14 Ideas to Make Your Thanksgiving Table a Joyful Space

This holiday season, Food & Wine is going over the top with our series "Give Thanks, But Make It Extra"—a celebration of all things opulent, glittering, rich, delicious, and joyful.

This year for the fall holidays we're taking a break from the moody hues and traditionally serious table settings. Thanksgiving is about sharing things—celebrating both the family and the community we care for with great food and drinks. To make things feel a little more special we suggest amping up the ambiance with fun, festive additions from cookware to candles. Items here run the gamut in terms of investment, but there is something great to elevate every table and space for every budget. Read on for some of our favorite tabletop ideas for Thanksgiving in 2021.

Cool Carafe

This modern carafe comes in four colors and holds 32 ounces, great for water, wine, or whatever you love to serve to your friends and family. We don't mind that it's dishwasher safe, too.

To buy: Biboquet Carafe, $165 at nordstrom.com

Colorful Wine Glasses

If we could own these glasses in every color, we would. This set looks as great on a table as it does on display in the kitchen. Add a set to your glassware collection or give it as a gift for the holidays.

To buy: Estelle Colored Glass Wine Glasses, Set of 6, $175 at nordstrom.com

Textured Napkins

Make the table more inviting with cloth napkins all to-tone with your place settings. Great reusable napkins are the most underrated element in modern dinner parties.

To buy: Hawkins Stonewashed Napkins, Set of 4, $72 at food52.com or verishop.com

Stoneware Trivets

If you're often taking hot dishes from oven to table to serve the group, an attractive and sturdy trivet is necessary. This stoneware piece can also work to anchor napkins during outdoor dining, or become a permanent fixture on the kitchen counter.

To buy: Sin Handmade Twist Trivet, $38 at food52.com

Gold Serving Trays

These serving trays are simply so cool we can't look away. The champagne gold finish adds a vibrant edge to any classic Thanksgiving table.

To buy: Dypsis Cast Aluminum Serving Trays, from $16 at cb2.com

Fun Dessert and Bread Plates

The fall color palette doesn't need to only rely on the regular warm tones we default to year after year. Dress up classic desserts with lavender or turquoise bone china plates, or a porcelain Versace statement piece for your usual bread and butter.

To buy: Loki Lavender Dessert Plate, $11 at cb2.com

To buy: Versace Animalier Bread and Butter Plate, $90 at niemanmarcus.com

Bold Candles

Set the mood with pillar candles of all colors and shapes. These unscented styles will look great and won't mess with the aromas of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes.

To buy: Areaware Totem Candles, $16 at areaware.com

To buy: British Colour Taper Candles, $40 at urbanoutfitters.com

Groovy Coasters

These funky coasters will add a bit of texture and color to any dining room table.

To buy: Dune Coasters, $45 at areaware.com

Agate Cheese Board

Put those nice cheese knives to work on an equally glamorous cheese board. The 9-inch size is perfect for fitting on a crowded table or to set on the kitchen island.

To buy: Quincy Composite Agate Cheese Board, $68 at anthropologie.com

Bright Casserole Dish

The standard 9-by-13-inch baker doesn't need to lack character. Use this ceramic dish for everything from pasta bakes to a giant platter of mashed potatoes, and feel good about putting it on full display.

To buy: Great Jones Hot Dish, $75 at greatjonesgoods.com

Rainbow Steak Knives

What's better than the best steak knives for the dining table? A colorful set, of course. This Laguiole set is something special and will delight friends and family alike.

To buy: Laguiole en Aubrac Rainbow Steak Knives, Set of 6, $700 at williams-sonoma.com

Insulated Water Glasses

If you'd rather not fuss with coasters, an insulated drinking glass is a smart option. This set is good-looking to boot and comes in three colors great for holiday tabletop styles.

To buy: Double Walled 6-ounce Glasses, Set of 2, $50 at patternbrands.com

Seasonal Cocotte

It's hard to deny the appeal of Staub's signature cocottes shaped like seasonal ingredients. The pumpkin is a perennial favorite, and for an extra special tabletop we'd accept nothing less than this iconic shape (and incredibly useful tool).

To buy: Staub Cast Iron Pumpkin Cocotte, $300 (originally $457) at zwilling.com

Quartz Corkscrew

We always love a corkscrew that looks great while doing the very important job of accessing a great vintage.

To buy: William D. Scott Corkscrew, $210 at neimanmarcus.com

Large Punch Bowl

Nothing screams "party" like a good punch bowl, and this one will have your guests enjoying every minute. Keep it accessible on the table or on display nearby.

To buy: Viski Punch Bowl, $52 at wayfair.com