The Galveston County Daily News

Most holiday cooks spend more time agonizing about their Thanksgiving Day menu than their table decorations.

More often than not, the perfectly roasted turkey and steaming mashed potatoes are served up on paper plates when the big day rolls around, which hardly does justice to all that work in the kitchen.

A meticulously decorated table might seem a bit old fashioned in today’s casual culture, but nothing enhances a good meal like a beautiful setting.

Not everyone who can rise to the challenge of a Martha Stewart recipe shares the design diva’s knack for turning mundane items into eye-catching centerpieces.

But with a little planning, a quick trip to the grocery store and some hunting through the long-neglected china cabinet, even the most style-challenged can pull off a tablescape that will do the dinner proud.

Some of Galveston designer Boyce Pryor’s favorite decorating accessories come from the grocery store.

Pryor, a manager at Tina’s on The Strand, uses colorful rice, lentils, beans and bird seed to fill glass containers and make a base for short candles on a long platter.

The dried foods naturally feature fall colors and hint at the feast soon to be spread across the table.

A mixed selection of the small, colorful gourds on sale in the produce section during the fall also make the perfect accent to any table display, Pryor said.

Containers at different heights, in odd numbers, create visual interest, she said.

“Just make sure you don’t use anything so tall people can’t see each other across the table,” she said.

For a striking display that can be redone and used at Christmas, Pryor uses a wreath wrapped with leafy garlands to contain a glass globe filled with gourds, potpourri or candles.

No matter what you use to decorate, if you start with the intangibles of the holiday season, you can’t go wrong, Pryor said.

“Start with family, happiness, love and thankfulness,” she said.

“Then just use your imagination.”

Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday of the year, when people fly across the country to visit relatives and every hostess runs the risk of the dreaded “drop in.”

But there’s no need to fear unexpected visits from old friends, Marsha Knapp, owner of Hitchcock’s Natural Groove, said.

Combine wine bottles and glasses, candles and fresh flowers to create a simple but elegant backdrop for a platter of cheese, crackers and fruit.

“The outdoors is full of great colors and textures this time of year,” Knapp said.

“Anything from nature can be casually arranged to invoke a relaxing feeling.”

Knapp plucked leaves from ornamental pomegranate and fig trees in her backyard to give a hint of fall to a centerpiece that included a wine bottle holder sold in her store.

Small wine bottles set in wine glasses make great gifts for guests to take home.

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Helpful Items To Have On Hand

Creating a beautiful centerpiece is easy, even at the last minute, when you have these items stashed away in advance.

• Cloth napkins in a variety of holiday colors and neutral shades

• Glass candle holders, both clear and colored

• Vases in different shapes and sizes

• Pilar candles and votives

• Ribbon in different textures and colors

• Platters that can be used for both decorating and serving

• At least one glass hurricane globe that can be filled with different materials each time it’s used