Dark and Moody Thanksgiving Table

Dark and Moody Thanksgiving Table: ideas for thanksgiving table using dark purples, and red leaves, flowers, and fruit to create the perfect centrepiece.

This Thanksgiving table is Dark and Moody and full of ideas for your thanksgiving table. It was inspired by fall fruits like apples, red pears, pomegranates, grapes, and plums.

It kind of reminds me of when I was little and made a paper mâché cornucopia horn at school. I can remember my mom making it the centrepiece of the Thanksgiving table full of fall fruits and vegetables. This is a slightly more sophisticated version. 😉

I started out with a dark runner down the centre of the table and added my paint dipped brass candlesticks, see how I made them here. Next I started layering the centre piece.

Materials:

sand cherry branches
Japanese maple branches
purple kale leaves
Northern sea oats ornament grass
Japanese painted fern
pomagranates
red pears
red delicious apples
red and black grapes
plums
blackberries
sedum autumn joy flowers
dahlias

To Make the Dark and Moody Centrepiece

First I added some beautiful dark purple sand cherry branches, and Japanese maple branches. If you didn’t have these, any dark leaves would work, including red maple. Then I layered in some purple kale leaves, Japanese fern, and some grasses. I love the delicate texture of the fern and the grasses, in contrast to the other leaves.

Next I layered on the fruit. Starting with the large pomegranates, red pears, and apples, grape clusters, and then adding in the plums, and finally the small black berries. Figs would be lovely too if you could find fresh ones.

My final layer was to tuck in some flowers. I started first with the sedum, and then adding in the final finishing touch of the dark dahlias.

Because I just layered all the florals on top of the runner, and they don’t have a water source this arrangement won’t last too long. But there is a certain beauty in creating something in the moment to be enjoyed in the moment. Do it in the afternoon and it will be lovely for dinner, but don’t do it the night before.

If you did want it to last longer you could use floral water tubes for each individual bloom or arrange these in vases, or a long low container with floral foam. This method is much easier, but not too lasting.

Place Setting Ideas for your Thanksgiving Table

The place settings are quite simple. I started with my everyday white plates, and then layered a dark linen napkin and a black side plate. On each side plate there is a piece of Japanese painted fern and a red pear or apple -I alternated for interest. I used black cutlery, but gold would have been pretty too, to tie in with the brass candlesticks. And finally I had some pretty purple glasses.

This table was so fun to put together, and I loved being able to forage for a lot of the materials in my own yard. I think this dark and moody look is going to be on the rise, and it feels especially perfect for fall.