Ina Garten Thanksgiving: 14 Hamptons Style Table Ideas That Look Effortlessly Expensive

Ina Garten Thanksgiving tables always look the same way: relaxed, generous and quietly elegant, as if everything simply fell into place. Fans know her as the host of the Food Network show Barefoot Contessa, but her story began in 1978, when she left a government job in Washington and bought a small specialty food store in Westhampton Beach, New York, according to her Wikipedia biography. That easy Hamptons style is what so many of us want on the fourth Thursday of November. The good news is that it is built from simple things: white pumpkins, plain linen, thrift store silver, fresh herbs and a few pears. Nothing has to match perfectly, and nothing has to cost much. Below are fourteen ideas inspired by her entertaining style, each one easy to make on a budget, so your table looks effortlessly expensive and you still have time to enjoy your guests..

An Ina Garten Thanksgiving Table, Hamptons Style

The secret of an Ina Garten Thanksgiving table is restraint. Instead of a busy mix of colors, she sticks to a calm palette: white, cream, soft green and a touch of blue. That makes even inexpensive pieces look intentional and rich. Start with a plain linen or cotton tablecloth, white plates and clear glasses, then add a few natural things like pumpkins, pears and herbs. Leave space on the table for the food, because the meal is always the star. Once you set this base, every idea below slots right in. Which color will be the main one on your table?..

You will need: A plain white or oatmeal tablecloth, white dinner plates, clear glasses, a few small white pumpkins, fresh herbs, pears.

How to make it: 1. Lay the tablecloth and iron out big creases. 2. Set white plates and clear glasses at each seat. 3. Add a low line of pumpkins, pears and herbs down the center. 4. Step back and remove anything that feels busy.

White Pumpkins Down the Center

For an Ina Garten Thanksgiving look, white pumpkins are the easiest way to make a fall table look calm and polished. Grocery stores and farm stands sell small ones for a few dollars each, and mini white gourds are even cheaper. Line them down the middle of the table in mixed sizes, tuck a little eucalyptus or a few dried leaves between them, and you have a centerpiece that guests can still see over. If you cannot find white pumpkins, paint orange ones with chalk paint. After the holiday, they can move to the porch for the rest of the season. How many will your table need?

You will need: 8 to 12 small white pumpkins or white gourds (or orange ones and white chalk paint), eucalyptus or dried leaves, a linen runner.

How to make it: 1. Lay a runner down the center of the table. 2. Place the biggest pumpkins first, spaced along the runner. 3. Fill the gaps with mini gourds, keeping everything low. 4. Tuck greenery between them so the line looks natural.

Ina Garten Thanksgiving Napkin Fold With a Sage Sprig

One of the most shared Thanksgiving tricks right now is a ten dollar napkin idea for a Hamptons style table, and this is our simple version. Fold plain white napkins into long neat rectangles, wrap them with kitchen twine and tuck in a sprig of fresh sage. The herb smells wonderful, it looks fresh and expensive, and a bunch of sage costs about the same as a coffee. It is exactly the kind of small, thoughtful touch you see on an Ina Garten Thanksgiving table. Could your napkins use a little green?

You will need: White cotton or linen napkins, kitchen twine, one bunch of fresh sage, scissors, an iron.

How to make it: 1. Iron each napkin flat. 2. Fold it in half, then in thirds lengthwise to make a long rectangle. 3. Wrap twine around the middle twice and tie a small knot. 4. Slide a sage sprig under the twine and set the napkin on the plate.

A Hydrangea and Pear Centerpiece

Hydrangeas are a Hamptons classic, and a few stems go a long way. Cut them short and pack them into a low white bowl so they form a soft cloud of blooms. Then circle the bowl with green and red pears, which add color and a little whimsy for almost nothing. Grocery store hydrangeas often cost less than a full bouquet, and they last longer if you dip the stem ends in hot water first. This centerpiece is low enough for easy conversation across the table. Would you choose white or soft green blooms?

You will need: 2 to 4 hydrangea stems, a low white bowl or soup tureen, floral foam or a small jar inside the bowl, 6 to 8 pears.

