Pumpkin up the volume! Looking to host the Friendsgiving of the year? We’ve crafted the ultimate guide, filled with pumpkin painting ideas and stylish Thanksgiving table decorations to create a festive, inviting scene. Picture this: gorgeous Thanksgiving table decorations, perfectly paired wines, and mouthwatering dishes that bring everyone together. From creative pumpkin painting ideas that add a personal touch to your decor to curated menu planning and table settings that dazzle, we’ve covered every detail for an unforgettable celebration.
What is Friendsgiving?
Friendsgiving is Thanksgiving’s fun, laid-back cousin, where you can skip the formalities and get creative with your crew. Think pumpkin painting ideas that add a splash of color and personality to your decor, and ideas for Thanksgiving table decorations that are all about cozy vibes and stylish touches. It’s a potluck-style gathering where friends bring their best dishes, share laughs, and create a table as unique as your friendships. From personalized pumpkin centerpieces to DIY decor that sets a warm and festive scene, Friendsgiving is the perfect time to celebrate gratitude, friendship, and all the fun traditions you get to make together.
Orange you glad it’s Friendsgiving? We took inspiration from our tableware and ran with a pumpkin theme that tied every detail together. From the pumpkin-hued linens to seasonal accents like mini pumpkins and rich autumn colors, our decor set the perfect festive tone. The tableware gave us that classic harvest vibe, while the menu and wine choices echoed the warm, cozy feel. Going all in on a theme made our tablescape feel cohesive, inviting, and totally autumn-ready—perfect for a memorable Friendsgiving feast!
Pumpkin Painting Ideas
Let’s squash the idea that pumpkins are just for carving! Our pumpkin painting ideas added a fun, creative twist to our Friendsgiving. You don’t need Picasso skills to create a stunning look—just grab faux pumpkins plus some Mod Podge, craft paintbrushes and dried flowers for an easy, elegant design.
Simply brush on the Mod Podge, place the dried flowers in your desired arrangement, and seal everything with a final coat to lock in the beauty. The result? Gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pumpkins that not only add a natural, elegant touch to your decor but also bring a unique, earthy charm to your Friendsgiving tablescape. Definitely incorporating pumpkin painting ideas this Thanksgiving.
Whether you opt for delicate floral patterns, vibrant hues, or even a mix of textures, these painted pumpkins create a stunning focal point. Plus, these decorated faux pumpkins last much longer than traditional carved ones, making them a timeless addition to your celebration that you can enjoy all season long. They’re the perfect way to elevate your decor and make a statement without the hassle of carving!
Our pumpkin painting ideas are an easy way to spark some fun conversation, and everyone leaves with a personalized piece of decor that adds even more charm to the table. Plus, it’s a great way to kick off the night with some hands-on creativity before diving into the food and festivities!
@twinspirational Pumpkin painting with @Pfaltzgraff1811 ♬ gilmore lala – <3
Pumpkin painting at Friendsgiving is the perfect way to add some fun and creativity to the celebration. It’s a laid-back activity that gives everyone a chance to get a little crafty while still enjoying the company of friends.
Ideas for Thanksgiving Table Decorations: Style a Gorgeous Tablescape
Looking for ideas for Thanksgiving table decorations that will truly impress your guests? We’ve got you covered with a beautiful tablescape that’s both elegant and festive, setting the perfect mood for your gathering. We love starting with pumpkin linens, which immediately bring that cozy, autumn vibe to the table. The rich orange and earthy tones complement the fall season, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Ideas for Thanksgiving Table Decorations: Set Beautiful Place Settings
Gourd times ahead! Each place setting featured gold charger plates, which added a touch of sophistication and sparkle that instantly elevated the whole look. These metallic accents pop against the rich, pumpkin-inspired linens, setting the perfect autumn mood. Next, we bring in the timeless charm of the Pfaltzgraff Plymouth collection, which adds depth and elegance to the table.
The combination of pumpkin tones, metallic accents, and classic dinnerware creates a stunning focal point that captures the essence of Thanksgiving. Whether your style is rustic or refined, this tablescape is guaranteed to make your celebration chic, memorable, and full of style! Definitely have fun with your own ideas for Thanksgiving table decorations
Ideas for Thanksgiving Table Decorations: Add Hand-Painted Fall Wine Glasses
The Pfaltzgraff Plymouth Leaf Luster Wine Glasses added the perfect touch of elegance to our fall tablescape. With delicate metallic leaf designs in warm gold and bronze hues, these glasses captured the essence of autumn and shimmered beautifully in the light. Whether we served wine or seasonal cocktails, they brought a festive, refined feel to our gathering, adding just the right amount of autumn charm to our table.
Ideas for Thanksgiving Table Decorations: Create Autumn Centerpieces
Fall in love with these blooms! This cheerful bouquet brings all the cozy, autumn vibes to your table with a mix of bright orange roses, sunny yellow alstroemeria, and a pop of red for a bold twist. The delicate baby’s breath and elegant white calla lilies add just the right amount of charm, creating a perfect blend of festive colors. Set against a pumpkin-inspired backdrop, this arrangement isn’t just a centerpiece—it’s the life of the (Friendsgiving) party! It’s the kind of fall florals that make you want to gather ‘round and celebrate in style.
Selecting the Perfect Wines for Thanksgiving
Let’s raise a glass and give thanks a pour! As we planned our Friendsgiving menu, we knew the right wine would be the ultimate finishing touch to elevate the flavors of each dish. Our standout choice? The bold and velvety J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon. Its rich, full-bodied notes paired perfectly with our turkey burgers and hearty fall sides, adding a touch of elegance to every bite.
