Kids' Thanksgiving Table Decorating 2012 Ideas

Feathered headdress place markers and Thanksgiving-themed crafts make this kids' table colorful and playful. Minimal prep work will ensure small guests stay happily entertained while the adults enjoy conversation and a peaceful meal nearby.

By : Marian Parsons

Functional Tablecloth

Cover the table in brown craft paper to provide a place for creative minds and idle hands to color doodle or play games. Simply roll out craft paper and securely tape it under the table's edges. Bonus: This durable surface protects your tabletop and makes cleaning up spills and crumbs a snap.

Wearable Place Cards

Inspired by the story of the first Thanksgiving, these Indian headdresses are customized with each child's name as a creative way to mark their seat. They can be made ahead of time by the hostess or children who are old enough to use a glue gun. 

Assemble Headdresses

Cut a strip of leather (available in craft or fabric stores) into approximately 21" - 23" lengths. Place ends of length together to form a circle and hot glue into place. Glue feathers onto inside back of headdress. 

Paint Headdresses

Using a paint pen or acrylic craft paint and an artist brush, paint each child's name onto the front of their headdress. Embellish the sides with painted symbols or decorate with beads and hot glue. 

Kid-Friendly Centerpieces

Centerpieces for a kids' table shouldn't be fussy; they'll need to withstand possible spills and rough-housing so opt for heavy vessles like ironstone pitchers and small mixing bowls. Fill them with mums, pumpkins, acorn squash or gourds and embelish further with raffia, ribbons and feathers. 

Mess-Free Crafts

Craft projects are a great way to entertain and encourage creativity, but the dining table shouldn't be cluttered with paints and glue sticks. Instead, stock the table with an assortment of colorful beads, leather cording and feathers so the kids can create a necklace or bracelet to wear with their headdress.

Color and Create

Fill jelly jars or juice glasses with crayons so kids can color the brown paper tablecloth as well as fun Thanksgiving paper crafts and printables, like these turkey finger puppets. Children can also be encouraged to write a list of things they are thankful for. 

All in the Details

Making a special kids' table is all about the little things. Pay attention to the scale, practicality and playfulness of the centerpiece and each place setting. Your pint-sized guests should feel relaxed to be themselves and have a great time.

Educational Decor

Use plates and utensils that are similar to what colonists and Native Americans may have used. Pewter and wood plates can be paired with "bone" handled or simple silver flatware. This can spark discussions over what clothes might have been worn and food might have been served at the first Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving Table Settings Decoration 2012 Ideas from HGTV

Whether your taste in tablescapes is subdued or sumptuous, get ready to give thanks in style. Browse photos of beautiful Thanksgiving table settings, centerpieces and accessories for ideas and inspiration.

By : Shannon Petrie

Natural Elements

Look to nature for easy, elegant ways to embellish your Thanksgiving table. Rate My Space user chasingpaige brought the beautiful colors of fall to her table by incorporating gourds and pumpkins into her centerpiece and topping each place setting with a pear.

Personalized Pumpkins

Small details can make a big impact on your Thanksgiving table. Try tying handmade place cards to mini pumpkins for a personal touch that will make guests feel special. Design by Holly Mathis.

Fall Florals

Create a floral centerpiece fit for Thanksgiving by adding berries or mini pumpkins to an arrangement of red, orange and yellow flowers. Rate My Space user patrick paired this warm floral centerpiece with ice-blue place mats for a striking contrast.

Appealing Palette

Choosing a color scheme is a great starting point for setting your Thanksgiving table. Rate My Space user nyclq opted for chocolate brown contrasted with crisp white — a perfect palette for fall that also complements her dining room's decor.

Candleholder Conversion

Try using items you already own in a creative and unexpected way when designing your Thanksgiving tablescape. Rate My Space user Baubles found that candleholders also make great pedestals for mini pumpkins.

