Text by Lisa Cavanaugh | Photographs courtesy of Winston Flowers
You’ve got your turkey brining, and homemade cranberry sauce done. Pies are prepped and potatoes peeled. But what if, in the middle of the holiday rush, you’ve neglected to plan out your Thanksgiving decor? Never fear, there are plenty of instant options to add beauty and interest to your table.
First, look to your own yard for inspiration. Acorns, berries, leaves and branches can all be part of a visual celebration of the rich and vibrant colors of fall. Use wide mouth jars, fill halfway with collected acorns or unpopped corn, and nestle a small pillar candle in the center for charming lighted accents. Twisted branches placed in simple vases add drama, while colorful apples and pears circled by greenery lend a fresh feel to a table.
If you have dried flowers on hand, they can help form an easy but delightful centerpiece for the table. “Dried flowers in floral design is a trend we love,” says Grace Lillibridge, event production manager at Winston Flowers in Boston. “And autumn is the most natural time to use them.”
Lillibridge also suggests using a neutral tablecloth or runner and then creating a traditional harvest look on top with some quintessential blooms and hues of the fall season. Some of the flowers she recommends trying include tangerine calla lilies, burgundy orchids, garnet gem spray roses, seeded eucalyptus and towering stems of hawthorn, which is native to the United States.
For a last minute solution that is also meaningful, you can include family heirlooms of all different styles, heights and materials. “An eclectic mix of vessels grouped together can create one cohesive look that has a unique and personal feel,” says Lillibridge.