Planning a Delicious Thanksgiving Menu
Oh my gourd, we’re ready to feast! When planning our Friendsgiving menu, we knew it had to be a mix of classic comfort and fun surprises to wow our guests. Think of it as tradition, but with a side of flair! Since we went full-on pumpkin-themed, we started with pumpkin squash bites—festive, flavorful, and easy to whip up. You can make them from scratch or grab them pre-made and simply reheat.
We’re falling for pumpkin perfection! We also served pumpkin chips with a savory cream cheese and chive dip—a total crowd-pleaser and the perfect way to kick off the festivities. These crispy, flavorful chips paired with the creamy, tangy dip were a hit with our guests and set a relaxed, welcoming tone for the evening. Having something ready as soon as guests walk in is always a good idea, especially when it’s a dish that’s easy to prepare and serve.
The best part? This combo doesn’t require any last-minute fuss, giving you more time to focus on other elements of the meal. Whether your guests are chatting over drinks or just settling in, this cold, ready-to-go snack is guaranteed to keep everyone happy until the main courses are ready to shine!
Gourd-geous! We also served pumpkin-shaped pasta with a rich fall-inspired sauce that had everyone going back for seconds. The adorable pumpkin-shaped pasta added a playful touch to the meal, while the hearty sauce—packed with pumpkin, roasted squash and more—gave it that perfect autumnal flavor. It was a fun and festive way to continue our pumpkin theme. Every bite felt like a warm hug from fall.
Gobble ’til you wobble! Since we were a party of three, we decided to keep things simple with grilled turkey burgers. Instead of buns, we served them over a fresh bed of greens for a lighter, healthier twist. Juicy, perfectly seasoned, and packed with flavor, these turkey burgers gave us all the Thanksgiving vibes without the fuss of roasting a whole bird. A deliciously easy way to enjoy turkey and still save room for dessert!
Let’s spice things up this season with everyone’s favorite fall dessert—pumpkin pie! Smooth, creamy, and perfectly spiced, this pie is the sweetest way to end any Thanksgiving feast. Whether topped with a dollop of whipped cream or enjoyed as-is, each bite is like a cozy hug for your taste buds. It’s not just dessert; it’s a gourd-geous tradition we look forward to every year!
Tips on What to Wear to Friendsgiving
For our Friendsgiving celebration, we wanted to keep things festive yet comfy—because what’s a gathering without the perfect balance of style and relaxation? We opted for bold, autumnal hues like beqon (a cozy blend of beige and pumpkin) and orange, which added a pop of seasonal charm without feeling overdone. For your own Friendsgiving look, we recommend mixing chic with cozy.
Fall colors like burgundy, mustard, or olive green are also always a great choice to channel those autumn vibes. You can keep things simple with statement earrings or a patterned scarf that brings a little flair without stealing the show. Whether you’re the host or a guest, choosing an outfit that lets you move easily and feel confident is key to fully enjoying the festivities. This carefully curated look will not only complement your chic Friendsgiving décor but will help set the stage for a celebration that’s stylish, comfortable, and totally unforgettable!
My gourd luck charm. As we prepped for our Friendsgiving celebration, we knew the magic was in the details. From fun pumpkin painting ideas to picking the perfect wines and creating a chic decor vibe, we were all about adding those special touches. With delicious food, great wine, and stylish outfits, we were ready to wow our guests and create unforgettable memories. Now that we’ve shared our tips, it’s your turn to add your personal flair and host your own turkey-day masterpiece and pumpkin painting ideas. Here’s to a fabulous celebration filled with good food, amazing company, and memories to be thankful for! Cheers!
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower, and every pumpkin a lantern.
Albert Camus
Such a fun experience! Love my pumpkin
I love being the one who gets to host friendsgiving! The way you’ve set up the tablescape and all your decor is just SO cute! I’m drawing inspo for the next time that I get to host.
This is such a GREAT idea! Your table decor is so AWESOME! It’s been a while since I’ve hosted anything but after seeing your post, I may host a Friendsgiving next weekend since some of my friends are coming home for the Holidays. Loving the painted pumpkins!
Your painted pumpkins are beautiful! Such a fun Friendsgiving project. Thanks for the inspiration!
You have some great ideas here! We aren’t hosting Friendsgiving this year since we rotate but I’ll have to keep this in mind when it’s our turn. The painted pumpkin is such a cute idea!
This is so cute! I really love the pumpkin wine toppers. They’re the most adorable things ever!
I wish I’d found this sooner! We just had our Friendsgiving, and it was pretty great. It would have been better with a setup like this one, though!
Okay! The pumpkins are adorable. Heading over to your Pinterest page to find it to pin.
I did not know about Friendsgiving. Seems like so much fun. The painted pumpkins are a delight and make pretty dining table decorations any time of the year.
These are really lovely ideas. I would certainly love to come to one of your parties. I do love the look of the large pumpkin with the dried flowers. I watched to video you had to see how to do it. Just in case!!
Love these pumpkin painting ideas. They’re so creative and colorful! Perfect for adding a personal touch to any Halloween or fall decor. I like how versatile these are, so kids and adults can enjoy. From bold to cute, there’s something for everyone to try. No mess of traditional pumpkin carving.
I love how you arranged and decorated the area. The tablescape looks amazing and love the pumpkin painting idea.
Hhhmmm….this is actually genius. What helps clear the belly of it’s contents in a more healthier way other than painting or drawing away? I second this!