Thanksgiving to Christmas Crossover Table Ideas

By Katherine | November 3, 2023

Simplify your holiday tablescapes this year with my tips to style your table for Thanksgiving to Christmas using crossover themes, ideas, and tableware.

A Thanksgiving table with colorful Indian block print linens, rattan chargers, bamboo flatware, vintage china, and magnolia and cotton garland centerpiece.
A Christmas tablescape with Wedgwood and cabbageware plates, Indian block print linens, bamboo flatware, and magnolia and red berry garland centerpiece

One of my absolute favorite things about the holiday season is designing and creating tablescapes for friends and family to gather round. I love pairing china and beautiful linens. I love arranging flowers and selecting the menu. I know you lovely peonies do too!

But sometimes stress and busy schedules get the best of us! There are too many check lists and not enough hours. Creativity takes a back seat when we get caught in that hustle-y bustle-y holiday whirl.

When you find yourself spinning, you need simple solutions, quick but festive ideas, and tableware that pulls double duty. Am I right?

Here's one of my remedies...

Thanksgiving to Christmas crossover tablescapes!

These are ideas, arrangements, and tableware that can go from Thanksgiving feast to Christmas merry with easy tweaks or no effort at all.

Thanksgiving Table

A Thanksgiving table with colorful Indian block print linens, rattan chargers, bamboo flatware, vintage china, and magnolia and cotton garland centerpiece.

Thanksgiving to Christmas tableware sale

Transformed for Christmas

A Christmas tablescape with Wedgwood and cabbageware plates, Indian block print linens, bamboo flatware, and magnolia and red berry garland centerpiece

Thanksgiving to Christmas crossover table centerpiece - magnolia garland and reindeer candleholders

Thanksgiving to Christmas Crossover Table Ideas

Theme

Let's first look at a theme that easily crosses over from Thanksgiving to Christmas and can feel festive and appropriate to both: preppy English hunt style!

This is definitely a tried and true traditional theme that embraces rich warm color, woodland animals, lush materials, antiques, and that gentleman's study ambiance. It's sporting culture, hunt lodge, and rustic refinement rolled into one. For Thanksgiving lean more heavily into the rich browns and rustic textures, while Christmas versions should embrace vibrant red and elegant tableware.

See what I mean?

Thanksgiving to Christmas crossover table centerpiece - magnolia garland and reindeer candleholders
Thanksgiving to Christmas crossover table centerpiece - magnolia garland and reindeer candleholders

A Garland Centerpiece

Want an easy but elegant table centerpiece that quickly transitions from Thanksgiving to Christmas? Invest in a faux magnolia garland like this one or this. A garland takes very little floral arranging technique or skill. Just lay the garland flat down the center of the table and stick your accent florals in it, hiding the ends of the stems under the magnolia leaves.

For Thanksgiving accentuate it with cotton stems, pheasant feathers, dried orange slices, and a rustic plaid ribbon (D. Stevens previous season, similar here and here).

For Christmas accentuate it with magnolia blooms, red berries, and a vibrant plaid ribbon.

You've created a tasteful centerpiece that works with the preppy hunt theme and is totally celebration worthy! Big bonus...it will last through the holidays and for years to come!

White magnolia blooms and red berries decorate the garland centerpiece for a Christmas look

Crossover Tableware

Here's to classic tableware that pulls double duty, saving on storage space but feeling special enough for holiday meals. Much of the tableware in this post is available on Curio Collected. Scroll down to shop the post!

My picks for crossover tableware that will take you from Thanksgiving to Christmas:

Rattan Chargers

Literally, I use rattan chargers year round, but there is something so rustic and textural that feels just right for fall/winter tables. At Thanksgiving pair them with beautiful brown transferware like the Mason's Ascot plates shown here and a classic green ivy pattern like these Royal Gadroon bowls (available in the Curio Shop).

Christmas calls for more red and green, so I would mix in Spode's Christmas tree or Royal Staffordshire Christmas village.

Elegant Deer

Speaking of that English hunt theme...beautiful deer or reindeer motifs are perfect for Thanksgiving to Christmas crossover tableware. Just look how charming this pair of Fitz & Floyd candleholders are on both tables!

These are from the forest frost collection and you can get your own pair here.

Bamboo Flatware

This inexpensive faux bamboo flatware from Amazon looks great and is dishwasher safe. What's not to love?

Bamboo flatware is the perfect crossover tableware when you want to add some texture to your tablescape. It gives a bit of Chinoiserie flair too.

Doesn't it pair beautifully with this Indian block print tablecloth?

Fox Hunt Accents

Embracing the English hunt style calls for a nod to fox hunting, and these vintage Snooty Fox glasses from Cera are the most charming, flippant nod. Gentleman and lady foxes march around the glasses dressed in traditional red coats, top hats, and plaid. These are available in the Curio Shop.

Other charming fox hunt tableware can be found in silver stirrup cups or salts, Wedgwood's hunt china, or Keltcraft's pursuit dishes.

Blue Willow

I know...I know...blue willow pattern transferware in vibrant indigo is always appropriate. But I just love it paired with vibrant reds for a holiday look. The pairing feels so preppy chic!

The platters shown on the table are available in Curio Collected. Shop this blue willow platter here and the larger one here!

Green Cabbage ware

You may think of cabbage ware as a spring dishware, but I love it for fall and Christmas too! The vibrant green pair so beautifully with deep browns and vibrant reds -- it's a win win!

For either holiday table I would use it as a mid stack plate or charger, so you get a peek of that color. My cabbage ware plates are from the Southern Living collection, but of course Bordallo Pinheiro is an ever popular brand.

Vibrant green cabbageware is always a good investment china to go from holiday to holiday

Indian Block Print Linens

You know I'm glutton for a colorful floral, so when I saw this gorgeous Indian block print tablecloth from Katherine Young Home (bonus its on sale) I knew it was the perfect crossover piece. The vibrant reds, pinks, greens, yellows, and blues work so beautifully for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Both napkin sets are Indian block prints: the green and white vine is Katherine Young Home and the floral is available here.

Shop The Holiday Tablescapes

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