Calling all GRAZIA readers who crave a Thanksgiving tablescape that’s both stylish and stress-free! The iconic Sandra Lee, the woman who practically invented the term “tablescape,” is here to share her magic touch.
Fresh off her hit Netflix show Blue Ribbon Baking Championship and QVC live shows for her new holiday home decor collection, “Aunt Sandy Claus,” Lee is no stranger to creating unforgettable experiences. And this Thanksgiving, she’s ready to help you transform your dining table into a masterpiece that complements your delicious feast.
As a New York Times bestselling author, former Food Network star (remember Semi-Homemade?), and the newest member of The White House Historical Association’s Board Council, Lee is a force to be reckoned with. And now, she is letting us in on all of her holiday hosting secrets, from incorporating personal touches to creating a budget-friendly yet conversation-worthy centerpiece.
Whether you’re hosting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner or a Friendsgiving with your chosen family, Sandra Lee has the perfect tablescape tips to make your gathering unforgettable. Get ready to ditch the stress and embrace the “tablescape” — because as Lee says, every day should be a celebration.
GRAZIA: How has your concept of tablescaping evolved over the years, and what inspired you to coin the term “tablescape”?
SANDRA LEE: Everything is a scape — lifescape, decorscape, vacationscapes. It is your vision of what something should be. I always looked at my life in that way. When it came to doing table settings, no one ever called it tablescapes before me. I did it for the following reasons: it’s the next level of tabletop, something over the top. Every day should be your birthday or your wedding because we are alive, and that’s why I make them all so fantastic always.
I think they were always so thoughtful, but they have gotten more elaborate. The tablescapes I did 20 years ago are things that you could do easily today. One thing that has evolved is I use a lot more food as a centerpiece like a cake and then smaller cakes going down the table.
GRAZIA: What are your essential tips for creating a stunning Thanksgiving tablescape?
LEE: I love to use a lot of foliage and copper. I like to make sure there are varying heights on the table, tall candles, and votives evenly spread throughout. I like to decorate with chocolate turkeys, which you can buy online. If I do flowers, I do flowers of the season. I like to create one tablescape that I can leave throughout the holiday season. Once you lay down the basics, maybe a garland that’s been embellished with additional foliage, you just change out the color of the ribbon and candles.
GRAZIA: How can we choose the right color palette for our Thanksgiving tablescape?
LEE: There is no right or wrong. It’s whatever you want to create and that you feel goes best with your home and guests’ personalities. The traditional colors would be pumpkin, gold, copper, warm colors. You can certainly bring the more primary colors in as well — blues, bright greens, purples. Jewel tones are perfectly fine for Thanksgiving. Creams, whites, anything goes.
GRAZIA: What are some go-to brands, or specific products, you would recommend to our readers to create the perfect Thanksgiving tablescape?
LEE: I love to thrift and go to secondhand stores where you can buy beautiful crystal glassware and eclectic plate sets. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Discount and dollar stores are perfectly fine. Going outside and picking fresh leaves to use on the table is great too. Just be sure to spray them with Lysol before bringing them in.
GRAZIA: Do you have any DIY tips for creating stunning Thanksgiving centerpieces or table settings on a budget?
LEE: All you need is a can of copper or gold spray paint. You can pick anything up and spray it gold. You will have a beautiful golden table setting. Leaves, branches, old things you think you want to toss. Get gold paper chargers or plates. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have it be really upscale and glamorous. Grocery stores have beautiful flowers that are inexpensive. Take things that you love out of rooms in your home and use those on the table.
GRAZIA: Are there any eco-friendly or sustainable ways to decorate our Thanksgiving table?
LEE: I like to reuse cloth. You can even set the table with a blanket or comforter you have in the closet. I use what’s in my cupboards. I like to use cloth napkins not paper, but it depends on what you have. After Halloween, pumpkins don’t need to go away. Paint them gold or use smaller ones for name cards. Then you can paint them red for Christmas. If you buy it once, it lasts for months.
GRAZIA: How can we incorporate personal touches into our Thanksgiving tablescape to make it truly unique and meaningful?
LEE: Place settings are great; name cards on the back of leaves with a felt pen. You can use a child’s thumbprint with the name of the guest — that would make Grandma and Grandpa happy.
GRAZIA: How do you pair your Thanksgiving menu with your tablescape design to create a cohesive and elegant look?
LEE: It’s really the option of the host. Sometimes hosts are going to want to have a potluck or Friendsgiving and everyone brings something. If you are doing it all, you are having your traditional dinner and that is all marching down the table.
GRAZIA: How can we make our Thanksgiving table kid-friendly and festive without sacrificing style?
LEE: Led candles are good. Feathers go a long way. Creating paperscapes for kids is fun with paper place settings and crayons nearby so they can draw.
GRAZIA: What are your top tips for hosting a stress-free and enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner?
LEE: Eggnog! Preparing and organizing in advance is very important. Just take 20-30 minutes to outline your schedule and day and how things are going to flow. Decide what you will make in advance. When the party is on, the party is on. You are the hostess and you need the warm, friendly inviting charm that is hard to have if you don’t organize and plan.
