INSIDE: Ideas for setting an easy to clean Thanksgiving dinner table using decorative paper plates and napkins.
Have you ever noticed that the dinnertime clean-up takes longer than it takes folks to eat the food? Holiday or not, the food seems to get consumed at some break-neck speed with nothing left but dirty plates, crumpled napkins and crumbs on the floor as evidence a meal just occurred.
So this Thanksgiving, why not cut yourself some slack and focus on the food, family and dinnertime drama instead of a sink full of dirty plates and silverware?
See how I used plastic tablecloths and paper plates to create an easy clean-up Thanksgiving table.
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How to Make an Easy Clean Thanksgiving Table
Paper plates and plastic silverware gets a bad wrap but gone are the days of white styrofoam plates and cheap plastic forks. There are so many great toss away dinnerware options out there. So I’m excited to be working with Oriental Trading Company to create a pretty Thanksgiving table using disposable dinnerware and decorations.
What I used to create my Thanksgiving Table!
– Chocolate Brown and Orange Table Cloth
– Copper Chevron Scalloped Dinner Plates
– Orange Dessert Plates
– Chocolate Brown Chevron Napkins
– Chocolate Brown High Cutlery Set
– Clear Cups
– Mini Cocktail Clear Cups
– Honeycomb Tissue Pumpkin Decorations
– Weaving Placemats
– Pumpkin Patch Shaped Sticker Scenes
how to set a no clean up thanksgiving table
I started my easy clean-up Thanksgiving table by creating the centerpiece.
I used two plastic table cloths, folded them in half and gathered them with a few pieces of raffia (or ribbon).
Fill the center of the table with a variety of pumpkins, tissue paper pumpkins and table plants.
Click here to see how I created this brown paper grocery bag autumn leaf vases!
No Clean up! DIY thanksgiving table with paper plates and napkins
Involve the kids in the Thanksgiving festivities by having them create placemats.
It’s a great way to keep them out of the kitchen, if only for a few minutes!
Create simple napkin fans and fill the mini cocktail cups with a sweet dinnertime treat.
Create your own autumn-themed custom straws by sticking an autumn-themed sticker onto orange polka dot paper straws.
Give disposable plates and silverware a new look this Thanksgiving holiday and create your own easy clean Thanksgiving table!
how to keep kids busy at thanksgiving dinner
Keep the kids busy, whether at their own table or after the meal, with an autumn-themed sticker set.
It also makes for a fun Thanksgiving take home!
Would you consider using paper plates and napkins and plastic cutlery for you holiday feast?
It certainly makes for a fuss-free, easy clean Thanksgiving table!
Other Autumn Ideas You May Enjoy:
- Sew an envelope pillow with super cute fleece pumpkin on it
- Make a mesh pumpkin door wreath in 5 easy steps
- Decorate your home with these 10 autumn decor ideas from Amazon and Etsy
- Use fabric scraps to make fun, colorful fabric pumpkins
- Paint pinecones for an easy, rustic Halloween candy cone garland
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I love the placemats! So fun!
Thanks, they are fun placemats. Plus, a great way to keep the kids busy!
This is such a great idea Victoria. I love how colorful it is and that you incorporated some craft time with it. Well done 🙂
Thanks Sabrina!
This is the cutest table!!! How fun! It is fun blog hoppin’ with you this week!
Thanks so much Lindsay!
I just love your table and how great that its easy cleanup! I’m a huge fan of Oriental Trading too!
Thanks Michelle! More time to watch football and the parade!
How fun! I love all the creative ways you include your family. It is so wonderful to have them help, isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing your quick clean up ideas.
Have a great week.
Thanks Meegan! Just visited your intimate Thanksgiving table. Love it.
This is so festive and I love that you were able to get the kiddos involved! And, who knew disposable plates were so cute?!
Best,
Kelly
Thanks Kelly! Yes, there are really cute paper products out there nowadays. No more white styrofoam dinner plates!
I love how kid-friendly this table setting is and that cleanup is easy makes me even happier!
Thanks Amy!
What fun your tablescape is and how fun is it that you involved the kids! You are so right about easy clean up! I love how you made your centerpiece, it looks like a canoe!
Thanks! I saw the canoe similarities too, ha ha!
What a great idea, and so cute!
Thanks so much, Denise!
This table should make it more fun for kids – crafts and no worry about destroying a good tablecloth.
