Give Thanks for Beautiful Holiday Tablescapes

For most of us, Thanksgiving is all about the food. But for creative consultant Bret McKinney, owner of BMC Creative Agency, the turkey takes second place to the tableware it’s served on.

“It’s all about a place setting. Food looks and tastes better on a pretty plate,” he said.

A consummate pro at creating chic, gorgeous tablescapes, McKinney is quick to tell you the non-negotiables. For starters, a great charger.

“Even if you’re not used to using them, you can rent them for the day just to make it fun,” he said. “A charger can stay there the whole time; your different plates can go on top of it, your napkin goes on top of it.

“Chargers just make everything look a little more grand.”

An overall color scheme is another must-have — and not necessarily autumnal hues. “Most people automatically think of orange, rust, and brown. But why stop there when there are so many choices?”

His personal favorite: Metallics. “You can’t go wrong with gold.” But he’s also a fan of multi-colored tables. “They’re a bit more challenging but definitely worth the effort.”

Another trick: More glassware than you think you need on the table. “Red wine, white wine, champagne; when it comes to glasses, more is more,” said McKinney.

Don’t hesitate to mix and match.

“Even if your wine glasses are the same, you can add some really random, funky water glass to go with them,” he added.

Thanksgiving is also a time to pull out the good stuff—the wedding china or family heirlooms. Don’t have enough? No problem. “Some of the most interesting and innovative tablescapes combine mismatched plates, glasses, and linens.”

Elegant serving pieces are another essential.

“I love them, especially for buffets,” he said. “That way, you can make your table really beautiful.”

For many reasons, McKinney is a huge proponent of rentals. “Why invest when you can rent something really over the top? And what better day is there to do it?”

Go-to rental companies include Top Tier, Bella Acento, and Posh Couture Rentals, offering everything from soup to nuts — figuratively and literally. And then there’s the added bonus: No dishes to wash.

“After dinner, all you have to do is put everything back in the crates and the rental company comes and picks it up. How convenient is that?”

Candles add to the ambiance. “Tapers are always beautiful, especially for a dressier table. I also love votives. You can find great holders on Amazon,” he said.

Florals offer almost infinite opportunities, from elaborate centerpieces to loose florals down a middle runner. McKinney has done both; go-to’s include Avant Garden for the former, Trader Joe’s for the latter.

“I like to keep centerpieces low so you can talk across the table.”

Still, it’s important to keep the conversation lively—which is where place cards come in. “They’re important, even with your closest friends and family. There’s nothing more fun than mixing people up, especially if you’ve got a hodgepodge group,” he said.

“And I guarantee there’s also someone who needs a break from their spouse or partner.”