Burgundy Thanksgiving Tablescape With Fruit and Candles
Updated October 27, 2026
This burgundy Thanksgiving tablescape starts with a burgundy runner topped with faux eucalyptus garland. Then come candles, fruit, and dried orange slices, and the whole table takes about 30 minutes once everything’s out. I love hosting, but there’s something extra special about Thanksgiving. I’m all about making my guests feel special with a ‘fancy dinner,’ so I’ll walk you through how I created this tablescape step by step. Plus, I’ll share links to all the Thanksgiving decor I used, so you can easily recreate the look.
How do you make a Thanksgiving tablescape?
Start with a table runner and lay faux greenery on top. Add candlesticks and pillar candles at a few heights, then fill in color with fruit, like pomegranates and berries. Finish with taper candles and simple place settings. Pick two or three colors and stick with them. Mine is burgundy, gold, and green.
Table of Contents
- How do you make a Thanksgiving tablescape?
- Watch the Thanksgiving Tablescape Come Together
- Thanksgiving Tablescape at a Glance
- Thanksgiving Tablescape: Everything I Used
- Step 1: Lay Eucalyptus Garland on a Burgundy Table Runner
- Step 2: Add Thanksgiving Candles at Different Heights
- Step 3: Add Color With Fruit and Dried Orange Slices
- Step 4: Set Each Place With Placemats, Plates, and a Golden Pear
- How Much Does This Thanksgiving Tablescape Cost?
- Where Does the Food Go When the Table Is Full?
- Set the Mood With a Simmer Pot and a Fall Playlist
- More Tablescape Ideas
- 📌 Save This Thanksgiving Tablescape for Later
- Thanksgiving Tablescape FAQs
- The Bottom Line on a Thanksgiving Tablescape
Watch the Thanksgiving Tablescape Come Together
Here’s my whole burgundy Thanksgiving table coming together: runner, garland, candles, fruit, and place settings.
Thanksgiving Tablescape at a Glance
- Colors: burgundy, gold, and green, with ivory
- Layers: runner and garland, candles, fruit, dried oranges, taper candles, place settings
- Centerpiece pieces: about $245 for one of each, with two garlands
- Place settings: about $215 more
- Time: about 30 minutes once everything’s out
- Real touches: fresh pomegranates and pears, homemade dried orange slices
Thanksgiving Tablescape: Everything I Used
- Burgundy table runner
- Faux eucalyptus garland
- Brass candlesticks
- Antique gold candlesticks
- Flameless pillar candles
- Smokeless taper candles, ivory
- Smokeless taper candles, burgundy
- Artificial berries
- Artificial artichokes
- Dried orange slices
- Woven placemats
- Goblets
- Dessert plates
- Matte gold flatware
- Burgundy cloth napkins
You can find more of my favorite home finds on my Amazon storefront.
Step 1: Lay Eucalyptus Garland on a Burgundy Table Runner
When I’m setting a Thanksgiving tablescape, I like to start with something green. Get creative! You can use a faux garland, like the eucalyptus one I’m featuring here, or even some clippings from a tree or bush outside (if you’re lucky enough to live where things are still alive in November). You can also pick up fresh greenery from a grocery store or floral shop.
I’ve laid two sections of faux eucalyptus garland directly on top of this gorgeous burgundy table runner. You might recognize this garland. I’ve also used it as Christmas garland on the staircase and on my Christmas fireplace mantel. It’s so versatile!
Step 2: Add Thanksgiving Candles at Different Heights
Next up are candles, a must-have for adding color, interest, and ambiance to any Thanksgiving table. I’m using a mix of candles on my tablescape, including two types of candlesticks: shiny brass and rustic antique gold (I’ll add taper candles later). I’ve also included a few different sizes of flameless pillar candles. With their gold-tone glass, they match perfectly!
I’ve seen tablescapes made up entirely of greenery and candles, and honestly, I could’ve stopped right here. But I’m going to keep going and add a bit more to my Thanksgiving decor.
