Using a Door Swag to Dress Up Your Thanksgiving Table
In this post: Fall door decorations, such as wreaths and swags, can be used to dress up your Thanksgiving table. Here are some ideas how.⇒
I have one, and only one, Thanksgiving tradition and it involves a tattered old piece of paper, torn from a book that’s held together by nothing more than sheer will to stay in tact.
But we’ll get to that in a minute. First I want to invite you to join me for Balsam Hill’s Let’s Give Thanks event for which I was provided some of their wonderful products and asked to share with you a lovely tablescape and my timeless Thanksgiving traditions.
Now, if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know, the one thing I like to do consistently is buck a little tradition. When decorating I like to use things in new ways and put my own spin on the classic way to style.
Today’s table includes once such twist and I’m excited to share it with you!
A few months ago I bought this huge vintage dough bowl and filling it with flowers has become a favorite past time. It makes a wonderful centerpiece for a table setting, keeping the flowers lush but low to allow conversation to flow.
For fall, however, I wanted to include some seasonal elements like pumpkins, berries, pine cones and greenery.
I certainly could have collected all of the elements and spent some time arranging them meticulously into a centerpiece.
But as it turns out, the Autumn Abundance Swag from Balsam Hill was the perfect size to tuck right into my dough bowl and fill all my requirements as perfectly as it filled the bowl. All I added were some blush pink roses and boom! Perfect fall centerpiece!
*If this is sold out you can also try the Fall Harvest Swag.
To complement the tones established by my centerpiece, I set my table with a plate stack comprised of copper chargers, jaguar print dinner plates and textured white salad plates.
A bronze sheer napkin is layered over a white embroidered one, then clustered into a copper dahlia napkin ring.
(See resource list below.)
The warm tones are mirrored on the sideboard nearby, where a trio of ombre gold glass candle holders are topped by Miracle Flame LED Wax Pillar Candles.
I’m charmed by the idea of LED candles, as they make it possible to safely display candlelight up close to the wall. I use real pillars on the table, but love the LEDs for areas that seem unsafe for real flames.
Also on the sideboard, this fabulous Tuscan Entertaining 2-Tier Stand serves up pears and a fresh baked apple pie, but could be used for countless other things.
The swag would also look beautiful gracing my front door, but for that I selected another option. The Autumn’s Bounty Wreath is the very definition of fall, with golden pumpkins, bits of wheat, varied berries, and greenery accents.
For my Thanksgiving table it rests on the china cabinet door, but leading up to the holiday it will welcome guests to my front entry.
*Another option is the Fall Harvest Wreath.
Warm metal highlights are scattered around my table, found in gold rimmed stemware and brass hurricane lamps.
My dining room furniture and accessories have a strong French Country feel, with pieces old and new that I’ve collected throughout the years.
The sconces are new and the gilt cane back chairs vintage, and I love to mix items of various pedigrees together.
So what then is my one and only tradition?
Besides the simple fact of gathering family, I always use the exact same turkey recipe, pulled from a simple cook book I received 35 years ago. It’s more a pamphlet than a hard cover cookbook and it’s been used so much the binding has pretty much disintegrated.
I finally scanned the recipe last Thanksgiving because I knew my herb butter turkey recipe would be unreadable after one more use. Each year I try lots of new side dishes and have cooked countless different stuffings.
But my simple but delicious turkey recipe… that’s one tradition I’m not willing to buck.
Thanksgiving Decor Source List
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
- How to Use Soft Colors in an Autumn Tablescape
- Autumn Color in a Fall Tablescape
- How to Style a Soft and Neutral Fall Table Setting
- Mixing Casual and Formal in a Seasonal Tablescape
- A Soft Vintage Thanksgiving Table
- Using Velvet Pumpkins in an Elegant Fall Tablescape
- A Burnished Copper Tablescape for a Warm Thanksgiving Dinner
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Love the Autumn Faux Florals. Brings back memories of my grandparents home in the country. My grandparents were not wealthy and didn’t have a fancy home. The beauty and detail was in the countryside surrounding their home and the wonderful food my grandmother made. I hope I’m lucky enough to win the Fall Garland. It certainly brings up wonderful memories!
Sounds like it was a wonderful place to visit! How lucky for you!!
Your tablescapes are always creative, inspiring and beautiful! Thanks for sharing the sweet story of your treasured recipe. That kind of thing creates the layers of a well lived life.
So sweet and very true! Thanks Deb!!
Absolutely beautiful, as always!
Thank you so much, Deborah!
I love your dough bowl with the swag and roses mixed together. The whole table is beautiful.
Thanks for being so kind, Sandy!
Thank you for a beautiful table and decor, the door oh my I could keep going You always do a wonderful job
Thanks so much, Norma! I look forward to your comments… 🙂
Just BEAUTIFUL!!! Great idea to use the swag in your wonderful dough bowl! Your tablescapes are always so pretty. And Balsam Hill product are amazing!
Thank you, Glenda! I love their products too!!
I love your dough bowl with all the beautiful bounty in it. The swags are beautiful and could be used in so many different ways. I would probably use it over a mirror in one of the bathrooms. Thanks for sharing.
