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How to Style an Outdoor Thanksgiving Table

Have you ever considered how to style an outdoor Thanksgiving table? If your weather allows and you are fortunate enough to have a covered patio, then consider serving your Thanksgiving meal outside.

For the biggest holiday meal of the year, dining outside sounds like a fun alternative to regular indoor dining. When the temperatures are cool and crisp, outdoor dining can be invigorating. Food looks and smells so tantalizing.

I recently had the opportunity to help a friend style her Thanksgiving table on her beautiful stone outdoor kitchen and dining area.

This was the perfect backdrop for a fall outdoor Thanksgiving table in Texas.

Thanksgiving tablescape on the patio

The Story Behind the Outdoor Thanksgiving Table

Robin and I met last spring at a Saturday tennis drill. She is so much fun so I asked her to join our tennis team. In late August, our team wasn’t able to practice at our tennis center. Robin had mentioned that they have a tennis court at their house. She invited the team to come practice at her home. Our coach came, too.

Walking through Robin’s outdoor kitchen, dining area, and pool area to get to the tennis court was a real treat. (You can see the tennis court in the background.) She asked me a few questions about styling the area: what did I think of the rug underneath the table? I loved it.

A few weeks later, I asked Robin if she would like me to help her style an outdoor Thanksgiving table. She was all in and we set a date.

I asked Robin to think about the style she wanted for the table. She didn’t want anything overly Thanksgiving, but a fall table she could use throughout the season.

She cleared the dining table so we could start fresh.

Don’t you love the rug for the patio dining table? It’s the perfect size for the round table. I love the mix of colors. The orange really pops for fall.

Robin already had the orange pillows which gave a nice pop of color on the chairs.

wrought iron round dining table on rug and stone patio

Styling a Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Robin has what I’ll call a party pantry. We had fun gathering items to use for a centerpiece. The first thing I saw was a twig wreath embellished with fall foliage and pinecones. The shape and size are all perfect for the table. The colors set the right style and tone that Robin wanted.

round grapevine wreath with leaves on table

We found this sweet little lantern that Robin had. The rust color paired with the wreath. The white candle brings the eye in. The best part is the “Give Thanks” wording on all sides. This is definitely a Thanksgiving table now.

We used a ramekin to raise it up a bit.

round grapevine wreath with leaves on table with lantern and candle

I added one of the gold faux pumpkins that I brought with me.

round grapevine wreath with leaves on table with lantern and candle

Place Settings for the Outdoor Patio Table

We tried some rectangle fabric placemats, but they were too elegant and too large. The woven round placemats I brought were a better shape and size.

The rustic look fits the natural stone of the patio. It’s just right for the more casual look that Robin wanted.

The tennis court is in the background.

Thanksgiving centerpiece and woven placements

Robin sent me a picture of these beautiful off-white plates with a branch and pinecone motif. The color is a perfect match with the rustic texture of the placemats.

cream fall plates
cream fall plates on woven placements

We used Robin’s beautiful crystal wine glasses with gold rims – another nod to metallic.

Although we didn’t use Robin’s fancy fabric placemats, we did use the matching napkins. The gold napkin rings bring a little metallic shine and pick up the gold of the faux pumpkin.

woman placing napkin on Thanksgiving table

The final touch for the place settings is faux leaves that I painted for a wreath last year. I just tucked them into the napkin rings.

light orange napkins and gold napkin rings on white plate

The outdoor Thanksgiving table was complete. Fortunately, it’s protected from the elements.

Thanksgiving outdoor tablescape

Can you see the seating area in the back?

outdoor Thanksgiving table

GAathering Before the Meal or Afterwards

Adjacent to the outdoor dining area is this lovely spot. Robin had already arranged the pretty fall candles on the table. We brought out her new pillow for comfort and color.

outdoor sofa with pillow and orange candles

Isn’t this the perfect pillow for a Thanksgiving gathering?

outdoor sofa with pillow and orange candles

It wasn’t 5:00 when we finished setting the outdoor Thanksgiving table, but I still asked Robin to sit and pretend to enjoy a glass of wine.

women on outdoor sofa with wine glass

Of course, we had to celebrate our outdoor Thanksgiving table design collaboration.

Click the image below to get your Checklist for Setting a Table.

women toasting with wine glasses

By the time Thanksgiving comes, the leaves on the trees will have fallen. The string lights will add a beautiful ambiance when the sun goes down.

outdoor Thanksgiving table

Robin and her husband will be ready to celebrate when their three sons come home from college for the holiday.

outdoor Thanksgiving table setting

You might like these Thanksgiving tablescape ideas:

Robin and I had so much fun styling her outdoor Thanksgiving table. I hope that you enjoyed watching us put it together. Please PIN for your Thanksgiving inspiration.

pin for later graphic in blue
Thanksgiving tablescape on the patio
signature with fall leaf

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10 Comments

  1. Beautiful table, Carole, and what a gorgeous patio setting to have it in! Slightly jealous as we are way past the “eating outdoors” weather here in the northeast!
    Happy Thanksgiving to all!

  2. Gorgeous! The centerpiece is stunning with all the colors and details. Love the gold rimmed glasses!

    Karin

  3. What a beautiful table with so many gorgeous ideas. The setting is so pretty for Thanksgiving with the tennis courts in the background. Thanks for all of the amazing ideas!

  4. That’s a beautiful table! Where I live in coastal New Jersey, thanksgiving can be warm or blustery and cold. But your ideas would translate so well to my enclosed back porch. Thank you for sharing.