We all want that magical Thanksgiving tablescape that invites us to experience a traditional meal with family and friends. But I think we can all also agree that we don’t want to spend a fortune on a table setting. So today I will be sharing 5 tips to create a beautiful and fancy Thanksgiving tablescape on a budget.
BONUS! Make sure to scroll to the end to watch the YouTube video for this Thanksgiving Tablescape!
1. GET THE BASICS
Before you start setting your table, make sure you have the basics! I am talking about tablecloths, chargers, dinner plates, and silverware.
If you already have a nice set of each of these items then you are good to go. If you don’t or you feel like you might need to upgrade some things, then I’ve got the perfect budget-friendly tablescape basics.
For a fancy table, it’s important to get a tablecloth that is long enough so that the corners touch the floor. I have an 84″ dining table so I got a 90″x132″ tablecloth.
Simple white plates can be very elegant. These gorgeous scalloped plastic plates are also a super fancy yet super affordable option. Not to mention super convenient come cleaning time!
Gold silverware adds an extra fancy touch as well. This pack of 40 is perfect for setting a table for 8!
The best part is that these items are great for setting your table year-round! I will be using these table-setting basics for my Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Easter tablescape as well!
2. CHEESECLOTH TABLE RUNNER
A super simple and affordable way to upscale any table setting is with a cheesecloth table runner. They give such an elegant feel to any table setting and there is a large variety of colors to choose from!
I got the light tan runner because I like to be able to reuse it year-round as well.
And speaking of re-using, that brings me to the 3rd and most important tip to achieve a fancy Thanksgiving table on a budget.
3. RE-USE, REPURPOSE
Okay, so we’ve already covered how you can reuse your table-setting basics. But every tablescape needs a theme! And that’s where your centerpiece comes in!
Every tablescape needs a beautiful centerpiece, especially for Thanksgiving, the biggest feast of the year! But you don’t have to spend MORE money on Fall or Thanksgiving decor to achieve the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece!
Instead, use the decor you already have up! Think garlands, flowers, candle holders, candles, pumpkins, turkeys, etc.
THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE ON A BUDGET- USING DECOR I ALREADY HAVE:
1. I used an olive/eucalyptus garland that I’ve used on my fireplace mantle. This is a good base. You can use one of the Fall garlands you might already have, or any greenery you have laying around.
NOTE: I like to place the chargers on the table before I create a centerpiece so that I know how much space I am working with.
2. You can also use Fall florals you already have for your Thanksgiving centerpiece. I got the Fall florals from my dining table vase and placed them on top of the olive/eucalyptus garland.
3. My dining table Fall decor already had these taper candle holders with these burgundy LED taper candles, which I initially bought for Christmas but they went perfectly with my Moody Fall decor this year! So I am using these burgundy candles for Fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!
NOTE: You can check out my Moody Fall Decor Tips here!
What I love about these Moody Fall colors is that they look a little Christmassy. So if you like to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, this is a perfect way to blend the two holidays together!
As you can see, I like to layer my centerpiece with a simple runner, a garland, and then florals and decor on top of that.
And I was able to do so with items I already had, including decor that was already up for Fall, to create the perfect Thanksgiving tablescape centerpiece!
4. KEEP IT SIMPLE
My best tip for creating any tablescape on a budget is to keep it simple.
I did add a few pumpkins to my centerpiece but guess what? They were from the Dollar Spot at Target! You don’t need expensive, or large decorative pieces to have a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape.
I also added some babies’ breath on top of the Fall florals. Babies’ breath is such a delicate and pretty flower that adds the perfect touch to any centerpiece! Not to mention they are super cost effective! I actually dried them myself by spraying them with hairspray and hanging them upside down in a dark room for a week or so.
Another simple way to go is to use burlap string instead of napkin rings. You can find this anywhere including he Dollar Store and they are and easy and cute way to tie your napkins! I love folding my dinner napkins using the fan method because it is simple enough that anyone can do it and super elegant!
The point is you really don’t need all the extra “fluff” sometimes. There is so much beauty in simplicity.
5. CANDLES
Candles are the perfect way to create a beautiful, romantic, and/or magical ambiance. But which ones should you use for your Thanksgiving tablescape? Real or faux candles?
For my tablescapes, I like to have a mixture of both.
As I mentioned before, I got these LED taper candles. I do this mainly for safety reasons. It is way too hazardous, in my opinion, to have tall exposed flames on a table where people are serving themselves and mingling. The dining table is where most spills happen and I wouldn’t want one of those spills to cause a fire. That would be a certain way to ruin Thanksgiving dinner!
But as much as I love the super realistic LED candles, there’s nothing like a real flame! So I like to incorporate votive candle holders with small votive candles that you can find at the Dollar Store.
This way the candles are well protected in their holders. and they provide that extra magical touch.
WATCH HOW I SET UP THIS THANKSGIVING TABLE!
So there you have it! My top 5 tips to create a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape on a budget. If you already have your table setting basics and some Fall decor up, honestly, there’s really not that much more you need!
PIN IT FOR LATER! 5 Tips To A Fancy Thanksgiving Tablescape On A Budget
I hope you enjoyed this post. If you want to receive more home decor tips like this make sure to sign up to my Newsletter!
And if you want to see an even more budget-friendly Thanksgiving Tablescape, check out my Dollar Tree Glam Thanksgiving Tablescape!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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