What a great idea to use the garland in your dough bowl! The roses make it even more special. If you have used the same recipe for your turkey, for 25 years, it must be just wonderful. ?
I’m leaving my cherished mountain home in a few days, relocating to be near family. It’s very sad to leave the autumn foliage behind me along with the nippy weather and head to the desert but that’s how it is. It would be lovely to have the garland to remind me.
Beautiful!! I love the garland in the dough bowl.
I love the mix of the warm metals, wood, and the autumn garland. Beautifully put together!
That dough bowl, though! Gorgeous!! I also love the idea of filling it with a garland! Very clever!
Gorgeous place. My husband turns logs into bowls so I love your dough bowl. Thanks for the chance to win
Oh my goodness, these are all so beautiful and I don’t have much for decorations for Fall so would be so amazing to add to our family get-togethers this time of year, thanks for this opportunity to win!
Wow! Very nice..and, may I say you buck well! Lol.
Me too.
I love everything you have done in your space.
The dahlia napkin rings, and BalsamHill tiered Tuscan stand, the entire collection..
Cake stand and candle holders too.
Your look is in my top two.
Love it.
I really like that garland. I haven’t decorated my door yet, but hopefully I can get the front repainted quickly, in time to get it done before Thanksgiving.
I love the dough bowl and what you have done with it.
And it just fit right into the dough bowl like a glove? Wow! THAT is serendipity!!! When I first saw it I was wondering how you created it. So much nicer to have something so perfect ready made…just add roses! This is a FABULOUS centerpiece! Long and low like you said, but really lush. The whole table is just gorgeous! Those jaguar plates are too fab!!! I’m not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but this would be my choice if I were!
Beautiful table! I’m a new reader and very inspired!
Thank you and welcome!!
I would never have thought to use roses in a Thanksgiving centerpiece, but it’s beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win that pretty garland!
Such a lovely garland! Thanks for a great giveaway.
You’re most welcome!!
You have giving me a whole new pallet of color work with for Thanksgiving! It’s such a elegant and refined look, yet it could work as cottage chic as well. The soft peachy roses look beautiful with dough bowl and golds. I love your napkins and napkin rings as well. Thanks for sharing your ideas as well as a great giveaway.
Thank you, Tracy! I’m so glad it resonated with you!!
Would you mind sharing the source for those sconces?
Yes, I’ve added the link into the post above, but you can find them at this affiliate link: http://rstyle.me/n/chhchrb63g7
Beautiful table. Balsam Hill has very nice items. Happy Thanksgiving!
Beautiful tablescape !! I love Balsam Hill products and would be delighted to win.
Fall decorating is my favorite.
All looks so graceful, love the garland.
I always love reading your blog! I come back and visit over and over. Love the candles for sure!
Damn, this thanksgiving table is breathtaking! I love how chic it looks! Thanks for sharing these ideas!
Love that you brought in the leopard accent into the mix, along with the metallics! So fun and unexpected.
Beautiful fall table! I love the idea of using a pre-made swag and just adding a few fresh flowers for a centerpiece –easy peasy!
Hi Lory,
Love your table ( actually all of your tablescapes are beautiful). I know theBrass hurricanes are used in several. I am wanting to purchase a pair for myself and I am wondering what size you use, large or small???
Thank you so much for sharing all of your great decorating ideas and you beautiful home.
Esther
Thanks, Esther! My brass hurricanes are the larger size, but I must say they are pretty large, so if you’re on the fence or your table is not that large, maybe consider the smaller ones. If you have a large table, then the large size would be great.
Thank you Lori. I am placing my order now.
Esther
Hi there Lori, I have been following your posts for about two years now and never tire of your designs. Simply beautiful fall table scape using the Balsam Hill swag and your dough bowl.
I live on Vancouver Island, Canada. I so admire Balsam Hill products which are not available here… even online, so here’s hoping this changes at some point.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Jacquie
Thank you so much, Jacquie! I had no idea they are not available there. That seems so strange to me. But I hope you can apply the ideas and find something similar near you… 🙂
I love how elegant it is, but it’s also a place you can relax with family. You brought the best of both world together. The colors are beautiful.
Thank you for the very kind comment!!
Great idea to use it in the dough bowl. They can be tricky to fill sometimes since they are so deep. I love balsam hill products!!
I do too. Glad you liked it!!
Not sure where I missed “how to win a garland” but if I can take one and make it look that luscious and beautiful – I’m all in! What a great idea that anyone can achieve, whether you have a gift for floral arranging or not. Thanks for the share. My curiosity is peaked on the turkey. Maybe one day you will share that too! LOL
That’s actually a great idea! I rarely share recipes, but I suppose I should… 🙂 Thanks for your kind words!!
What a rich and beautiful table scape! Would you be willing to share the turkey recipe that you so love?
Thank you! And ah yes, I’ve been meaning to do that for some time. I will try to get a post up soon with the recipe… 🙂
Hi Lori! I’ve been MIA for a few weeks while I tend to my husband’s health issues. I read all your posts but haven’t been able to comment. However, this is such a warm and lovely mixture of metals, linens, and crystal that I had to express my admiration for your beautiful dining room.