Thanksgiving Table Decor We Like

I always liked Christmas lights, but the trend to deck ones halls for every other holiday seems excessive. I come from the school of "less is more" when decorating. No decoration in the world can make a house look nicer and more livable than cleanliness, organization, and a stark lack of clutter. Still, I understand wanting to dress one's house up to suit the season. Part of celebrating holidays is creating a festive space that says, "Today is a different day - today is a holiday." So I've compiled a list of Thanksgiving decorations that won't end up in landfills and that you may be able to use at other times of the year. You can eschew paper turkeys and gold spray painted cornucopias and opt for these:

8 Piece Beaker Glass Candle Holder Set from CB2: For $24.60, you can get yourself a set of eight mod but classic looking candle taper holders for your table. They're made from clean, clear hand blown beaker glass. Nothing says, "This meal is a festive holiday meal" like candles on the table.

Elements Microfiber Tablecloth from Overtstock.com: It looks like expensive linen or hemp, but it's textured machine-washable microfiber. For $29.49, it's a good investment that resists stains and would look great with a table runner on top. This tablecloth comes in fall-flavored colors like brick, straw, olive, and ivory.

Luxury Damask Table Runner from Overstock.com: Forget paper tablecloths. You can wash and reuse this $12 Damask table runner for years. It comes in autumnal colors. If you're conservative, place it atop a white tablecloth for a classic look. If you're more adventurous, layer it on a dark purple or red table cloth for a full out festive fall look.

Zig Zag Silver Napkin Rings from Z Gallerie: The only time my mother ever used napkin rings was Thanksgiving day, so I associate napkin rings with the Thanksgiving table. These napkin rings are sleek and cheap, but add a touch of "We only use these on Thanksgiving" to any table. Just having them in your drawer might encourage you to entertain at home more often and eat out less.

Faux Berry Fall Wreath from Target. If you must, must deck your halls, do it minimally and intentionally. I like this fall faux berry wreath because it's reusable, self-contained, and not too kitchy. It makes me think of Autumn in the small New England town I grew up in.

In the end, Thanksgiving is really about bringing family and friends together to partake in the annual turkey (or Tofurkey). You could take the money you'd spend on making Thanksgiving arts and crafts and invite a couple extra people to share your meal with you.

Posted by: Chaya Goodman