A Beautiful Coastal Thanksgiving Table

In this post I’m sharing easy ways to bring the California coastal look to your Thanksgiving table.

Coastal Thanksgiving Style

If you love coastal style, it doesn’t matter where you live. You can create a stunning seaside Thanksgiving tablescape for your guests. All it takes is blending the warm, earthy tones of autumn with the cool, breezy colors of the beach. Let me show you how!

We are planning to spend our Thanksgiving up in the Bay Area. However, it was fun to imagine how I would host Thanksgiving here at the beach. Today I’m sharing some creative ideas to bring seaside charm to your holiday table.

Styled 2 Ways #2

Before we jump in, I want to welcome you! If you’re visiting my blog from MaryJo’s Masterpieces of My Life I’m so glad you’re here! This is the second post of our series “Styled 2 Ways.” MaryJo has creative ways to style just about anything and she has a great eye for vintage treasures. Be sure to check out her beautiful tablescape below. You can also find her on Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook & @masterpiecesofmylife.com.

How to Create a California Coastal Tablescape

Step 1: Dinnerware

Plain white dishes are the easiest way to start planning any tablescape. They allow you the flexibility to use any color combination of napkins, placements, and glassware. You also have total creative freedom when it comes to deciding on your table decor.

If you don’t own white dinnerware, you can pull your color palette from your dishes. Keep coastal and fall colors in mind. Colors like blue and tan represent sand and sea. Accent colors like pink, plum, gold, and orange represent fall leaves. They also represent ocean sunsets here on the west coast!

Step 2: Flatware

You can’t go wrong with bamboo flatware for a coastal vibe, which is what I used. Another choice is to add a touch of glam with gold flatware in organic shapes.

Step 3: Glassware

Glassware at the beach is very casual. I used stemless wine glasses for my table setting. These crystal glasses are by Luigi Bormioli and they are the only brand of wine glasses we buy. They can go in the dishwasher and don’t etch or look cloudy. You can save your fancy crystal stemware for a more formal affair. Hobnail glasses would also go well with the coastal look.

Step 4: Linens

Table linens are where you can really make an impact on your tablescape theme. For a casual coastal theme, I opted not to use a tablecloth. The table has warm wood tones and I wanted it to be a part of my design. Instead, I added a dusty blue velvet table runner to represent the ocean. I also incorporated lots of texture through the use of woven sisal placements (similar) in a foggy gray color.

For napkins, I purchased gray napkin sets from HomeGoods and braided burlap napkin rings from Amazon. I tucked a sprig of eucalyptus into each napkin holder for added interest. White napkins would also work well with this design.

Step 5: Create the Focal Point

For the centerpiece, I used natural-looking elements to keep with my coastal fall theme. To start, I used two of my DIY Coastal Candle Jars. They set the mood and light up the table.

Small bundles of wheat from HomeGoods add extra texture to the table.

A real creamy-white pumpkin planted with a succulent and eucalyptus branches adds a natural touch. Both it and the wheat contrast well with the velvety blue table runner. They represent the bounty of the land, for which we give thanks.

I placed two small faux orange pumpkins from Michaels at each end of the table. They add fall color and some contrast to the design.

To finish, I scattered small raffia pumpkins in shades of gray, brown, and white along the center of the table. I tucked in small faux fall leaves and filled in open spots with some smaller seashells.

l love how my coastal Thanksgiving table turned out! By combining natural elements from land and sea, I created a simple, beautiful and cohesive tablescape. Have you ever styled a coastal fall table? Let me know in the comments below!

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