14 Festive Friendsgiving Table Setting Ideas for Fall Vibes
This post is all about Friendsgiving table setting ideas.
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For college students or recent graduates, Thanksgiving break can be a weird time of year.
Some students live close enough to their families that they can go home for Thanksgiving. Others might not be able to go home for break.
If you’re staying on campus for Thanksgiving break or recently moved to a new city post-grad, away from family, throwing a Friendsgiving dinner is a great way to enjoy the communal vibes and delicious food of Thanksgiving, even if you’re not home with your family.
No matter whether this is your very first Friendsgiving or whether your friend group celebrates Friendsgiving every year, we’ve rounded up 14 Friendsgiving table setting ideas to help you level up your table presentation.
Each of these table decor ideas is the perfect way to make your Friendsgiving tablescape look classier, fancier, and capture those fall vibes!
Here are 14 Festive Friendsgiving Table Setting Ideas for Fall Vibes.
FRIENDSGIVING TABLE SETTING IDEAS
1. GOLD FLATWARE
Gold flatware is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your place settings from bland and boring to fun and festive.
The luxurious warm tones of gold flatware are the perfect compliment to the rest of your fall-themed table decor.
Gold flatware is totally reusable in your day-to-day life, and it also works great for any holiday-themed dinner parties that you might throw later in the year.
However, if you don’t want to commit to buying a set of gold flatware, you can also easily buy gold-toned disposable plastic silverware just for this Friendsgiving occasion!
2. PLAID TABLECLOTH
Plaid tablecloths are another easy and cost-effective Friendsgiving table setting DIY.
They add the perfect pop of fall-themed flair to your table settings, and of course, as an added bonus, they’ll protect your table from any spills during dinner.
For an especially budget-friendly twist on this DIY idea, scout the linen section of your local thrift store for plaid tablecloths or even sheets that can be washed, cut, and repurposed into a tablecloth.
Or, you can hit up your local fabric store for a bolt of plaid fabric that can easily be transformed into a super cute, super cost-effective plaid tablecloth!
3. FAUX FLOWERS
A Thanksgiving table centerpiece made of real flowers can easily run you hundreds of dollars.
Thankfully (no pun intended), you can totally recreate the look with faux flowers for a fraction of the cost.
Then, channel your inner florist and gather them into a super cute, fall-themed floral arrangement that’ll look perfect decorating the middle of your Friendsgiving tablescape.
All you need to recreate this DIY idea is a vase and a bunch of faux flowers, which you can buy from your local craft store or online!
4. PAPER PLATES
Maybe you’re not quite ready to commit to buying a set of nice dishes for dinner parties yet.
That’s totally OK! You can still create an aesthetically pleasing, fall-themed Friendsgiving tablescape using disposable plates!
As Thanksgiving season starts to roll around, check online or at stores like Target, TJ Maxx, and Home Goods for fall-themed paper plates.
You’re sure to find a set of disposable plates that are so cute, your guests might forget that they’re made of paper!
5. CANDLES
Candles are another super easy way to class up your Friendsgiving table.
For a rustic, cottagecore vibe, buy some taper candles online and look through your local thrift or antique store for vintage candlesticks.
Alternatively, you can buy a couple of thicker, sturdier pillar candles, which will look just as beautiful flickering at the center of your dinner table.
Finally, if the thought of open flames on your table makes you a little nervous, you can just as easily recreate the look with faux LED candles!
6. PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE
If you’re looking for a showstopping Friendsgiving table setting centerpiece, you can’t go wrong with mini pumpkins!
If your college campus is located near an orchard or farmer’s market, swing by and pick up some adorable miniature pumpkins and gourds to scatter across your table.
However, if you can’t get your hands on real mini pumpkins, faux gourds will look just as cute!
Plus, at the end of the night, each of your guests can go home with their own mini pumpkin as a memento of your Friendsgiving celebration.
7. THEMED NAPKINS
Thanksgiving-themed napkins are another great way to upgrade your Friendsgiving table settings.