Less Is More

A Thanksgiving table doesn't have to be over the top to be beautiful. Rate My Space user luvmynugz paired a few subtle fall elements with neutral-colored dinnerware for a look that's understated yet elegant.

Adaptable Dinnerware

Investing in a versatile set of china makes setting your table for the holidays a cinch. Rate My Space user eriedecor uses china embellished with fruit and acorns from November to January, changing the accessories and color scheme for each holiday. Chocolate brown and khaki are her hues of choice for fall.

The Look for Less

If you want to create an elaborate Thanksgiving tablescape on a budget, scour stores for marked-down or slightly damaged items. Rate My Space user and smart shopper Tamgypsy got a turkey centerpiece at a discount because it was chipped. A bit of glitter to cover the imperfections, and the bird is as good as new.

Dressed-Up Basics

You don't have to buy brand-new dinnerware to create a beautiful Thanksgiving table. Rate My Space user decorating4fun topped simple white plates with crimson napkins for a splash of rich, fall color.

Rustic Elegance

Don't be afraid to mix textures and patterns when setting your Thanksgiving table. Rate My Space user GritsandGlamour paired glossy, gold chargers with course burlap to create a rich look perfect for fall.

Thanksgiving Glam

For a chic fall table, try combining traditional and trendy pieces. Rate My Space user veron paired stylish black-and-white plates with glitzy accessories in classic fall orange.

Vivid Color

As the weather cools down, warm up your dining room with rich reds and oranges. Rate My Space user zahirah1 topped off her welcoming Thanksgiving table with a glowing, candle centerpiece.

Decorative Dishes

Often inexpensive, seasonal plates in bold patterns and colors instantly add pizzazz to any Thanksgiving table. Design by Rate My Space user flamingjune.

Soaring Centerpiece

If your table setting is simple, spice it up with a dramatic focal point. Fall branches spilling from a tall vase add interest to Rate My Space user Faby's Thanksgiving table.

Topped With a Bow

Your Thanksgiving tablescape isn't limited to the table itself. Rate My Space user barbrowe even dressed up her chairs with large bronze bows, putting the finishing touch on a lavish setting.

Welcoming Fall Entryway 2012 Ideas from HGTV

When Thanksgiving guests enter your home, the first space they see should be both beautiful and inviting. Elevate the seasonal feel of your entryway with a warm fall arrangement that is both natural and elegant.

By : Marian Parsons

Warm and Welcoming

Natural elements, the warm tones of burnished wood, tarnished silver and a touch of gold make this fall entry arrangement inviting and interesting. An antique beadboard door hung horizontally provides a rustic, primitive backdrop. 

Rustic Meets Refined

A slightly tarnished silver champagne bucket holds natural, dried twigs collected during a stroll outdoors. Mixing fancier pieces with the humble provides an excellent visual contrast. A handmade "merci" clay tag is hung from the bucket with twine to hint at the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Custom Greetings

A homemade chalkboard is inserted in an antique wooden frame as a place to write autumn greetings, song lyrics, poems or verses. It can be easily made by cutting a piece of Masonite to size and painting it with two coats of chalkboard paint.

Moss Isn't Just for Spring

A small acorn squash is surrounded by a bed of reindeer moss to keep it steady and add fluffy texture. Mosses can also be used to make topiaries and to simply fill wood or silver bowls.

Fringes and Feathers

A scrap of burlap fabric is unraveled around the edges and used as a casual runner in this centerpiece. Guinea-fowl feathers were collected from a local farm and put on display. Feathers can also be purchased at craft stores and look especially beautiful in vases or fashioned into wreaths

Spell It Out

Use gold-leafed resin letters to spell out a greeting or announce the season. Letters made of metal, chipboard or wood would also look fitting in an autumn display. 

Fall Outdoor Decorating 2012 Ideas

Add to the natural autumn beauty of your yard with harvest inspired outdoor decorations. This ideas will span the season from September to Thanksgiving.