Creating a Thanksgiving table that embodies the warmth and charm of a Norman Rockwell painting might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Just start with the table setting!
Imagine your family gathered around a table that feels like stepping back in time—complete with elegant details, vintage touches, and a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere. So, how can you recreate this picture-perfect vintage meal presentation, instead of a busy, fussy, modern look, in your own home?
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What Does a Vintage Table Setting Look Like?
Vintage table settings are much simpler than modern tablescapes. Think classic linens, heirloom-quality tableware, and seasonal but low-key centerpieces, rather than the showpiece tables of today.
Rather than focusing on a perfect aesthetic, the traditional focus for vintage table setting was on creating a beautiful atmosphere for a delicious home-cooked meal that honored the family and being together. That meant using good china, silver, and linens every day, rather than saving them for special occasions. It meant that a beautiful centerpiece was on the table at every meal, even just a handful of flowers, every day.
And of course, everyone took their togetherness seriously. People changed for dinner, and used their best manners to show respect for each other.
For Thanksgiving in particular, the centerpiece was nearly always the delicious food, and a bouquet of mums or a cornucopia full of fruit. Here are some examples of what a vintage Thanksgiving table was supposed to look like:
Do I Need Expensive Vintage Pieces to Create the Look?
You don’t really need to go out and buy things for Thanksgiving, that’s for sure!
Traditional decorating isn’t really about buying things, or making things match–it’s about beautiful and useful things that have always been in the family and are not treated like museum pieces. In fact, traditional decorating and vintage homemaking is really a form of underconsumption core. Thrifted or family treasures are the best kind, and work beautifully. The key is to focus on quality and authenticity.
To be clear, I do like to buy 1 or 2 new decorations each year for each holiday, as well as make some. Reproductions and DIY elements can provide a lot of charm. One year, I splurged on an antique wicker cornucopia that I use to create a Thanksgiving centerpiece every year. This year, I hope I can get some vintage Gurley pilgrim candles — and maybe some turkeys or American Indians as well!
You can also make things, or have your children make them. Thanksgiving is very much a holiday about family rather than perfection.
How Do I Ensure the Table is Functional and Not Overcrowded?
There are plenty of vintage tips for table setting to create a functional, easy table for a beautiful meal!
The fundamental rules for fine table service are:
- All utensils and dishes must be arranged with geometrical precision. Avoid diagonals.
- Every utensil which may be needed should be on the table to avoid delays.
- Silverware and china should be polished as brightly as possible.
- Cracked or chipped dishes should never be used. Besides being ugly, they are a distinct health menace.
- Linen should be immaculate. It is far better to eat off doilies than from the most beautiful of tablecloths with a single spot.
- Never use flowers for a centerpiece unless they are fresh. Keep centerpiece heights low to encourage conversation. One full and important arrangement is always better than several skimpy ones.
- Allow at least 20 inches for each place at the table.
I usually use an informal, “family dinner”-type table setting to encourage my family to feel comfortable. An informal table setting for dinner looks like this:
Thanksgiving is an ideal meal for an artistic, still-life centerpiece of fruit accented with some strategic greenery and Autumn flowers:
My goal is to create a welcoming table that enhances the dining experience—not detracts from it.
Vintage advice and directions for Thanksgiving!
Including:
How to Plan Your Party
Planning Thanksgiving
Menu
Marketing List
Cooking Plan
Setting the Table
Serving the Meal
Serving Thanksgiving Step-by-Step
The Recipes
How to Set a Vintage Thanksgiving Table Step By Step
So how do you get that Norman Rockwell-inspired vintage Thanksgiving table look?
A well-appointed table provides the proper backdrop for good eating.
Here are the steps to help you nail the look.
1. Start with a Timeless Tablecloth
Snowy-white linen damask is the traditional table covering for meals of great splendor. It is suitable and proper for use at every meal under almost any circumstances. For many meals, including the formal, all-lace cloths, laid directly on a highly polished table, are also exquisite.
For informal meals, the homemaker with good taste can let her choice of table coverings run riot. She may completely cover her table with brilliant Autumn shades, woven in plaids and other interesting patterns, or she may expose proudly the luster of shining wood, accented by the use of doilies, mats, or runners.
All cloths which completely cover the table should hang over all sides 10 to 15 inches.
Napkins should always exactly match the tablecloth. Large ones, 28 x 28 inches, are proper for formal dinners but ones much smaller are proper for all other occasions.