How to make it: 1. Cut the stems short and place them in water right away. 2. Fill the bowl with water or wet floral foam. 3. Pack the hydrangea heads tightly so they rest on the rim. 4. Arrange the pears in a loose ring around the bowl.

Ina Garten Thanksgiving Runner From a Drop Cloth

Linen runners can be pricey, but a canvas drop cloth from the hardware store gives the same relaxed texture for a fraction of the cost. Cut a long strip, pull a few threads along the edges to make a soft fringe, and wash it once so it softens. The natural oatmeal color fits right into an Ina Garten Thanksgiving look and works with every season after. One drop cloth can make several runners, so you can share with friends. It also looks great under a Christmas centerpiece next month. Who would believe it came from the paint aisle?

You will need: A cotton canvas drop cloth, fabric scissors, a measuring tape, a washing machine and dryer.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the drop cloth to soften it. 2. Measure the table length and add 24 inches for overhang. 3. Cut a strip about 16 inches wide. 4. Pull out threads along the cut edges to make a half inch fringe and iron it flat.

Mismatched Thrift Store Silver

Matching silverware sets are expensive, but mismatched vintage forks and spoons look charming and collected. Thrift stores and estate sales often sell old silver plated pieces for under a dollar each. Mix patterns freely and the table instantly feels like it belongs to a family with a story. A quick polish brings back the shine. This easy trick gives your table a relaxed, collected look that never feels stuffy. Start a small collection now and keep adding every year. Does your family have an old silver drawer somewhere?

You will need: Mismatched vintage forks, knives and spoons, silver polish, a soft cloth, warm soapy water.

How to make it: 1. Wash each piece in warm soapy water and dry it well. 2. Rub on silver polish with a soft cloth, then buff until it shines. 3. Group the pieces by size so each setting has one fork, knife and spoon. 4. Lay them on a napkin at each seat.

Herb Bundle Place Cards

For an Ina Garten Thanksgiving welcome, little bundles of rosemary, sage and thyme tied with twine make charming place cards. Add a small kraft paper tag with each guest’s name, and the table smells as good as the kitchen. Guests can even take the herbs home. One pack of fresh herbs from the grocery store makes enough bundles for a big table, so it is one of the cheapest touches here. Kids can help write the tags while the turkey cooks. Who would sit next to whom at your table this year?

You will need: Fresh rosemary, sage and thyme, kitchen twine, small kraft paper tags, a fine black pen.

How to make it: 1. Cut the herbs into 5 inch sprigs. 2. Make small bundles with one sprig of each herb. 3. Write each guest’s name on a tag. 4. Tie the tag to the bundle with twine and set one on each plate.

A Glass Cloche With Mini Gourds

A glass cloche makes anything look precious. Put a handful of mini gourds and a little moss under the dome and it becomes a small display for a kitchen island, a sideboard or a bar cart. Cloches are often found at thrift stores, and a large glass bowl turned upside down works just as well. This is the kind of quiet styling detail that makes a home feel ready for guests without much effort. Change what is inside for Christmas and you have a new display in seconds. Where would yours sit?

You will need: A glass cloche or a large glass bowl, a wooden board or plate, mini gourds, preserved moss.

How to make it: 1. Set the board where you want the display. 2. Spread a little moss in the center. 3. Pile the mini gourds on the moss in a small mound. 4. Lower the cloche over everything and wipe away fingerprints.

Ina Garten Thanksgiving Blue and White Platters

Blue and white china is a classic in coastal homes, and it looks beautiful next to white pumpkins and greenery. Instead of hiding platters in a cupboard, display them on open shelves, a plate rack or a sideboard so they become decor before the meal. Thrift stores often have single blue and white plates for a dollar or two, and they do not need to match. Mix sizes and patterns for a collected look straight out of an Ina Garten Thanksgiving. Then simply lift them down when it is time to serve. Do you have a favorite platter?

You will need: Blue and white plates and platters, small plate stands or a plate rack, a strip of garland, small white pumpkins.

