As an interiors editor, I’ve learned this much: from the words on a page to the pillows on your sofa, what you leave out often matters more than what you put in. And as Thanksgiving looms – the one week a year we all moonlight as professional tablescapers – that editing instinct becomes essential.
Because even the prettiest Thanksgiving table can unravel fast. One garish charger, an overgrown vase, a few too many turkey motifs, and suddenly your efforts to impress have the opposite effect.
With picky in-laws and cousins RSVP’ing by the dozen, the pressure’s on to impress. So I asked designers: what’s the one thing that can spoil an otherwise spectacular setup?
1. Uncomfortable Chairs
Thanksgiving dinner is basically an endurance sport. While everyone obsesses over the menu or the perfect floral moment, the real test of hosting stamina comes down to one thing: the chairs.
‘Thanksgiving dinner is meant to linger, and there’s nothing worse than an uncomfortable chair that makes your guests excited to leave the table,’ says interior designer Kathy Kuo, CEO and founder of Kathy Kuo Home. ‘I’m such a fan of upholstered dining chairs that offer the perfect cushioned perch for each guest,’ she explains.
But if all you have lying around are spare stools, clever styling tricks can turn improvised seating into spots guests will happily lounge on through pie. ‘In these chilly months, I love layering each chair with a faux fur pelt or cozy wool throw to bring an extra touch of warmth to the dining room,' Kathy advises if you're in a pinch. Something like this wintery faux fur rug from Wayfair would really elevate a simple stool or add some comfort thrown over the back of a chair.
Lay the groundwork with a cushion worth centering the meal around. This striped cotton-linen blend adds movement and charm with its ruffled drape, while the 100% recycled poly fill keeps it plush past dessert.
2. Too Matchy-Matchy Tablescape
Perfection has a way of killing the vibe. Especially on the table. The instinct to make everything ‘go together’ often backfires, according to Joy Lynskey, founder and CEO of Jewel Toned Interiors.
‘A rigidly matched table looks flat and lacks visual interest,’ the designer explains. ‘When every napkin, plate, and runner follows one strict color or pattern, the setting feels contrived, not inviting.’
So, take this as a sign to loosen the rules. ‘Layer a mix of colors, textures, and patterns. For example, try pairing linen napkins with textured ceramic plates and a patterned runner. This creates a beautiful, lived-in look that encourages conversation and comfort.’ H&M's new Christmas collection is filled with lovely tabletop pieces that are perfect for mixing and matching.
If your table’s already heavy on linen and ceramics, introduce a little tension. These rust-orange velvet napkin bows pack a rich color punch against the neutrals.
3. Disposable Tableware
No matter how long the guest list or how grim the cleanup forecast, paper plates are never the answer. Convenient, sure – but at what aesthetic (and emotional) cost?
‘Paper plates and plastic cups instantly take away from the experience. Thanksgiving deserves more than that,’ says Scottsdale-based interior designer Lauren Lerner. ‘Use your everyday dishes and add one elevated detail like linen napkins,’ she suggests.
Designer Joy Lynskey agrees: ‘Disposable items, like paper plates or plastic cups, always cheapen the table and clash with the spirit of hospitality,’ she says. ‘I get it – it makes the cleanup much easier! Try small ceramic ramekins or glass bowls for sauces, nuts, or dips. Add decorative spoons for a refined touch. These pieces make guests feel cared for and keep the table both elegant and eco-friendly.’
Your guests will remember the conversation and the meal, not the mountain of dishes. So take the extra rinse cycle in stride and invest in a few more dinner plates. No need for anything overtly seasonal – romantic, burgundy-bordered stoneware will stay on rotation year-round.
4. A Brightly Lit Room
If you wouldn’t eat under the big light in a restaurant, why subject your guests to such torture at home? Harsh overhead lighting ideas are the enemy of intimacy (and, frankly, of any self-respecting family photo).