Make sure that your linens for Thanksgiving are washed and ironed on Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.
2. Use Your Best China and Silver
Actually, you should be using this every day. Never save your good things for the future–what could be more important than this moment, with these people, right now?
Don’t worry about matching either! Traditionally, matching sets for silver and china meant that you hadn’t inherited any, and you had to buy all your own NEW stuff! (An unfortunately common plight after WWII.)
I was fortunate enough to inherit a few nice things (my MIL’s Christmas china, and my Mother’s heirloom silver sets), but I do prefer to buy new china, glass, and serving dishes in classic styles to create a traditional table and still avoid lead poisoning.
Favorites for my table include Mosser glass, jelly glasses, Blue Willow china, and my heirloom silver. I use a lot of clear glass serving dishes and silver or crystal decor to make the table sparkle. Or, if you don’t have family heirlooms, you can explore thrift stores for affordable vintage options.
Make sure that all your dishes, servingware, glassware, and silver is washed and ready to use by Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. This is particularly important for occasional pieces that you don’t use often!
3. Create a Fresh Centerpiece
The biggest thing for me about modern Thanksgiving tablescapes is that people always seem to set the table days early, and then just shut up the dining room and wait!
Well that doesn’t work for me! We use our dining table for every meal, every day. Instead, I purchase the fruit and flowers on Wednesday, and set aside 30 minutes on Thanksgiving morning during my cooking spree to arrange the centerpiece.
And, of course, now that I have older children and teens, I can ask them to do the arranging, too! It doesn’t need to be perfect, after all, just pretty.
My favorite flower elements for Thanksgiving decorating are Autumn leaves, chrysanthemums, bittersweet, bayberries, and Chinese lanterns. I like to combine these flowers with harvest fruits, gourds and squashes, Indian corn, and citrus.
If I need to make place cards, I also make those on Tuesday or Wednesday, or I assign a child to make them for me.
4. Set the Table Before the Guests Arrive
I actually have a whole article about setting the table, step-by-step, before a meal, if you aren’t sure what to do!
But basically, before your guests arrive,
- Make sure the dining room is clean and dust-free, and not too cold or stuffy.
- Lay the cloth straight, with a silence cloth underneath if you want.
- Put out the silver for each place setting (called a cover).
- Place the glassware for each cover. A water glass is part of every cover, no matter what other drinks are served.
- Place the service plates (if using) and napkins. Put out the bread-and-butter plates if you’re having an informal Thanksgiving dinner.
- Set out the centerpiece, candlesticks, and place cards, if needed.
- Set out the salt and pepper shakers, and the cream and sugar sets. Some people also have mustard, jelly, oil, vinegar, or hot sauce that are set out as condiments for every meal. Make sure all that are needed are on the table.
- Put the chairs in position at the table.
5. Finish the Last-Minute Preparations
Just before your guests arrive, it’s a good idea to change into your hostess outfit, then put on a pretty apron to finish these last-minute things:
- Get out all dishes to be used in the service. Arrange in an orderly and convenient manner.
- Warm dishes in which hot food is to be served and chill dishes in which cold food is to be served.
- Review the service in your own mind and be sure that everything is ready.
- Finish up any last-minute items of food preparations, such as putting salad on salad plates.
- Have ice water made and butter ready.
- Have garnishes prepared and ready.
- If your child is helping you serve, be sure she takes time to see that her hair is in order and her appearance is suitable.
- Fill water glasses. It is preferable not to put ice in the glasses, but to use ice water in filling the glasses.
- Take up food for the first course, serve it in the living-room on trays, or set it on the dining table ready for the guests to enter.
- Prepare and take up all the food for all the course, and have it ready to serve in the dining room. Have everything available for each course before starting to serve it.
- Announce the meal.
Creating a Vintage Thanksgiving, Step-By-Step
Creating a Norman Rockwell-inspired classic Thanksgiving is all about blending vintage charm with functional elegance. By having a plan to create a simple but beautiful, and easy, vintage tablescape, you can create a warm, welcoming setting that will delight your family and guests.
If you need more guidance, you can get my ebook about hosting a Vintage Thanksgiving step-by-step. It’s filled with practical advice to make your holiday stress-free and stunningly beautiful!
Vintage advice and directions for Thanksgiving!
Including:
How to Plan Your Party
Planning Thanksgiving
Menu
Marketing List
Cooking Plan
Setting the Table
Serving the Meal
Serving Thanksgiving Step-by-Step
The Recipes