Step 3: Add Color With Fruit and Dried Orange Slices
Now it’s time to add some color! With the burgundy table runner already in place, I’m layering in both faux and real fruit. I sliced a few pomegranates in half to show off their beautiful insides and added some whole ones too. Smaller berries help balance the larger pomegranates. Faux artichokes bring a pop of green and fun texture with their unique shape. A fruit centerpiece like this is one of the easiest ways to make a table feel full and abundant.
For another pop of color, I added a few dried orange slices. The bright golden orange is just too pretty! My tutorial for a dried orange slice garland shows exactly how I make them.
Finally, I’m placing my taper candles. I chose burgundy to pull in more of that color, along with neutral ivory to keep things balanced. When you pick taper candles for a dinner party, go for unscented, smokeless ones, like the ones I’ve linked for you.
My best advice when adding color to your Thanksgiving tablescape is to choose two or three colors and stick with them, using varying shades to keep things interesting. Don’t overthink it! Nature doesn’t match perfectly, yet it’s still breathtakingly beautiful. Mimic nature, and you can’t go wrong.
Step 4: Set Each Place With Placemats, Plates, and a Golden Pear
The final touch for my Thanksgiving tablescape is the place settings. I’m starting with a woven placemat. Its neutral color and texture complement my classic yet rustic theme perfectly!
On top of the placemat, I layered the dinner plate, followed by these burgundy napkins. They match the table runner perfectly.
I placed the smaller dessert plate on the napkin, added a dried orange slice in the center, and topped it off with a golden pear.
The final touch was adding the gold flatware and a goblet for drinks. And just like that, my table setting was complete! The golds, reds, and greens came together perfectly, making my Thanksgiving tablescape festive and pretty.
I entertain a lot (because I LOVE to), so I’ve invested in timeless white dishes, gold cutlery, and glass goblets. They’re versatile and perfect for any special occasion.
Can You Use Disposable Plates for a Holiday Dinner?
Don’t worry if you’re not using real dishes. Disposable Thanksgiving plates and cutlery can still look beautiful. The dollar store sells elegant white disposable dishes and even “wine glasses.” If you have a Costco membership and are hosting a large crowd, they offer beautiful disposable options at an even better price. Napkins, whether paper or cloth, can also be folded nicely to add color and interest to your display.
How Much Does This Thanksgiving Tablescape Cost?
The centerpiece for this Thanksgiving tablescape comes to about $245 if you buy one of each piece, with two eucalyptus garlands. That covers the runner, the garlands, both sets of candlesticks, the pillar candles, both colors of tapers, the berries, and the artichokes. Fresh pomegranates and pears are extra. The dried orange slices cost next to nothing to make yourself.
The placemats, goblets, dessert plates, gold flatware, and napkins add about $215 more. The flatware is the big one, at about $105 for a service for 8. For comparison, a ready-made 12 inch fall arrangement from Balsam Hill is about $120 on sale, and that’s one arrangement with no runner, candles, or place settings.
Where Does the Food Go When the Table Is Full?
With all that decor taking up table space, you might wonder where the food goes. Great question! For a large crowd, I prefer serving buffet style from the kitchen. It frees up space and avoids the hassle of passing dishes around. If you’re hosting a smaller group and want the food on the table, go for it! Set down your greenery base, add the food, place a few candles, and sprinkle cranberries or fruit between the serving dishes.
If you need help planning your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving menu, my Friendsgiving ideas post has links to all my recipes (like the sweet potato casserole pictured above) and a food prep schedule to make hosting a breeze!
Set the Mood With a Simmer Pot and a Fall Playlist
I’ve already set up a cozy, welcoming scene with my Thanksgiving tablescape, but now it’s time to set the perfect mood for my guests. Whether it’s Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving, I love turning our gatherings into a full experience that everyone can enjoy.
There’s something magical about a fall simmer pot bubbling on the stove, filling the house with the sweet, warm scents of the season. It’s an easy, non-toxic, and budget-friendly way to create the perfect autumn atmosphere. For full instructions, see my fall simmer pot post.
Music is a must for any party or gathering. When hosting Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving, I always have my fall playlist playing nonstop. I save it just for this time of year, which makes it feel extra special! It’s the perfect background music for entertaining guests. You can find my fall Spotify playlist here.
