Thanksgiving is rooted in, well, thanks. It’s a holiday where gratitude infuses our gatherings, the stories we share, and all that we have around us—including each other. With the dining table at the heart of the celebrations, the floral centerpiece sets the tone for the entire evening. Whether your hosting style leans classic, modern, or delightfully unexpected, your arrangement can be a reflection of your unique aesthetic and the atmosphere you want to create.
At Mayflowers Floral Studios, we believe that the right flowers can tell a story — one that blends nature’s palette with your own sense of style. Below, we’ve laid out five signature looks to inspire your Thanksgiving table this year, complete with flower pairings that bring each theme to life.
Top Thanksgiving Table Styling Trends
Cozy
There’s something deeply comforting about Thanksgiving, whether it’s the familiar aroma of favorite dishes, the hum of conversation, and the glow of candlelight softening the room. For many, the goal is to create a space that feels relaxed, lived-in, and warm.
For a cozy table, we recommend incorporating chrysanthemums into your tablescape. With heirloom varieties gaining more attention and a wide range of colors, you can stay seasonal, truly capturing the time of year that invites us to turn inward and snuggle up! Opt for peach or mauve colored mums for a soft color palette. You can also speak with one our designers to see what additional flowers would compliment the mums best—whether smaller textural elements like waxflower, or dried accents like wheat or pampas grass that accentuate the rustic or cottage-core vibe. Together, they create a palette that evokes warmth and nostalgia — perfect for a table that invites guests to linger long after dessert.
To enhance the effect, incorporate natural textures: linen napkins, wooden candle holders, and amber glassware. Think of this as the floral equivalent of a knit sweater — understated, soft, and effortlessly welcoming.
Elegant
If you’re eager to break out your fine China, gleaming crystal goblets, and perfectly pressed linens, you’re drawn to timeless elegance. An elegant Thanksgiving table calls for a floral arrangement that complements refinement without overwhelming it.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a flower as timeless or elegant as a garden rose. At Mayflowers Floral Studio, we carry David Austin roses because of their stunning beauty, the variety of heirloom blooms, and even their soft fragrance. When peony season is a long ways off, the garden rose also makes a fantastic stand-in until May rolls around.
Keep it classic with white or a monochromatic color palette for a clean aesthetic. And if you’re hoping to keep everything coordinated with your flatware, bring your ideal vase into one of our studios to design your centerpiece. You’ll save a little money and you’ll have a floral arrangement that is singular to you and your style!
Drama
Some hosts love to make a statement, and the Thanksgiving table is a prime opportunity. For those who gravitate toward bold colors, layered textures, and striking silhouettes, a dramatic centerpiece can transform the meal into a full sensory experience.
Enter the orchid. Graceful and sculptural with theatrical flair, she’s ready for her closeup! Orchids come in bold colors like sunshine yellow, deep burgundy, or even fuchsia. With this range of color palettes, you can put the spotlight on the autumnal hues and elevate it. And whether you want your centerpiece to include florals that compliment the orchids, or you’d like them to stand on their own in a minimal statement piece, your table will deliver on the wow factor!
Joy
Thanksgiving often brings together generations under one roof — laughter echoing down hallways, children darting between legs, and too many cooks in the kitchen. If your home bursts with energy this time of year, your table should too.
A joyful arrangement celebrates abundance, color, and playfulness. Few flowers embody that spirit better than hydrangeas. Often overlooked for autumn, hydrangeas offer cloud-like fullness and a sense of movement that captures the fullness of joy this time of year.
Ask for green or antique hydrangeas that have a particularly stunning marbling of colors. With shades of deep purples or blue-green, our designers can compose a design that’s full of warmth, depth, and color like your Thanksgiving table. These plush blooms create a sense of generosity — the same spirit that defines the holiday.
To bring it all together, add whimsical touches: coordinated napkins, homemade accent pieces, or small bud vases scattered along the table. Each detail reinforces a theme of togetherness, joy, and the beauty of imperfection.
Eclectic
Maybe your Thanksgiving table doesn’t follow tradition — and that’s exactly what makes it memorable. You mix vintage finds with modern glassware, serve family recipes with a twist, and fill the space with conversation starters. For hosts with a love of individuality and texture, an eclectic arrangement is the perfect finishing touch.
We recommend protea, a flower that captures the unusual, the striking, and unexpected. These South African blooms (also referred to as sugarbushes) can get big, especially the King Protea, so you might only need one or two to make a statement at your Thanksgiving table. We recommend pairing them with other blooms that help showcase their bold, radial shape and texture. At Mayflowers Floral Studio, our designers are eager to offer suggestions of coordinating blooms and foliage that would create the perfect, eclectic florals!
We think of it as floral storytelling: each element adds a chapter, revealing a bit more about your personality and creative spirit.
Bringing It All Together
No matter your style, a Thanksgiving floral arrangement should reflect what the holiday means to you, whether that’s comfort, connection, or creativity. Flowers have a way of capturing emotion in color and form, turning a simple table into a heartfelt experience.
When planning your Thanksgiving table, consider not only the flowers but the feeling you want to create. Do you want your guests to feel wrapped in warmth, impressed by sophistication, or delighted by surprise? Once you know the mood, the blooms will follow naturally.
At Mayflowers Floral Studios, our designers specialize in translating personality into floral design. From cozy, textural arrangements to elegant, sculptural compositions, we’ll help you craft a centerpiece that becomes the crown jewel of your table — and a reflection of your story.
This Thanksgiving, let your flowers speak for you: of gratitude, beauty, and the joyful art of gathering.