If we could redesign the calendar, I’d advocate to spread out all the holidays crammed into the last 2 months of the year. (I’d also advocate to move the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, right next to each other on the calendar and decrease the traditional 8-hour work day. But that’s beside the point.) The end of the year is loaded with the biggest, most anxiety-provoking holidays. I always get twitchy this time of year, the most wonderful time of the year. With only two full weeks until Thanksgiving, the twitch is extra twitchy. And then I remind myself again of the US Navy principle—KISS.
KISS stands for keep it simple, stupid. Delete the last S from the acronym if needed. I say it to myself all the time. Because despite how everything looks around here, I have a tendency to get wrapped up in the more, more, more. Achieving simplicity is always harder than it looks. With that said, I don’t want to add yet another thing to your to-do list. But, if you want to make your Thanksgiving table beautiful, simple, and affordable, here’s a KISS idea—an edible Thanksgiving table.
How to create an edible Thanksgiving table
- Keep KISS as your guiding principle. Simple is both beautiful, functional, and affordable.
- While you’re at the grocery store, shop the produce aisle for your centerpiece. No special shopping trip needed.
- Allow fall produce to be your color palette. I went with a mixed muted jewel tone palette of muted oranges (persimmons and honey squash), yellowy greens (Anjou pears), matte ochres (Bosc pears), shades of red (cranberries and pomegranates), and pale greens (winter sweet squash and sage). Consider doing a monochromatic palette of reds or purples or greens.
- Vary sizes and textures. Use both large and small produce. Matte and shiny. Smooth and bumpy.
- Slip in a couple herbs or a flower stems to fill in gaps and add dimension.
- Add something tall and slender to draw your eye up without blocking the conversation view. I shopped my house for candle sticks.
- Skip storing your centerpiece, and eat it post-Thanksgiving.
- Finally, if decorating your table feels like added stress, then it’s added stress. Skip it.
Beautiful tablescape. I purchased a wicker tray that looks vintage but isn’t – it’s the perfect size for the middle of the table and I have so much fun decorating with “live” elements each season. Right now, it is full of pinecones with a few shiny votives nestled among them (I removed the vintage Christmas balls after New Year’s). Just wintery enough.
By the way, where could I look for a similar vintage chalkboard?