Plastic plates and spoons etc sound good to me! I love using them various times at home when I don’t want to clean up. What a great idea to use it for a Thanksgiving tablescape!!
Thanks Zan! It’ll give you less time standing at the sink and more time hanging out and eating pie!!
Very nice tablescape! I love the place mats – such a cute idea!
Thanks Andrea! The kids had fun putting them together.
Love the paper pate option, such a pretty tablescape! Have a happy Thanksgiving and thanks for linking up to Funtastic Friday!
I love this! We have a lot of children at our Thanksgiving table, and the thought of using my good dishes makes me cringe. I am totally down with the disposable plates!
Ha ha! Yes, I feel the same way.
We love your fun and colorful tablescape. The placemats are just adorable! So fun hoping with you this week!
Thanks Vicki and Jennifer!
You had me at easy clean! What a beautiful Thanksgiving table you’ve created. I usually dread having to clean up after everyone once the food has been eaten, but I might have to steal some of your ideas. Thanks for sharing!
The place mats are so cute and look like a great activity! It was fun hopping with you! Happy Thanksgiving!
this is such a cute setting!! And I just love the fact that it is all Easy clean… The placemats are so cute and such a fun activity!
Love those kid woven placemats! thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Finally a practical (and fun!), kid-friendly table! I have six kids and am always looking for creative ways to keep them involved while I’m preparing the food! I especially love the placemats! Thank you!
Thanks Julie! I only have three kids and it’s all about distractions and activities!
So festive!!! I love all the bright colors 🙂 I always use paper plates and plastic silverware for holiday gatherings, but nothing as beautiful as this! Thank you for sharing at TaDa Thursday!!
This is a great idea and I love how fun and festive the table looks. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. It’s great having you.
this is so cute and creative, thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things link party xo
Very good idea! Clean up always takes so long and no one needs to do it. Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm.
This Thanksgiving tablescape is lovely!! Great idea to use disposable dinnerware so you can spend more time visiting and less time cleaning up.
Very colorful and cozy table scape. I think my family would be very comfortable here. I love the contribution from the kids. They truly remember things like this!
Oriental Trading has a great line of holiday decor and I love how you styled this table. Using decorative paper and plastic is a good way for us to enjoy the festivities rather than too tired to have fun.
I would SO do this! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Your table looks great Victoria and I love the different paper products
Fantastic idea. It gives the kids something to do. And it is easy to clean up so there is time to enjoy the holiday.
Your table looks so festive! Full of colors! Great ideas and tips 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I love the woven mats, brings back childhood memories.
Totally agree that making Thanksgiving easy to clean up is essential. (Even just posted earlier this week about how we used disposable decor last year…how’s that for timing?) Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
So creative! I love the way you mixed the natural elements with the creative disposable decorations. Very pretty plus easy cleanup is a win!
Agreed, Wendy. Thanks for stopping by!
Brilliant. First you gave me a wreath idea even a DIY-failure can make, and now this. I’m thankful for YOU this Thanksgiving! 🙂 #BloggersPitStop
Great looking table without using real plates and silverware. Love these ideas. Found you on Bloggers Pit Stop
Thanks Candy! Nothing like throw away, right?!
Great tips. I’m all in for easy cleaning. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
So clever and it looks fantastic!
Your table is pretty and practical. I remember making placements for our table when I was a kid. I was so proud that my mom used them at Thanksgiving.
Thanks Michele!
Your easy clean thanksgiving table is very popular so let’s feature this post on the Blogger’s Pit Stop
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Great, thank you!
I love anything I don’t have to clean. And this looks REALLY great! Very festive. Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you this week.
Thanks so much Jerri!
This is beautiful! I love that the kids can help and it’s so easy to do. Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday!
I’ve been using paper plates and plastic utensils for years. Your table is much more festive than mine. I need to step up my game, and add more holiday accessories to the table. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
This table is not only beautiful but solves a big problem for me! Thank you for this brilliant idea, Victoria! So excited to try it out.
Thank you Zaleina! Cleaning up is sometimes more work than actually making the food.
What a beautiful table and I love all the little homemade touches, plus so kid friendly! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.
Such a cute table setting! I love how your daughter was helping create the placemats; kids just really enjoy getting into the holiday spirit! Love your ideas and they are kids friendly. Pinning to my At Table and Holiday Decorating _Thanksgiving/Fall boards for you. <3
Happy fall to you and your family,
Barb 🙂
I love how fun and colorful this is!I think i will try this on the kids table this year! We all love Oriental Trading! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!