‘A Thanksgiving dining room with overly bright lighting can ruin the intimate, cozy vibe you’re trying to embody,’ says designer Kathy Kuo. ‘Setting the mood for any occasion begins with getting the lighting just right.’
Her formula includes a dimmed chandelier, a few warmly lit floor lamps, and ample candlelight. Layering light sources, she explains, creates a flattering glow that makes everything (and everyone) look better.
Pro tip if you go the candle route: skip the scents. ‘Nobody wants an imitation pumpkin or basil overpowering the real thing,’ she warns. ‘At the Thanksgiving table, unscented taper candles and tealights do just the trick.’ If you want to avoid a naked flame because of the chaos that can come with a family Thanksgiving dinner, opt for battery-powered LED taper candles that offer the same effect without the fire hazard.
While a table glittering with tapers sounds romantic in theory, reality – and the platters – usually have other plans. When space is tight, edit. A few well-placed flames go further than a dozen ever could. Better yet, take them off the table entirely – mirrored candle sconces bounce taper light around the room, and double as decor after the dishes are cleared.
5. Crazy Centerpieces
For children – and vertically challenged adults – centerpieces can majorly inhibit the flow of a Thanksgiving feast. How are you supposed to catch up with Uncle Mark with a face full of harvest-colored hydrangeas?
‘Anything covered in glitter or overly tall centerpieces that block conversation are instant mood killers,’ shares New York–based designer Alice Moszczynski of Planner 5D. ‘Thanksgiving is about connection, and no one wants to peer around a sparkly pumpkin tower to make eye contact.’
Alice suggests low, natural arrangements of loose greenery, gourds, and taper candles instead. ‘They create atmosphere without cluttering or distracting from the food and company,' she explains.
Peonies that play low-key. Linear yet dynamic with its mixed color palette, this arrangement keeps conversation lines open while still reading like a moment.
6. Unassigned Seating
Family dynamics are tricky enough without adding musical chairs to the mix. Even in the most functional families, politeness breeds chaos – no one wants to seem too eager, so everyone hovers.
‘Having no seating plan often leaves guests feeling awkward or out of place, and can unintentionally group quieter guests while talkers dominate a single end of the table,’ says designer Joy Lynskey. ‘Instead, try assigning seats…and when doing so, consider mixing personality types and friendships across generations. Handcrafted name cards at each setting add a personalized detail that welcomes everyone and elevates the aesthetic.’
Skip the brass turkeys and bring a sense of surrealism to the table with these copper-toned 3D-printed gourds. One set should accommodate most guest lists.
7. Corny Signs and Sayings
Search 'Thanksgiving decor' and you’ll be met with a parade of plastic turkeys and linen napkins reminding you to Give Thanks. Festive, sure, but hardly sophisticated.
‘These signs have become a design cliche. They are distracting,’ admits designer Alice Moszczynski. ‘A more thoughtful approach is to let the decor itself express itself through soft lighting, layered textures, and meaningful heirlooms. Framed art, family photos, or even handwritten menus feel far more personal and infinitely more chic than mass-produced slogans,’ she says.
Designer Joy Lynskey feels similarly. ‘Consider using textured linens, sepia-toned glassware, natural wood (tree stumps as risers), or organic elements like pampas grass,’ she suggests. ‘These convey the season through ambiance, not cliches, and still align with the Thanksgiving holiday.’ Joanna Gaines, queen of the rustic layered look, no matter what the season, launched plenty of wooden pieces in her Thanksgiving collection, including these wooden candle holders, which would look perfect layered with her Maisley Floral Grid Table Runner.
If your table’s not feeling the festivity, cue the crystal. This amber-toned stemware pair by Villeroy & Boch adds an air of autumn without relying on fall table decor cliches as a crutch.
Even designers – the arbiters of taste, the people we trust to know better – get it wrong sometimes. The wrong viral item, the wrong texture, a momentary lapse in judgment that haunts them every time they walk past it. Learn from their cautionary tales and avoid these (easy to fall into) Thanksgiving table faux pas and clichés.
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