Key Takeaways
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Every host has a favorite way to entertain: your Thanksgiving style can be a big buffet, a casual Friendsgiving, an intimate dinner, or a vintage-inspired tablescape.
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A Modern Buffet idea works best for big crowds: mix different patterns of dinnerware and let guests grab-and-go.
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A Casual Friendsgiving feel is all about relaxed decor and a laid-back table setting for close friends.
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An Intimate Dinner is easy to dine well: pull out your nicer china patterns for a smaller guest list of 4–6.
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Mixing vintage and modern china, like blue and white transferware, adds heirloom charm to any Thanksgiving table.
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Grandmother's china, chargers, and candlesticks are an easy, fun way to bring similar but two different patterns together for a wonderful, one-of-a-kind place setting.
The grocery list is made. The guest count is confirmed. Now it’s time for your personal style to shine! Every host or hostess has their own aesthetic. From large celebrations with friends to more polished dinners with your in-laws, your Thanksgiving is a reflection on how you like to entertain. We’re here to help you find the Thanksgiving dinnerware and delicious food that fits your vibe (and your head count!)
Modern Buffet
Expecting a big crowd? Impress your guests with a full buffet spread. This arrangement is all about using what you have. Don’t be afraid to play with different patterns by mixing and matching new and vintage china designs.
Try the classics for your buffet: turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries and cornbread. Plus, give your salad a new twist with a few pears and endives, served on your favorite salad plate.
The cutest part? You can turn our stoneware dishes into little soup bowls so your family can enjoy warm butternut squash in an acorn bowl. You can also make DIY votive pumpkin centerpieces to give your table some inviting charm.
Guests can make their way to a side island or table where you can serve our juicy fall sangria. Slip some flatware and napkins into a cup or canister and let them grab-and-go and find their seat. It’s the perfect setup for an easygoing Thanksgiving for close friends and family!
Casual Friendsgiving
Call all your foodie friends over! This laidback style is a new twist on all the Thanksgiving classics: food, colors, seating—everything is a flip on the traditional. Our Textured Neutrals™ collection sets the scene with its wistful designs and subdued hues that evoke a calm and friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect base for a casual and cozy Thanksgiving.
This style is all about the food you serve. Put out a delicious mix of peach cobbler, bruschetta, warm rolls, brussels sprouts, and green beans with feta and bacon. Push together a bench and a few chairs around the table to emphasize that relaxed vibe. For décor, put out dried florals in a clear vase and set it as your centerpiece at the table.
Encourage everyone to BYOB so you can share wine and cocktails among friends. Plus, send each guest home with a recipe card for our Turkey Tortilla Soup so they can put those leftovers to good use!
Intimate Dinner
First time hosting? This is the style for you. Pull out the nicer china for a smaller guest count of 4-6 people. You can set a stunning tablescape with the refined duo of Hancock® and Colebrook™ Onyx. Our Hancock® collection features a 24-karat gold Celtic knot emblem accented with hand-applied enamel dots. But don’t let the beautiful appearance fool you. This set is just as durable, so you never need to worry about it breaking. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe, so you can forget about washing dishes after a long Thanksgiving dinner.
For food, keep it simple with hearty veggies and sweet sides. Serve your golden brown turkey on our sleek Trianna™ platter. The centerpieces and décor are where you can really play. Try a bunch of sweet-smelling flowers at the center of the table, flanked by a pair of candlesticks, for a more refined look. You’ll impress your guests with your minimalist style (and delicious meal!)
Vintage & Eclectic
Love a table setting with a story? This style is for the host who'd rather set a beautiful table than buy a brand-new one. Vintage china has a wonderful way of making a Thanksgiving table feel collected over time instead of purchased all at once, and mixing different patterns is easier than it looks.
Start with what you already have or love: a stack of grandmother's china or a set of blue-and-white transferware. English potteries like these have been producing china patterns since the 1700s, and blue turkey motifs remain a popular favorite Thanksgiving pattern for good reason — they're timeless, and no two place settings ever look quite the same.
The trick to mixing different patterns without it feeling cluttered: keep it to two different patterns per place setting — one for your dinner plates, another for your salad plates or charger — and let a common color, like blue and white or a warm orange accent, tie the service together. Add a few mismatched candlesticks down the center of the table for a fun, easy finishing touch that still feels cohesive.
This style also makes a wonderful excuse to dine with pieces that usually stay tucked away in the kitchen cabinet. There's no better season to bring them out.
What kind of Thanksgiving will you have this year? Show us your tables by tagging us at @lenox on Instagram and Facebook.
Need even more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our DIY details post and learn how to make your holiday dinner even more memorable!
