Simple Thanksgiving Table Setting

Modern Simplicity

Meet Maria Cooke of Ritzy Bee Events in Washington, D.C. She’s done parties big and small, but for her inviting holiday table, she mixes humble cotton, linen, and twine with some simple ideas for a surprisingly elegant look. “I really love the aesthetic that using something organic can bring to the table—literally,” Maria says. “I always want the table and the experience a guest has to reflect my personal style.” That means incorporating both modern and vintage touches with attention to detail. She selects a soothing color palette and carries it through. Maria says setting the table the night before is a must. “The focus of Thanksgiving should be on the food preparation and spending time with your guests.”

Table: Custom farm table by Phil Crisman; 540/933-6833.

Chairs: Crate & Barrel; crateandbarrel.com.

Chair: Chocolate zebra-striped chair from The Design Group; jannielsen.com or 770/830-6097.

• Our Editor's Picks from Maria's Table

Mix Modern and Traditional

A graphic white dinner plate looks just right paired with embellished heirloom silver. The menu card is actually fabric. Maria cut pieces of thin linen and ran them through an inkjet printer for menu cards. Do this a day or more ahead of time to allow the ink to dry properly.

Paper goods: by SIMPLESONG Design; simplesongdesign.com.

Plates: Paper Pretender stoneware plates from Anthropologie; anthropologie.com.

Choose Natural, Long-Lasting Materials

Create a centerpiece with a twist by using cotton bolls instead of flowers. Add fig and bay branches (or evergreens from your yard) to give your arrangement a touch of green. Cotton bolls can be displayed outside of water for months if they’re not handled too much.

Arrangements: by Sidra Forman Flowers; sidraforman.com.

Share Leftovers

Simple boxes with letterpress cutlery on the lids allow guests to take home leftovers or sweet treats. Tie them with long strips of linen (cut using pinking shears), and finish with a cute tag that reads “I’m thankful for leftovers.

Use Inexpensive Place Cards

Maria chose a letterpress cutlery motif as her theme. For the place cards, she simply folded over the card stock and wrote each guest’s name in an elegant hand.

Arrange the Bar

Create a help-yourself bar on a side table. Stack wooden crates to display glassware and ingredients for featured drinks. List seasonal specialty drinks on a simple card held in a place card holder.

Champagne flutes: NapaStyle; napastyle.com.

Mini cake pedestal: Target; target.com.

Twig pencils: also from Anthropologie.

Italian wedding document wall prints and scale: vintage from Scott Antique Markets; scottantiquemarket.com.

Bar: Console table by IKEA; ikea.com.

Glassware: also from Crate & Barrel.

Set a Special Place for Kids

Cover a small table with butcher paper. Draw a circle where each plate will go. Write a “to-do” list next to each spot, and provide crayons or colored pencils so pint-size diners can mark off items as they eat.

Kid’s table: also from IKEA.

Confetti fabric flower pins on menu: EmersonMade; emersonmade.com.

Wooden flatware: Paper + Cup Design; papercupdesign.com.

Plastic wishbones: Something’s Hiding in Here; etsy.com/shop/somethingshidinghere.

Glasses: Red Barn Mercantile; redbarnmercantile.com.

Give Thanks

Provide cards for guests to write their own lists of things they are grateful for. Share, start a conversation, and have fun with it.

String Together a List of Blessings

Print out individual words on tabs, and fold them around twine. Weave the twine along the center of the table.