A Classic Brown and White Thanksgiving Table

  • Brown and white plates with a dog design, woven charger, fork, and checked napkin on a white tablecloth. Decor includes tulips, pinecones, dried orange slices, and fir branches.
    Brown and white plates with a dog design, woven charger, fork, and checked napkin on a white tablecloth. Decor includes tulips, pinecones, dried orange slices, and fir branches.
  • Dried orange slices, pinecones, evergreen branches, and a small pumpkin are arranged with shiny ornaments, creating a festive, rustic holiday centerpiece.
    Dried orange slices, pinecones, evergreen branches, and a small pumpkin are arranged with shiny ornaments, creating a festive, rustic holiday centerpiece.
  • Festive table setting with brown floral plates, dog and rabbit illustration, wicker charger, pine and orange garnish, and a name tag reading “Tuli.” Silverware and greenery centerpiece decorate the scene.
    Festive table setting with brown floral plates, dog and rabbit illustration, wicker charger, pine and orange garnish, and a name tag reading “Tuli.” Silverware and greenery centerpiece decorate the scene.

Thanksgiving 2025 was extra special because it was our first time hosting Thanksgiving! We were joined by our sweet friends Juan and Meg, who were expecting their first baby and weren’t able to travel for the holiday. It was such a treat to have them gathered around our table.

And because every first Thanksgiving needs a funny story, our turkey was still frozen Thanksgiving morning! Needless to say, dinner happened a few hours later than planned, but in the end we had quite the feast and the best time celebrating our many blessings with dear friends.

For the table, I kept things fairly simple, using pieces I already owned, flowers from the week before, natural greenery, pumpkins and dried oranges.

Thanksgiving Linens

  • A Thanksgiving table setting with floral centerpiece, pumpkins, brown patterned plates, plaid napkins, and name cards on ribbon, arranged on a white tablecloth with pinecones and greenery.
    A Thanksgiving table setting with floral centerpiece, pumpkins, brown patterned plates, plaid napkins, and name cards on ribbon, arranged on a white tablecloth with pinecones and greenery.
  • Brown and white plates with a dog design, woven charger, fork, and checked napkin on a white tablecloth. Decor includes tulips, pinecones, dried orange slices, and fir branches.
    Brown and white plates with a dog design, woven charger, fork, and checked napkin on a white tablecloth. Decor includes tulips, pinecones, dried orange slices, and fir branches.
  • A fall-themed table set for four with brown-patterned plates, checked napkins, amber glasses, pinecones, pumpkins, dried oranges, and greenery centerpiece. Place cards are tied to the plates with ribbon.
    A fall-themed table set for four with brown-patterned plates, checked napkins, amber glasses, pinecones, pumpkins, dried oranges, and greenery centerpiece. Place cards are tied to the plates with ribbon.

I started with a pretty neutral linen tablecloth that provided the perfect backdrop for all of the warm fall colors.

The real stars of the table, though, were the gorgeous monogrammed napkins from my friend Tracy. I absolutely love them! The brown-and-white check added pattern to the table while still feeling classic and timeless.

For an easy place card, we simply wrote each guest’s name on a small tag and tied it with ivory ribbon to a dried orange slice. I loved how something so simple added such a pretty, personal touch.

Thanksgiving Plates

  • A Thanksgiving meal on patterned dishes: sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans, a salad with grains and vegetables, and a small pitcher of gravy on a white countertop.
  • Brown and white plates with a dog design, woven charger, fork, and checked napkin on a white tablecloth. Decor includes tulips, pinecones, dried orange slices, and fir branches.
  • A fall-themed table set for four with brown-patterned plates, checked napkins, amber glasses, pinecones, pumpkins, dried oranges, and greenery centerpiece. Place cards are tied to the plates with ribbon.

My brown Spode Delamere and Woodland hunting dog plates felt as though they were made for this Thanksgiving table. I layered them on dark woven chargers, which brought in even more texture and warmth. It was fun pulling out my Spode serving pieces as well!

I love using dishes I already own in different ways throughout the year, and these are ones I look forward to bringing out every fall. For an easy place card, we simply wrote each guest’s name on a small tag and tied it with ivory ribbon to a dried orange slice. I loved how something so simple added such a pretty, personal touch. Here’s a link to a pretty fall table using the Spode plates; as well another table featuring them with a stunning flower arrangement.

Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece

  • Table centerpiece with pinecones, evergreen branches, dried orange slices, small metallic ornaments, and a pumpkin, set on a woven placemat.
  • A glass vase with pale roses, tulips, and hydrangeas sits on a blue-and-white plate atop a wooden sideboard, with blue-and-white china plates displayed behind it.
  • A festive arrangement of pine branches, pinecones, dried orange slices, small pumpkins, and metallic ornaments on a light fabric background.

For the centerpiece, I mixed hydrangeas, tulips and roses in soft shades of cream, pale green and blush. Many of the flowers were actually left over from the week before, see photo above, which made this arrangement especially easy.

Down the center of the table, I layered faux evergreen and tucked in real and faux pumpkins, pinecones, dried orange slices and a few pretty ornaments. I grouped some of the dried oranges in threes and scattered them throughout the greenery to bring in that warm orange color. Here’s a link to a BLOG POST I did on drying oranges. SO easy and fun!

Thanksgiving Memories…

  • A family of four—two adults, two young women—pose outside with a yellow labrador retriever in front of green pine trees. They are smiling and wearing blue outfits.
  • A roasted chicken, a bowl of salad, apple pie, chocolate pie, and a cake on a stand are displayed on a kitchen counter with tiled backsplash and decorative jars in the background.
  • Three people smile in a bright kitchen, standing behind a counter with a large metal bowl filled with sliced seasoned potatoes. The kitchen has white cabinets and checked window blinds in the background.

Nothing about our first Thanksgiving went exactly according to plan—especially that frozen turkey! But, that ended up being part of what made it so memorable. A beautiful Thanksgiving table, a delicious (eventual!) meal and sweet friends gathered around it were more than enough. And truly, that is what Thanksgiving is all about.

Grateful for you,

Julie

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