Thanksgiving used to look pretty similar at tables all across the nation: the same classic menu prepared in the same way year after year, right down to the often over-cooked turkey you might have to drown in gravy. But as different ways of eating, cooking and celebrating become more common, a new generation of hosts are ready to tie on their aprons and put their own twist on Thanksgiving.
Whether you’re hosting (or attending) a Friendsgiving or having the whole fam over for a timeless T-Day spread, bring joy to your Thanksgiving this year by embracing a casually colorful approach. The heart of the holiday is sharing gratitude with people you treasure, but there is no reason you can’t do that while playing with unexpected color combinations, adding new recipes to the table or delighting in the little details.
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Paint Your Thanksgiving with Unexpected Color
Color can instantly set a mood, from soft and welcoming to bold and compelling. Although late autumn is abundant in visual inspiration for the harvest holiday, don’t feel limited by traditional Thanksgiving colors or decor as you dress your own Thanksgiving table. In fact, the vibrant yellows, oranges and greens of fall produce can pop even more when set against an earthy pastel palette of soft Sea Salt, Pȇche and White, with muted purple accents. This soothing palette manages to feel fundamentally fresh, but still warm and comforting enough to showcase your family’s tried-and-true dishes.
Or, let your love of bold color shine bright by anchoring your Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving feast with our iconic Flame, and then contrasting its vibrant orange with the alluring midnight blue of Nuit and nature-inspired tones of brown and green. From pumpkins to falling leaves, orange is a classic Thanksgiving color—perhaps the most classic—but adding in some unexpected accents can infuse the celebration with lively new energy. Whatever palette you choose to paint your holiday, the most important element is joy. Take advantage of your moment to explore the colors and styles that bring you delight.
Taste A New Tradition with Recipes
Now that you’ve refreshed your table setting, it’s time to bring that same imagination to what you’re putting on it. From potluck-style Friendsgiving buffets to formal family celebrations that use grandma’s best silver, there are endless ways to mix up the menu. First, consider adding an aperitivo hour to your shared celebration. By setting out a few small snackable appetizers and drinks on an Iris Collection Serving Platter, you give your guests a chance to relax, warm up and spend time together—while also buying the host a little more unhurried time to finish up the main courses. It’s also a perfect excuse to pull out your charming serving dishes.
Next, take a Thanksgiving staple and find a new recipe for it – check out our Featured Recipes for inspiration. Or maybe you’d like to introduce a dish that has never been on your Thanksgiving table before. Now is your chance! Eating should be joyful, especially during the holidays, so embrace the flavors, spices and techniques that make you feel inspired. Who knows…your new offerings might just win over even your most tradition-loving family member.
Delight in the Details on the Table
Joy comes in all shapes and sizes, including the tiniest table details. Express your creativity in finding the perfect accents to enhance the experience for your guests. Different styles of harvest feasts will call for different levels of formality. For example, if you’re hosting a buffet-style Friendsgiving, consider rolling a runner of brown wrapping paper down the center of the table. In addition to weaving in a fun natural texture, the paper is ideal for giving your friends space to write the name and details of their dish.
Maybe your Thanksgiving will be more of a formal, coursed affair. Don’t worry—you can still incorporate charming, unexpected accents from nature. Think of serving gravy, sauces and dessert in figural pumpkin-shapes from the Harvest Collection, or Pumpkin Mini Cocottes decorated with names written in beautiful calligraphy for individual place cards that double as an elegant thank-you gift. Fill beautiful Iris Collection Serving Bowls with fresh fruit in bright colors for an instant table decoration. No matter what you do, make it joyful. Make it colorful. Make it special. Make it yours.
