An Elevated Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescape

This elevated rustic Thanksgiving tablescape is easier to recreate than you might think.

It was inspired by the colors of Fall and antlers we found.

Yep, I said found.

We found the antlers while hiking with my cousin. She lives in the mountains, up along the National Forest boundary. We spotted them just laying on the ground. Yep, just laying there. They’d obviously recently been shed.

Overhead view of rustic Thanksgiving tablescape

So I took them home with me.

At the time, I had no idea what I was gonna do with them, but I knew I wanted them. I mean ~ how often are you gonna stumble across naturally shed antlers?!

So when I was thinking of how to decorate my Thanksgiving table this year, I thought of the antlers and how I could use them in a rustic Thanksgiving table setting.

I think they look great on the table and definitely provide a rustic quality.

Even if you don’t have a pair of antlers sitting around your home, you can create an elevated rustic tablescape for Thanksgiving this year.

I walk through the steps below…

How to Style an Elevated Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescape

Side view of rustic Thanksgiving tablescape

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Step 1: Select the tablecloth for your rustic Thanksgiving table setting

Setting a rustic tablescape for Thanksgiving starts with the tablecloth.

Choose one that will match your dishes and the colors on your table. It should plaid, striped, or a solid color. Rustic style doesn’t typically connect with floral or paisley patterns.

I selected a warm Fall tablecloth for my rustic Thanksgiving table.

Rustic Thanksgiving tablescape tablecloth

The warm red, gold, and brown tones connected well with Thanksgiving along with the dishes I would be using on the table.

Step 2: Create the centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table setting

Because this is a rustic themed table setting, you want your centerpiece to immediately impart that style.

The centerpiece is the focus of your table, and you want it to support your theme.

Above I mentioned the antlers we found while hiking. I used those for the focal point of my centerpiece. Because of their size (and there being two of them), I intertwined them together. in a way that wouldn’t infringe on the place settings.

Antlers for Rustic Thanksgiving tablescape

You probably don’t have a set of antlers, so find something you do have that feels rustic. Look around your house first, before going shopping for something.

Once my antlers were in place, I added a variety of brass and wood candlesticks in and around them. I also use three different candles that complimented the colors in the tablecloth.

Since this is an elevated rustic table setting, the candles make the table feel fancy and a little classy.

Next, I gathered some small gourds and orbs that I had in a different room, along with some really cute diy acorns. Then I placed them around the antlers and candlesticks.

rAntlers and candles on Rustic Thanksgiving tablescape

The concept is to add elements of varying heights to your table. Use a few high pieces (the candles) and a few low pieces (the diy acorns). This provides direction and interest for your guests to look around your centerpiece.

It makes the centerpiece interesting.

When creating the centerpiece for your rustic Thanksgiving tablescape, be sure to use elements of varying heights and stagger their placement. Then step back and see if anything needs to be tweaked.

Step 3: Lay out the place settings

After your rustic Thanksgiving centerpiece is complete, it’s time to focus on the place settings.

You’ll want your place settings to also have that rustic theme, along with matching the colors of your tablecloth. Otherwise, the tablescape won’t feel cohesive.

I started my place settings with a rattan charger. The brown color and natural material have a rustic element that looks great on the table.

Then to add the elevated vibe, I place a shiny red charger on the rattan charger.

Yes, I used two chargers in this place setting. I did it for the colors and to provide that sense of style to the table.

Then I added a simple white dinner plate.

This isn’t a fancy table setting, so there’s no need to use fine china.

On top of the white dinner plate, I added a red shiny salad plate, and then a really cute small plate that had a brown pheasant design.

The brown in the small plate tied in perfectly with the rattan charger.

The stacking of the dishes provides an elevated element to the place setting, whereas the colors and design provide rustic elements.

Then I added gold flatware and red goblets to the place setting.

Red salad plate on Rustic Thanksgiving tablescape

Brown and white plate on top of red salad plate

To complete this elevated rustic place setting, I used natural linen napkins and encircled them with diy acorn napkin ties I made just for this tablescape.

Aren’t they cute!

Completed place setting for Rustic Thanksgiving tablescape

Since I knew the colors I’d be using for the tablescape, I chose to make the napkin ties gold and brown to coordinate with the table decor.

Following the elevated rustic theme, one acorn had a classy gold cap and the other had a rustic brown cap.

I placed the napkin at an angle on the edge of the plates because it looked too crowded on the table. It doesn’t always need to go next to the forks.

That’s it.

That’s how simple it is to recreate this elevated rustic table setting for Thanksgiving.

Step 4: Pulling the room together

Your dining room probably has more pieces than just the dining table.

When you’re done creating your rustic Thanksgiving tablescape, you will want to pull those other pieces in the room together. You’ll want them to also have that elevated rustic feeling. So add elements from your dining table to them.

I have a buffet next to my dining table. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving. What better place to put the food!

So I always like to tie my dining table to whatever is on my buffet.