How to make it: 1. Wash the plates and pick the largest ones for the back. 2. Stand them on plate stands or lean them on the shelf. 3. Layer smaller plates in front. 4. Finish with a strip of garland and a few small pumpkins.

A Rolled Napkin With Twine and Wheat

Dried wheat is the symbol of a good harvest, and a few stalks make a napkin feel special. Roll a cream napkin tightly, tie it with twine and slide three stalks of wheat under the knot. It looks like something from a country inn, and dried wheat costs very little at craft stores. Use it on the plate or lay it across the top of the setting. This is also a nice job to give a guest who arrives early and asks how they can help. Which do you prefer, the sage fold or the wheat roll?

You will need: Cream or white napkins, kitchen twine, dried wheat stalks, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Fold the napkin in half to make a triangle, then roll it from the long side. 2. Tie it in the middle with twine. 3. Trim the wheat stalks to about 7 inches. 4. Slide three stalks under the twine and fan them out.

Clear Jars of Cranberries as Accents

Fresh cranberries are one of the prettiest and cheapest Thanksgiving decorations. Pour them into clear jars, glasses or vases and they glow a bright jewel red against white plates. Add water and a sprig of greenery on top for a fresh look, or keep them dry for a simple accent. A bag of cranberries costs a few dollars and can fill several jars. Line three jars down the table or put one at each end of the buffet. If you love this look, our Thanksgiving table ideas have more easy touches. How many jars will you fill?

You will need: Clear glass jars or vases in mixed heights, 2 to 3 bags of fresh cranberries, water (optional), greenery sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the jars. 2. Fill each jar with cranberries, leaving a little room at the top. 3. Add water if you like, so the berries float. 4. Tuck a sprig of greenery on top and set the jars down the table.

Ina Garten Thanksgiving Pear Place Cards

A ripe pear with a name tag tied to its stem is one of the sweetest place cards you can make. It looks elegant and a little playful, which is exactly the Ina Garten Thanksgiving feeling. Choose pears with long stems and let them stand upright on the plate or on the napkin. Guests love taking them home, or you can save them for a pear tart later in the week. A bag of pears costs less than a set of fancy place card holders. Would your guests guess where to sit?

You will need: Pears with stems, small kraft or white tags, thin ribbon or twine, a fine pen.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the pears. 2. Write each guest’s name on a tag. 3. Tie the tag to the pear stem with a short piece of twine. 4. Stand one pear on each plate.

Striped Napkins From Dish Towels

An Ina Garten Thanksgiving is about comfort, and big napkins help. Cotton dish towels with simple blue and white stripes make generous, casual napkins with a relaxed coastal look. They cost much less than linen napkins and you can use them in the kitchen all year. Fold them in thirds and lay them across the plates, or tuck them under the forks. It is the kind of practical, comfortable choice that makes a dinner feel easy instead of formal. Your guests will be grateful when the gravy comes around. Which stripe would you choose?

You will need: Blue and white striped cotton dish towels, an iron, kitchen twine (optional).

How to make it: 1. Wash the towels so they soften. 2. Iron them flat. 3. Fold each towel in thirds lengthwise, then in half. 4. Lay them across the plates or to the left of each setting.

Ina Garten Thanksgiving Flowers in a Pitcher

Finish your Ina Garten Thanksgiving table with flowers that look freshly picked from a garden, not arranged by a florist. Use a white pitcher, keep the stems short and let the blooms fall naturally over the edge. Grocery store roses, a stem of hydrangea and a few pieces of eucalyptus are plenty. A low and loose arrangement feels warm and welcoming, and nobody has to peek around it to talk. It is the final relaxed touch on a table that looks effortlessly expensive. What flowers grow near you in late fall?

You will need: A white pitcher, a small bunch of roses, one hydrangea stem, eucalyptus or garden greenery, sharp scissors.

How to make it: 1. Fill the pitcher with cool water. 2. Cut the greenery short and add it first to make a base. 3. Add the hydrangea, then the roses, letting some lean over the rim. 4. Keep the whole arrangement under about 12 inches tall.