(ARA) - Before you know it, the friends and loved ones you cherish most will join you for Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you'll be serving the traditional turkey with all the trimmings, or your signature dish, how you set the stage will be the key to making this holiday a memorable one.
“ A few carefully chosen pieces can make all the difference, and a good place to start is with the table ”
That's not to say you need to go out and buy new
furniture and paint the dining room for the occasion, but "A few carefully chosen pieces can make all the difference, and a good place to start is with the table," says Suzanne Wilkins, an expert on residential interior design and space planning, who works both in the private sector and as an instructor at The Art Institute of New York City.
Because Thanksgiving is a fall festival, start by putting down a yellow, orange or red tablecloth symbolic of the season, then build from there. Charles Keath
Home (CharlesKeath.com) is a great place to turn to for ideas.
You can find everything from seasonal place settings and centerpieces to serving dishes and serve ware. Among the many offerings, quilted leaf place mats and napkins, and the complimentary Toscana Harvest china collection, featuring plates, bowls, baking dishes and coffee mugs graced with scalloped details in brilliant shades of pomegranate, pumpkin, eggplant and lime.
Once the table is set, you can move onto ambiance. Put seasonal candles on the table, and throw a log in the fireplace, if you have one. If you don't, a great alternative is the Elizabeth Ventless Jel Fuel Fireplace offered by HomeVisions.com. This ventless fireplace made of solid hardwoods can be set up on any wall. It includes a realistic looking double log and two cans of jel fuel. One can of jel fuel lasts 2 to 3 hours. (Not a heat source; for decorative purposes only.)
Another decorative accent to consider is an additional place for people to sit both before and after the meal. Montgomery Ward offers an inexpensive upholstered nook set that doubles as a
storage bench, available online at wards.com. The four-piece set includes one single, one corner and two double benches. After the holidays, it can serve as a place where the family can enjoy breakfast, and the kids can do their homework.
For more home decorating ideas for the holidays and beyond, log on to www.charleskeath.com, www.homevisions.com or www.wards.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
