10 Ideas How to Decorate Your Restaurant for Thanksgiving

Welcome to the season of gratitude, where the leaves turn golden and the air is filled with the scent of pumpkin spice. As a restaurateur, you're not just offering a meal; you're creating an experience. So, let's embark on a journey to transform your space into a Thanksgiving wonderland. Each idea is a chapter in this story of festive transformation, complete with specific items, purchasing sources, and styling tips.

1. Autumnal Entrance

Begin your story at the door. Adorn the entrance with a wreath of autumn leaves, available at your local craft store. Accentuate it with small orange and yellow faux flowers for a pop of color. This warm welcome sets the tone for the festive experience within.

• Supplies: Autumn leaf wreath, small orange and yellow faux flowers.
• Where to Buy: Craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

Steps: 

1. Select a size-appropriate autumn leaf wreath that fits your door.
2. Intertwine small orange and yellow faux flowers into the wreath for added color.
3. Secure the wreath to the door using a sturdy hook or ribbon.

2. Rustic Table Runners

Each table in your restaurant is a blank canvas. Dress them with rustic burlap runners, easily sourced from textile stores. Pair these with lace for an elegant touch. The combination of rough burlap and delicate lace mirrors the blend of tradition and modernity in your cuisine.

• Supplies: Burlap runners, lace trim.
• Where to Buy: Textile stores or online fabric retailers like Fabric.com.

Steps: 

1. Measure the length of your tables and cut the burlap runners accordingly, allowing a few inches to hang over the edges.
2. Layer the lace trim over the burlap and secure it with fabric glue or discreet stitches.
3. Center the runners on each table, smoothing out any wrinkles.

3. Pumpkin Centerpieces

No Thanksgiving decor is complete without pumpkins. Purchase mini pumpkins from a local farmer's market and arrange them in clusters at the center of each table. Add a few cinnamon sticks for an aromatic touch, making the ambiance more inviting.

• Supplies: Mini pumpkins, cinnamon sticks.
• Where to Buy: Local farmer's market for pumpkins; grocery stores or spice shops for cinnamon sticks.

Steps: 

1. Arrange three to five mini pumpkins in the center of each table.
2. Tuck cinnamon sticks around the pumpkins for a fragrant touch.
3. If desired, add small tea lights or votive candles among the pumpkins for extra warmth.

4. Candlelight Warmth

Create a cozy atmosphere with candles. Use varying sizes of pillar candles, which can be found at home decor stores. Place them in clear glass holders and scatter them across the tables for a warm, flickering glow.

• Supplies: Pillar candles of varying sizes, and clear glass holders.
• Where to Buy: Home decor stores like Bed Bath & Beyond or IKEA.

Steps: 

1. Choose pillar candles of varying heights and diameters for visual interest.
2. Place each candle in a clear glass holder.
3. Scatter the candles across the tables, grouping them in odd numbers for a pleasing arrangement.

5. Gratitude Tree

Foster a sense of community with a gratitude tree. Set up a small bare branch in a vase at a visible spot. Provide tags and pens for guests to write what they're thankful for and hang them on the tree. These supplies are available at any stationery store.

• Supplies: Small bare branch, vase, tags, pens.
• Where to Buy: Stationery stores like Staples for tags and pens; home decor stores for vases.

Steps: 

1. Fill a sturdy vase with a small bare branch, ensuring it’s firmly anchored.
2. Place tags and pens in a decorative basket or holder near the tree.
3. Encourage guests to write what they're thankful for and hang the tags on the branches.

6. Seasonal Wall Art

Temporarily replace your regular wall art with Thanksgiving-themed pieces. Look for canvas prints or posters with fall scenes or Thanksgiving quotes at art stores. This simple switch can dramatically change the look and feel of your restaurant.

• Supplies: Canvas prints or posters with fall scenes or Thanksgiving quotes.
• Where to Buy: Art stores or online art retailers like Art.com.

Steps: 

1. Remove existing wall art and safely store it.
2. Hang Thanksgiving-themed canvas prints or posters in their place, making sure they are level and securely fastened.
3. Consider spotlighting the artwork with directional lighting for emphasis.

7. Harvest-Inspired Place Settings

Elevate your table setting with harvest-inspired plates and utensils. Opt for earth-toned dishware, complemented by gold or bronze cutlery. You can find these at restaurant supply stores or online retailers specializing in tableware.

• Supplies: Earth-toned plates, gold or bronze cutlery.
• Where to Buy: Restaurant supply stores.

Steps: 

1. Lay earth-toned plates on the tables, centered on the table runners.
2. Arrange gold or bronze cutlery beside each plate in the proper dining layout.
3. Fold napkins in a simple, elegant style and place them on the plates.

8. Thematic Menu Cards

Print your special Thanksgiving menu on themed cards. Use parchment paper for an old-world feel, available at any paper supply store. Present the menus in simple wooden holders for a rustic touch.

• Supplies: Parchment paper, wooden holders.
• Where to Buy: Paper supply stores like Paper Source for parchment paper; craft stores for wooden holders.

Steps: 

1. Print your Thanksgiving menu on parchment paper.
2. Trim the edges for a neat finish.
3. Insert each menu into a wooden holder and place it on the tables.

9. Handcrafted Table Tents

Add a personal touch to your tables with handcrafted table tents featuring Thanksgiving-themed quotes or fun facts. These can be made from cardstock, which you can find at any craft store. Decorate them with stamps or stickers for an extra flourish. This simple addition not only adds charm but also gives your guests a conversation starter, enhancing their dining experience.

• Supplies: Cardstock, stamps, stickers.
• Where to Buy: Craft stores like Joann Fabrics or online marketplaces like Etsy for stamps and stickers.

Steps: 

1. Cut cardstock into small tent shapes.
2. Decorate each tent with Thanksgiving-themed quotes or fun facts using stamps or stickers.
3. Place a table tent on each table, possibly near the centerpieces for visibility.

10. Seasonal Floral Arrangements

Finally, bring the beauty of autumn indoors with seasonal floral arrangements. Combine flowers like chrysanthemums and marigolds with autumn leaves and berries. These can be sourced from local florists or even assembled yourself with supplies from a floral market. Place these arrangements strategically around your restaurant, like on host stands or in restrooms, to spread the festive cheer throughout.

• Supplies: Chrysanthemums, marigolds, autumn leaves, berries.
• Where to Buy: Local florists or floral markets.

Steps: 

1. Select vases that complement your restaurant's decor.
2. Arrange chrysanthemums, marigolds, autumn leaves, and berries in the vases, balancing height and color.
3. Place the floral arrangements in key areas like the host stand, restrooms, and corners of the dining area.

Conclusion:

By carefully selecting and styling these elements, you're not just decorating your restaurant; you're crafting a story that your guests will be a part of. This Thanksgiving, let your restaurant be more than a place to eat – make it a place to create memories. Each decorative touch contributes to an atmosphere that invites warmth, gratitude, and togetherness, enhancing the overall customer experience and potentially increasing return visits.