This Is How To Dress Up Your Turkey Plates For Thanksgiving Dinner

"More is more in this setting," says Keenan. At first glance, this table is formal and traditional, but that doesn't mean fussy. Take a closer look and you will see how the designer included a few fresh, unexpected pairings with the trusty Spode Woodland Turkey by Spode (from $33.90; macys.com) for a fancier table setting. "Because of the dining room's orange walls (Fresh Nasturtium (8-12) in high gloss by Pratt & Lambert), I emphasized the brighter tones in the turkey plate, and the high chandelier allowed for tall candles," she says.

Citron-edged napkins seem like a far-out choice for Thanksgiving, but they accent the china's often overlooked yellow background. The brass flatware with lapis-colored handles (Hammered Brass Flatware in Sapphire, set of 5 for $42; anthropologie.com) contrasts with the napkins and the setting's autumnal palette. Classic crystal wineglasses (Colleen Tall Stem Claret by Waterford, $94.95; replacements.com) paired with stemless wineglasses (used here for water) complete the table's ritzy, high-shine vibe. "Guests like to know their seats," says Keenan, who slips simple place cards into the prongs of forks.

"I'm a bootleg florist," says Keenan. Instead of spending a mint on flowers, she snips foliage from her yard. "It's pretty hard to cut an ugly magnolia branch. The best choices for making a taller arrangement have two or three smaller offshoots coming from the main limb," she says. A few pieces of gray-tinged silver dollar eucalyptus and one bunch of bright orange tulips elevate the yard clippings. "Keep the tulips clustered together to get a single concentrated punch of color," she advises.

Keenan upcycled glass lanterns into striking dining room decor. "I like to create tall arrangements that fill a room's perimeter and can also be moved around easily," the designer says. To re-create this look, place a cylindrical vase filled with water and bells-of-Ireland inside a lantern. Surround the vase with clementines.