combinations I’d like to try for the occasion. This year for Thanksgiving, I wanted my table to include bold colors and have a moody vibe. I love the traditional colors and dish patterns for Thanksgiving, but I was inspired by a friend to think outside the box. During this step, I try all the possible combinations to see which one resonates with me. I even try the different napkin ring options.

I like to play with pattern and combine both updated and vintage-style prints for my linens. For this table, I opted for an Amazon block print tablecloth with thrifted vintage P. Kaufman Queensland Crimson napkins. The vintage gold maple leaf napkin rings I scored on Etsy are the perfect choice for an autumn table!

For the dishes and glassware, I went vintage and sentimental — my grandmother’s Noritake Sandhurst dinner plates paired with the Spode Indian Tree in rust achieves my bold color goal! The glassware ties in both the orange and blue and are both vintage, hand-me-downs from my mom.

TIP: In this step, try to incorporate some natural texture. Here, I achieved this with my Ballard woven chargers, but you can do this with your placemats (maybe a jute or seagrass?) or by choosing a napkin ring with natural elements like acorns, greenery or pinecones. A wooden napkin ring would work great as well! By adding natural elements and texture, you create depth and warmth.

This is the first time I tried layering two chargers, and I love how it turned out. The neutral white Pier 1 (rest in peace) chargers help to subdue the boldness a bit.

When selecting your theme through linens, dishes and glassware, don’t be afraid to play with combinations that might seem off the wall to you. That’s what I did with this table, and I am so pleased with how it turned out — eclectic yet traditional (with a twist!).

Step 2: Select Your Flatware

In this step, I try all my options! I try silver, gold and bamboo because that’s what I have. To me, the bamboo or the gold adds warmth while the silver is cool and tones things down. I use silver a lot when I don’t want my flatware to compete with my dish stack or linens. For this table, the natural bamboo handles didn’t compete — they completed the look and added a more eclectic vibe! Select the option that you have that you think works best with your theme.

Step 3: Style the Centerpiece

In step 3, it’s time to style your show-stopping centerpiece. This is great opportunity to add vintage finds and seasonal florals. My go-to is always a vintage vase or other vessel like a soup tureen with seasonal flowers, greenery or other natural elements. I love a big beautiful bowl with moss and boxwood balls or a large vase with cut branches. Another great centerpiece idea is to use seasonal garland as a runner for your table and mix in your candlesticks, votives, candelabras or seasonal elements like pumpkins or pinecones.

For my Thanksgiving table, I opted to use a vintage cornucopia that I thrifted a year or two ago and haven’t used yet. I rounded up the florals stems and picks I already had on hand that would play well with the my color theme. Here I used magnolia leaves and bird feathers from Amazon, dried hydrangeas from Afloral and other fall stems from Hobby Lobby.

I encourage you to lean into vintage and thrifted finds for your centerpiece because it adds such a unique and personal touch!

Step 4: Add Warm Glow with Candlelight

Nothing adds more charm and coziness than the glow of candlelight. It’s such a simple component to your table that makes a huge impact! Tapers, votives and pillar candles all exhibit their own charm, and I often like to add all three to my tablescapes. Though battery-operated candles and votives are starting to look more realistic, the inviting ambiance of a real candle just can’t be beat.

Your candlesticks, votive holders and candelabras can also do a lot to help the vibe or your table. I love brass, and brass is always a great option for most any table. But, I love crystal/glass, silver and natural holders like wood as well. For my Thanksgiving table, I chose to use my grandmother’s chunky ornate brass ones to add weight and a bit of formality. The tapers are a moody forest green that I got from PopShelf!

Step 5: Incorporate Sentimental Elements

Finally, my favorite part! I am a sentimentalist, no doubt, and my sentimentality bleeds into every part of my life but especially my home decor. And that is no different for my tablescapes. While all the elements of my table thus far have had some sentimentality because of the use of heirlooms and hand-me-downs, I always make a focus to “finish out” the table with something truly sentimental.

Do you have a special pitcher that your grandmother always served her sweet tea in? Is there a seasonal gravy boat or butter dish that only made it’s appearance on the holiday? Are there decorative components that were the highlight of a beloved family member’s table?

That was the case for the sentimental touch that I added to my Thanksgiving table. The ceramic turkeys belonged to my paternal grandmother Jessie Anne, and I only ever saw them at Thanksgiving. When we cleaned out her home, I had forgotten about them, and I immediately took them home to store and treasure. I love bringing them out each Thanksgiving and giving them an honored place on my table!

Heirlooms add a story and touch of personal history to your gatherings and connect you to your past. The family traditions that carried with you through your childhood can grow with you into your future and into future generations of your family!

Creating a vintage-inspired table for your Thanksgiving is a lot easier than you may think. And using those vintage and heirloom elements creates a table for the special day that combines charm and nostalgia. I encourage you to style your Thanksgiving table to reflect your family history and showcase your personal style.

I would love for you to share how you are styling your Thanksgiving table in the comments below! And follow along for more vintage, heirloom and sentimental holiday inspiration!

*Some photo sources linked here (commissionable link).