How to Dress Up Your Thanksgiving Table in Just 10 Minutes

Even though this year’s Thanksgiving celebrations will be on the small side, you can still make the holiday feel as special as it always does. The easiest way to make your dinner stand out from typical weeknight meals, aside from delivering a delicious feast, is to dress up your table.

If you’re new to tablescaping — or the art of setting the table — it’s a whole lot easier than you might think. And it doesn’t take a lot of time, either: In just 10 minutes, you can have a holiday-ready table that’s fit for your Thanksgiving dinner. QVC’s Alberti Popaj walked us through the basics of laying and dressing up a simple but dazzling holiday table during Kitchn’s Thanksgiving Food Fest. Here are just a few of the great tips he shared.

Table linens instantly make your dinner table feel fancy. Start with a beautiful table cloth, then ditch the paper napkins for cloth napkins. Both lend immediate sophistication without fuss. And don’t even worry about folding your napkins in an elaborate way — folding them simply does the trick just perfectly.

While it’s easy to skip the centerpiece, this is where you can have a whole lot of fun. Use cake plates and cutting boards to achieve varied height, which is the key to an amazing centerpiece. Fall accents like gourds, nuts, and sprigs of greenery or herbs make it seasonal. And the most important thing? Candles!

Bringing the gilded look to your table not only makes it shimmer, but it also ensures that it feels festive and celebratory. Arrange glittered garland in the center of your table, along with gold flatware at each table setting, and there’s no denying your Thanksgiving dinner will feel extra special this year. Enjoy!