The holiday entertaining season is officially in full swing and, with it, come welcome moments spent with friends and loved ones.

But, entertaining at home also can bring unwelcome stress during a time of year meant to be festive and relaxed. Hosting a dinner party at your home for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be panic-inducing— at least when it comes to decor.

We asked interior designer Theresa Druckenmiller of TD Interiors for some advice on decorating during this food centric occasion, and she recommended focusing on the table centerpiece for Thanksgiving decor that is at once beautiful and effortless. Here are her three takes on table centerpieces for your Thanksgiving feast:

TRADITIONAL
For a simple rustic centerpiece that packs a big punch, Druckenmiller recommends using ahc03 large container as the base and layering refined and organic elements for a pretty contrast.

Choose a square or oval container depending on the shape of your table, and build from there. In this case, Druckenmiller chose a large dough bowl and used orange velvet pumpkins for a traditional aesthetic before tucking in clipped greenery from her yard.

Her advice: Don’t worry about it being perfect. Use nice things you have and pair with cuts from your favorite bush or flowers. You can use any kind of container. A basket or wooden bowl you have at home will work.

TRANSITIONAL
If you’re looking for a transitional table centerpiece that can carry you through from Halloween to Christmas, Druckenmiller made only slight changes to this table decor to achieve a blended aesthetic.

Choose a large container but update the velvet pumpkins to darker, more neutral colors and tuck in pine cones from the yard. She also added gold wishbones, accent pillows and a wool blend throw with rabbit fur pom poms to complete the look.

Her advice: Keeping a look simple helps it transition through the holidays in fall and winter. Pine cones are a universal decor that helps blend everything together. If you don’t like your chairs or just want to add a bit of luxurious texture, adding pillows and throws to various chairs is an easy way to make them beautiful.

MODERN
A non-traditional color scheme, like the one used here, is a hit for any of the holidays hc11associated with this time of year. Instead of using a red theme, Druckenmiller added only a pop of red in a palette of on-trend gold with plenty of sparkle.

Finishing off the table setting with the organic green of moss and garden clippings and a sumptuous white faux fur pillow, softens the hard lines of the manufactured branch centerpiece and gold-accented goblets and plates.

Her advice: Use inspiration from what you have in your home. You could even use a tree branch from your yard or a piece of driftwood to create this look. After you tuck in greenery, use varied height candles. Once you light them, everything glows because of the sparkle of the ornaments. To carry this look through the New Year, just keep the same base and change out a few elements.

About Our Designer

Theresa Druckenmiller lives in East Cobb with her husband, Richard, their two children (Connor, 18, and Rachel, 15) and their dog. Contact Theresa through her web site. All soft goods, place settings and accessories are available at C’est Moi on Johnson Ferry Road, where we shot this feature on location.

**Originally published in November 2016 issue of Cobb Life magazine.