Thanksgiving is around the corner and every good host knows that a beautifully set table takes a lot of work! Whether you are hosting all of your extended family, or having an intimate dinner with your nearest and dearest, the devil is in the detail!

Here are the 5 most important things to consider when setting your table.

1) Your Guest-list

The first rule of hosting is figuring out who you are going to invite. Make a list of every person who will be attending and decided, in advance, who will be sitting where.

2) Your Colours

Choosing your colour-scheme is the first step in building the perfect Thanksgiving table. Once you’ve made your selection, you can easily build around it. You can decide to match everything together, or add hints of contrasting colour to brighten the table.

* For example, here we decided to add a hint of blue to contrast the warm colours of fall.

3) The Etiquette Of Table Setting

Here you have two options: you can either take a modern approach and freestyle, or rise to the challenge of attempting a formal setting. Here is one thing to keep in mind: different people have different tastes. Try to be open-minded and thoughtful and offer people as many options as possible!

4) Pick Your Items

Lists are your friend! Before setting your table, make a list of all the necessary items (plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery, etc.) and a separate list for all the decorative items (flowers, placemats, napkins, candles, etc.). Once you have everything ready, take your time to set each place-setting with care and precision. Don’t over-crowd your table; if you can’t sit without knocking something over, you haven’t done your job right!

5) Don’t Be Afraid to Decorate!

A beautiful table needs details, props and decorations. The more you add, the warmer and more inviting it looks. Flowers are always an option, but try to think outside the box. For Thanksgiving, we were inspired by the look and feel of autumn and used the gold harvest glass pumpkins as centrepieces.

6) Even though it isn’t a rule, it’s important to enjoy the moment.

Entertaining guests can take a lot of time, planning and energy, so stop, breathe and admire all of your hard work!

Here is a list of all the pictured items:

– Goa Red Wine Glass
– Goa White Wine Glass
– Goa Flute Glass
– Goa Martini Glass
– Goa Hiball Glass
– Retro Blue 20-pc Dinnerware Set
– Lexie Mirror Flatware Set – Service for 4
– Rectangular Serving Platter
– Sunflower Placemat – Orange
– Sunflower Placemat – Yellow
– Sunflower Centerpiece
– Gold Harvest Pumpkin – Small
– Gold Harvest Pumpkin – Large
– Gold Harvest Pumpkin – Tall