Going to college, getting married, and buying a house are all common milestones that people associate with “becoming an adult.” And those are all great. One milestone I personally consider a huge one is hosting Thanksgiving at your house!
You not only have to cook dinner and deal with all of your relatives, but — at least in order to do it right — you also have to decorate and set up your house to align with the holiday.
Thanksgiving color schemes are the foundation for any Thanksgiving decorations, so that’s where you should start.
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. As a color consultant, I’m going to give you all of the Thanksgiving color scheme information you need so you can focus on the turkey and gravy.
Many Thanksgiving color schemes skew towards autumnal since many consider Thanksgiving the last hurrah before winter begins. However, you can get a little more creative, too. Let’s look at some color scheme options you can consider for your decor:
Browns, oranges, yellows, and rusty reds are all common traditional colors that match the “fall” vibes that Thanksgiving brings.
These colors are seen in many construction paper turkeys crafted lovingly by kids across the country for a reason. They’re a classic color combination seen throughout fall and especially during Thanksgiving.
If you need a bit more of a visual to picture this traditional colors scheme besides the classic kids’ craft, think about “Indian corn.” “Indian corn” has brown, reddish, yellow, creamy straw, and golden kernels that perfectly represent this color scheme.
Another traditional option is to skew away from brown as the main color and instead opt for wine reds and deep purples. Combine these with pops of chestnut brown, forest green, white, and gold for an amazing autumn Thanksgiving look.
For the table, try a red or straw tablecloth, gold cutlery, and red napkins. If you have room on the table for centerpieces alongside all of your delicious fares, Indian corn, faux leaves, acorns, pumpkins, and brown cornucopias are all excellent Thanksgiving themed choices that perfectly match this color scheme.
Front door colors are also important as they will introduce your guests to the theme and serve as a welcoming entrance to the day. Wreaths are thought of as winter decor, but forest green is an excellent Thanksgiving color as it’s on the cusp of fall and winter and makes for a perfect in-between color. Within the wreath can feature miniature pumpkins, red cranberries, fairy lights, or acorns.
The last place you should make sure to decorate is the living room since this is where most people retreat to watch football after entering a food-induced stupor. Autumnal blankets, color appropriate mugs for post-dinner coffee, serving platters for pre-dinner appetizers, and dessert plates can all be matched to your traditional Thanksgiving color scheme.
Don’t forget to proudly display the construction paper turkey, too!
While there’s nothing wrong with the traditional themed colors I just went over, you can make the feel of the evening a bit more elegant by “elevating” those basic colors. Opt for:
This type of color scheme will maintain the autumnal warmth that you want a home to have during the communal holiday of Thanksgiving, while also giving the entire space a bit of a classier and “adult” feel.
Just as with the traditional decor I just went over, you can do the same with these elegant colors. Instead of pumpkins as centerpieces, try twigs or bushels of cranberries. Opt for gold plates, gold cutlery, pumpkin pie orange napkins, etc.
Nicer china would match well with this upscale theme. This along with color themed candles, gourds, and intricate napkin holders are all great touches.
Both of the color schemes I just went over are classics and sure to please. However, if you want to do something a bit more bold and modern, consider picking 3-4 simple and light colors. Autumnal and Thanksgiving colors can skew dark with rich burgundy, brown, and dark orange the common foundational colors.
Go lighter and minimalistic with orange, white, and shades of green. These three simple colors will keep the evening a bit more casual and have a bit more of a modern and clean focus. Orange tablecloth, white plates, and leafy green centerpieces look simple, clean, and modern. Check out some inspirational pictures here!
Gratitude and family are certainly huge parts of Thanksgiving, but eating amazing food with loved ones is also important! That’s why it’s essential to learn what colors could potentially decrease your guests’ appetite.
On my Color911 app website, I go into detail about exactly which colors are great for the table and which could turn people off. Check it out here!
If you need some more help outlining your Thanksgiving color schemes and your overall decor, I’m here to help. As a professional color expert, I can help you craft a color scheme that will fit your current home and implement it with paint, decor and more.
Contact me to get started. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it!
