When it comes to Thanksgiving decorating, Martha Stewart has a way of making even the most familiar traditions feel fresh.

Rather unexpectedly, she’s making a case for leaving the conventional Thanksgiving decor ideas (think pumpkins, dried wheat, and orange tones) behind in favor of something a little more elegant. On her dining table, Martha pairs potted plants with a mahogany surface, ornate gold dinnerware, and black glass turkeys (there has to be one motif, after all).

It’s a departure from the harvest-style Thanksgiving table decor ideas we see every November, and a reminder that Thanksgiving decorating doesn’t have to follow the same formula year after year.

To get her look, start with a gold plate, just like this one from Wayfair. Then, invest in gorgeous gold glassware. This wine glass from Anthropologie is at the very top of my wishlist.

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According to Greg Dallaire, a real estate consultant at Dallaire Realty, changing the color palette can make a noticeable difference to the mood of a Thanksgiving gathering.

‘Gold pulls Thanksgiving away from the farmhouse look most of us grew up with,’ Greg says.

‘The traditional table leans on burnt orange, rust and brown, with pumpkins, wheat and plaid runners doing most of the work. Build the palette around gold instead and the mood changes from harvest supper to an evening dinner party. It reads more like a holiday celebration than a tribute to the fall season.’

Similarly, Martah's table isn't overly decorated. She leaves much of the surface bare, letting the gold plates and black turkeys take center stage. As Greg emphasizes, a few well-chosen pieces can do more than a collection of seasonal decorations.

‘The reason a gold-led table works is restraint everywhere else,’ he says. ‘When gold carries the look through chargers, flatware or candlesticks, the rest tends to stay quiet, usually white or ivory linens and simple glassware. That contrast lets the metal catch candlelight, which matters because Thanksgiving dinner often runs well past sunset. Orange and brown absorb light. Gold bounces it around the room.’

He continues: ‘One confident color story feels more intentional than a dozen seasonal motifs competing for attention, and it photographs far better too. A table doesn’t have to look like a pumpkin patch to feel warm, because gold gives you that warmth through light instead of color.’

There’s also a practical reason to take inspiration from Martha's approach. Gold candlesticks, flatware and serving pieces can come out again for Christmas decor or New Year’s Eve dinner, whereas decorations bought specifically for Thanksgiving may spend most of the year hidden away.

‘Gold flatware or candle holders move straight from Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, while the ceramic turkeys and gourds go back into storage for eleven months,’ Greg says. ‘Hosts like getting more use out of what they buy.’

Take it from Martha to prove we don’t need pumpkins and leaves to make Thanksgiving feel special. Her combination of gold dinnerware and indoor plants gives the setting a more formal feel, with pieces that can easily earn their place at the table throughout the rest of the holiday season.

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