Thanksgiving decor can make tables festive

For many families (mine included), this year’s holiday celebrations are going to look a little different. Although I won’t be hosting a grand dinner full of family and friends, I still want to make Thanksgiving as special and meaningful as possible (because despite all the negative things about the year, we have so much for which to be thankful).

One way I know how to do this (besides the copious amounts of food I am planning on prepping) is with decor. Dress it up or dress it down, this year is all about comfort. So whether you are dressing your table to the nines or leaving it to your everyday plates, here are a few of our Thanksgiving looks to inspire you.

Orange spice and autumn leaves For this look we started with a pumpkin windowpane throw blanket as a creative table covering. We love using throw blankets on tables — not only are they multipurpose and easy to throw in the wash, they also add coziness to your dining area that is hard to match. My favorite part of this setting

is the natural wood touches that are stacked throughout; these elements add so much texture and warmth to the table. This tablescape reminds me of the most perfect days of fall when all of the leaves are brilliant, fiery shades of red, yellow and orange, but have not yet fallen to the ground.

Gourd-geous metallic

If bright colors aren’t your desire, this look of neutral hues, wicker and metallics might be the answer. This display is the perfect balance of rustic and elegance for a casual but special dinner. Here we used muted stems, such as hops, to add freshness and fo

liage to the table and play up the wicker accents for a rustic feel. To create balance, we then placed metallic accents at each place setting and used our beautiful metallic wheat table runner to add sophistication to an otherwise somewhat simple display. Although the pumpkins are made of fiberglass, this is an easy one to DIY with a bit of gold paint and a few mini pumpkins, if that is more your style.

It’s a blue Thanksgiving

I also love pairing white with blue at all times of the year (chinoiserie is timeless!), so consider sidestepping traditional fall colors and play up the crisp lines in the home with soft, neutral linens and textures. I love how the dark wood of a table and chairs adds such a beautiful contrast to the display.

Katie Laughridge is the owner of Kansas City interior design destination Nell Hill’s.

This design sidesteps traditional fall colors and plays up the crisp lines in the home with soft, neutral linens and textures.

If bright colors aren’t your desire, try neutral hues, wicker and metallics.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE PHOTOS Throw blankets on tables are multipurpose and easy to toss in the wash.