Thanksgiving Tablescape on the CHEAP!
Thanksgiving is one week away, and if I learned anything from binge-watching the food network as a teenager, it’s that a fancy tablescape really sets off a meal. #thankssandralee
I still haven’t learned how to cook, but thankfully my husband is a real beast in the kitchen which allows me to throw the occasional dinner party.
This is great because having company is FUN! Also, it forces me to clean the house. It’s a lot of work to make our house look like it isn’t overrun with wild animals. I mean, I think I’m a pretty clean person, but you throw the dogs into the mix and all bets are off. And randomly, I get my best design inspo the day we’re having guests. It’s like my perfectionist paralysis shield is lifted and I suddenly have a vision for where pillows should live, where clutter should go, etc. Case in point: the day we had our neighbors over, I hung art pieces on the wall that I’ve had since we moved into this house nearly 3 1/2 years ago.
At this rate, I should have the house fully decorated by 2035 LOL.
Side note — this table usually lives in our kitchen, but the dining area is pretty tight. For this gathering, we relocated our setup to the living room (which I’m kind of obsessed with?!) and put a long table in the kitchen so we could go buffet style because we’re also short on counter space. I live for the day I can do a kitchen reno post, but until then we shall work with what we’ve got! Alright, onward!
If you’re challenged in the culinary department, you can still host a get-together! The easiest (and most stress-free option) is to host a potluck. You could also pick up some prepared items from the grocery store or a nearby restaurant. Justin worked the day of our Friendsgiving event, so we picked up an already cooked rotisserie chicken and an oven roasted turkey breast from the grocery store.
Food-wise, the only skills I can offer are of the baked variety, and someone always beats me to it. So I focus my efforts on the experience as a whole because that’s what it’s really about, right? (Well, that’s what I say to make myself feel better, anyways HA!).
I put together this easy and festive tablescape for our culdesac Friendsgiving earlier this week, and I loved it so much that I cleaned everything up and reset it the next day like a psycho so I could shoot it and post it here. I’ve been challenged to post more home content, so HERE YA GO!
This table was super easy to put together, and BONUS! Everything except the dishes, flatware, and 1 vase that I used is under $10! You don’t have to throw down a lot of money for something to look cute! Also, you can buy a few things each year to build up a little stash of table styling items. I like to get things that I could use year round in other parts of the house, and then I can just pull them from their home if I need to spruce things up a bit!
Things to consider!
Texture!
The metallic table runner + the gold rimmed bubble glassware + mercury vase + distressed votives + greenery created this textural masterpiece for me. If things are looking a little blah, try punching up the texture with velvet, burlap, wood, cinnamon sticks, greenery, napkins, chargers, metallics, etc.
Use florals + greenery to add a seasonal effect
If I took the orange flowers out of the arrangements, they wouldn’t look fall-inspired at all. Because my setting provides a neutral palette, I could easily use everything again and add sprigs of holly, spruce, cypress, poinsettias, clementines, etc to inflect a seasonal vibe. This is how you save $$$! Go neutral with the items you’ll use over again. Metallics can be great because they feel natural for Christmas and New Years, too!
Try to keep the decor to the center of the table
You don’t want someone’s nice sweater to get snagged on an elaborate pinecone display! Try staggering things at different heights if you’re cramped on space to keep things interesting. Take a seat at the table and get a feel for how things will sit in the space if you have to.
Go with items that take up less visual real estate
Our table seats 6 and can look cluttered very easily, BUT it doesn’t because the glassware and 2 of the vases are clear. If things feel a little bulky, see if you can swap out some of your tabletop items for something clear or translucent.
If you can’t tell how something looks, take a picture
I do this all the time when decorating, getting dressed, fixing my hair, working on a design project…For some reason, looking at things kind of flattened out on my phone can help me figure out what needs to go where or if something needs to be removed all together.
Keep it simple
If you do florals or greenery, don’t make the arrangement so large that you can’t see around it. The point of the meal is conversation! It’s hard to talk when there’s a full floral arrangement in your lap. The centerpiece I made has some longer stems, but they’re pretty sparse and easy to see around. I didn’t have to duck around in my seat to speak to anyone.
Leave a little breathing room
Make sure there’s a little breathing room for people to reach across the table to grab more wine, salt and pepper shakers, pass food around, etc.
Keep it safe!
If you’re using real candles, make sure they’re placed where no one will burn themselves. Containing them in a votive holder or a hurricane protects your guests and your house in the event something gets knocked over!
Go unscented
Speaking of candles, it’s best to go unscented. I know you love your pumpkin churro candle, but no one needs it directly in their nasal passage. (Except me because YUMMM).
Sources
Some of these items were purchased years ago or can’t be found online, but I included links for similar items that are also budget friendly!
Table runner — $12.99 @ Home Goods (Similar)
Mercury glass vase — $9.99 @ Home Goods (Similar)
TX bottle — recycled whiskey bottle
Geometric vase — Anthropologie, gifted
Votive holders — $4.99 each @ BHLDN (Similar)
Buffet napkins — $9.99 for 6 @ World Market
Gold rimmed glasses — $5.99 @ World Market (Similar)
Geometric dishware — Target, past season
Gold flatware — $19.99 @ Target
Greenery — $2.99 per bundle @ Trader Joe’s (I got 1 bundle each of the eucalyptus, seeded eucalyptus, and the orange flowers!)
