With Thanksgiving just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to set your tablescape ideas in stone! In case Pinterest just isn’t cutting it this year and you’re in need of some real-life inspiration, Margaret Elizabeth and Designsake Studio are here to help.

The creative duo worked to pull colors and textures from their surrounding California land- and sea-scape to create a Thanksgiving fête that feels both festive and cozy. Whether by the floral table runner or the soothing, organic color palette, we think you’ll be just as smitten as we were with this down-to-earth celebration. Read on for Margaret’s styling tips!

1. Pick a color palette:

Whenever I design a tablescape, I like to pick a color palette first. It helps me define the mood of the table and narrow down the materials I want to use. We focused on soft greens, lavender linen napkins and all-white porcelain from Hudson Grace. We wanted this table to have a light, natural feel. The view of Tomales Bay from the table was so beautiful and we didn’t want anything to take away from that, so we chose to keep things simple and somewhat neutral.

2. Bring in natural elements:

We were in Marshall, California, which sits on the Marin Coast in Northern California. There is so much natural beauty in this part of the world and we wanted to bring as much of that inside as possible. We created a eucalyptus garland and interspersed sprigs of local flora that we clipped in the forest next to the house (don’t tell!). On each table setting we placed a persimmon and we used those same persimmons throughout the garland for a little extra texture.

The view of Tomales Bay from the table was so beautiful and we didn’t want anything to take away from that, so we chose to keep things simple and somewhat neutral.

3. Choose your lighting:

I always love the look and feel of candlelight at dinner. My favorite thing about these candelabras is that they really make a statement! The fact that it was just two standing pieces made them easy to position, too. I loved the mix of the soft gold against the palette of the table and they picked up our brass flatware nicely. Later in the evening, the candles cast a beautiful glow, and they sat high enough on the table that they weren’t blinded to those in front of them.

4. Make it fun:

One tradition my family loves to celebrate at Thanksgiving is taking your place card and writing on the inside what you’re thankful for. We pass them around the table and then everyone reads the card they were given. We like to guess who the card belonged to. This game is always fun because it’s a mix of lightheartedness and sentimentality.