I was so happy with how this burgundy Thanksgiving tablescape turned out! For a completely different look with some of the same pieces, see my terracotta and green Thanksgiving table decorations. And if you want to see what I come up with next, follow me on Instagram.
More Tablescape Ideas
- Terracotta and green Thanksgiving table decorations: a velvet runner, faux greenery, and brass bowl centerpieces
- Seasonal tablescape ideas: the layer by layer formula I use for every holiday table
- Christmas tablescape: the same idea dressed up for December
- Easter table decor: eucalyptus garland again, fresh for spring
📌 Save This Thanksgiving Tablescape for Later
Pin this so you have every link for the runner, candles, and fruit when it’s time to set your table.
Thanksgiving Tablescape FAQs
A Thanksgiving tablescape needs five layers: a runner, greenery, candles, color, and place settings. On my burgundy table, the runner has two eucalyptus garlands on top. Next come brass candlesticks, antique gold candlesticks, and flameless pillar candles. Pomegranates, berries, faux artichokes, and dried orange slices add the color. Burgundy and ivory taper candles go in last. Every place gets a woven placemat, a burgundy napkin, a dessert plate, and a golden pear.
The simplest Thanksgiving tablescape idea is greenery and candles down the middle of the table. Honestly, I could’ve stopped there on this table! Lay a faux eucalyptus garland on a runner, then add candlesticks and pillar candles at a few heights. For one more easy layer, tuck in fruit you already have, like pomegranates, pears, or apples. Dried orange slices are cheap to make and add a bright pop of color.
Burgundy looks best on a Thanksgiving tablescape with gold, green, and a neutral like ivory. My table uses a burgundy runner with burgundy napkins. The candlesticks are brass or antique gold, the flatware is gold, and eucalyptus brings the green. Ivory taper candles and white plates keep it from getting too dark. Pomegranates bring in deep red, while dried orange slices add a bright pop. Stick to two or three main colors and use different shades of each.
Mix candles at a few different heights on a Thanksgiving tablescape. I used shiny brass and antique gold candlesticks for height, with flameless pillar candles in gold glass lower down. Taper candles go in the candlesticks last; mine are burgundy and ivory. If you use real tapers, pick unscented, smokeless ones so they don’t compete with the smell of dinner. Flameless pillars are a safe choice for the spots closest to guests.
With a full Thanksgiving tablescape, there isn’t much room for serving dishes, so I serve the food buffet style from the kitchen. It frees up space on the table and saves everyone from passing heavy dishes around. For a smaller group, you can still put the food on the table. Start with the greenery base, set the serving dishes along it, and add a few candles. Sprinkle cranberries or fruit between the dishes so it still looks decorated.
Yes, disposable plates can still look beautiful on a Thanksgiving tablescape. The dollar store sells elegant white disposable plates and even plastic “wine glasses.” If you have a Costco membership and you’re hosting a big crowd, Costco has nice disposable options at an even better price. Pick white or gold so the plates don’t fight with your centerpiece. Fold paper or cloth napkins nicely to bring in your table’s color.
This burgundy Thanksgiving tablescape costs about $245 for the centerpiece if you buy one of each piece, plus a second eucalyptus garland. That covers the runner, garlands, candlesticks, candles, berries, and faux artichokes. The place settings add about $215 more, mostly for the gold flatware. You can spend less by using dishes you already own, real greenery, and fruit from the grocery store. Dried orange slices cost almost nothing to make yourself.
A good low centerpiece for a Thanksgiving tablescape runs down the length of the table. On mine, eucalyptus garland lies flat on the burgundy runner, with fruit and pillar candles tucked into it. The only tall pieces are the slim taper candles, so guests can still see each other across the table. Halved pomegranates, berries, and dried orange slices add color without adding height. It also leaves room to set a few serving dishes along the greenery.
The Bottom Line on a Thanksgiving Tablescape
This Thanksgiving tablescape is a burgundy runner with two eucalyptus garlands, layered candles, fruit, and dried orange slices. The centerpiece is about $245 for one of each piece, and it takes about 30 minutes once everything’s out. If you tell a friend one thing, tell them to pick two or three colors and stick with them. Which colors are you using for your Thanksgiving table? Tell me in the comments!