While you’re on the hunt for Thanksgiving-themed paper plates, you’re sure to also find some cute Thanksgiving-themed paper napkins.
Or, if you really want to go the extra mile, you can buy some fall-themed cloth napkins for an extra-fancy Friendsgiving tablescape.
8. TWINE NAPKIN RINGS
If you’re planning on setting the table with cloth napkins this Friendsgiving, twine napkin rings will add a festive touch to your dinner party.
This idea is especially easy because all you need is a ball of twine and a pair of scissors!
Wrap your flatware in your cloth napkins, and then cut a short length of twine.
Wrap the twine around the napkin bundle, and then tie it into a cute little bow to finish it all off!
9. BURLAP TABLE RUNNER
Table runners are a great way to transform your regular dinner table into a fancy tablescape fit for a five star restaurant.
If you want to lend your table a farmhouse, apple orchard-type vibe, you can’t go wrong with a burlap table runner.
If you’re running low on time, you can totally buy a premade burlap table runner online.
However, if you want a more cost effective DIY option, you can also easily transform a bolt of burlap fabric from the craft store into a burlap table runner with just a pair of scissors!
10. PERSONALIZED PLACE CARDS
To show your friends that you really care, decorate your table with personalized place cards for each of your guests.
These place cards are another super easy Friendsgiving table setting DIY idea—all you need is some cardstock paper and pens.
Use your best handwriting to write each of your friends’ names on a piece of cardstock.
If you’re feeling extra creative, you can also doodle some iconic Thanksgiving symbols on each place card, like pumpkins, apples, fall leaves, and turkeys!
11. COLORFUL GLASSWARE
If fancy crystal stemware is a little too pristine and bougie for your taste, colorful glassware can totally give your tablescape a quirkier, more approachable vibe.
Swap out your normal translucent wine glasses with colorful glassware that matches the overall color scheme of your table setting.
Choose one fall-themed color, like plum, pumpkin orange, or olive green for a more unified look.
Or, give everyone at your table a different colored wine glass for a super colorful, boho table setting! Check out our Friendsgiving drink ideas for more ideas that can inspire your glassware.
12. PINE CONE BOUQUETS
Pine cones are another great source of inspiration for an autumnal Friendsgiving centerpiece.
To DIY your own pine cone bouquet centerpiece, all you need is some pine cones, some wooden skewers, a mason jar, and some twine.
Glue a wooden stick to the bottom of each pine cone. Then, gather your pine cones into a bouquet-shaped formation and place them in your mason jar.
Finally, tie a piece of twine around the mouth of the mason jar for an extra rustic finishing touch!
13. EUCALYPTUS LEAVES
Eucalyptus leaves are another excellent way to add a classy, festive, cottagecore touch to your Friendsgiving tablescape.
You can buy fresh eucalyptus branches at home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s, or you might also be able to find them in the flower department of certain grocery stores.
However, if you can’t get your hands on fresh eucalyptus leaves, you can also buy faux leaves that look just like the real thing!
Combine your eucalyptus leaves with some faux flowers, pine cones, and pumpkins for a gorgeous Friendsgiving centerpiece that screams fall!
14. GIVE THANKS TABLE RUNNER
Finally, this “give thanks” table runner is a super easy, cost effective, and recyclable Friendsgiving table setting DIY.
All you need is a big strip of brown butcher paper and a white calligraphy pen!
A “give thanks” table runner is cute and perfectly on-theme for any Friendsgiving celebration.
Plus, it’ll keep your table safe from any spills or stains, and at the end of the night, you can just throw it in the recycling bin because it’s made of paper!
If you’re in charge of throwing Friendsgiving dinner this year, don’t stress about your table settings. We’ve got you covered! Each of these festive Friendsgiving table setting ideas is classy, cute, and most importantly, full of fall vibes. No matter your budget or craftiness level, this year’s Friendsgiving is sure to be the most aesthetically pleasing one yet.
