I have always wanted to decorate and have a beautiful tablescape for Thanksgiving and now I have and you can too with these Thanksgiving decorating ideas. This burlap and vintage inspired Thanksgiving tablescape has to be my favorite thus far. I don’t have Thanksgiving dishes and always thought I couldn’t because of that. Well I was wrong and I am so glad that I figured that out now before too many more years pass with me missing out on such a fun tradition. While recently at the Country Living Fair, I gained so much inspiration for all sorts of decoration for my home. Check out more pictures from the Country Living Fair on my Instagram if you aren’t already following me there.
One idea that I used for inspiration but made it my own was for a general tablescape. I am so glad that I was able to make it my own for Thanksgiving. As I mentioned before, I do not have a complete set of Thanksgiving dishes with the matching tablecloth, napkins, napkin rings, and so forth. Neither did I want to invest at this time in such especially with Christmas being just around the corner. I do have some Christmas fine china that I will pull out but I really wanted something different and unique for this holiday.
For each place setting, I used bright green placemats that were sitting in a closet waiting to be used for the perfect opportunity. I actually found them at Target on clearance one day for $0.58 each. The colors didn’t match my normal kitchen and dining area décor, but I couldn’t pass up such a good deal. For each place setting, instead of using a charger with the all the different sized plates, I used vintage books and just laid them open in the middle. I have a love for old books and several were already in my own collection. I also used a Bible and another was a dictionary that was my great-grandmothers.
*If you missed last week’s post, Decorating with Vintage Pieces, check out where I used these same books and other vintage pieces to add some much needed flair to my upstairs landing.
Sitting on top of the books, is a miniature grapevine wreath I purchased at Joann craft stores for only $0.99 each. Plus I had a coupon making them even cheaper. I placed a small pumpkin that I already had from past years of collecting Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations in the middle of the wreath. I had some artificial moss from the dollar store and wrapped it around the pumpkin to appear as a bird’s nest. Beside each pumpkin in the bird’s nest, I placed an artificial leaf that also came in a large pack from the dollar store.
Sitting at each place setting is a clear wine glass. I do not actually drink alcohol, but I love how wine glasses just look so elegant and classy. Inside each one I placed an artificial grouping of berries and a pine cone. I had all of these already too that I had bought in past years and just collected. You may even be able to find some pine cones outside and use them which would be absolutely free.
For the centerpiece, I found this brown wire basket at Ross recently actually while I was at the Country Living Fair, for $4.99. I didn’t know exactly how I wanted to use it, but I am so glad now that I got it and didn’t pass it up. The burlap covered pumpkin sitting inside it is one that I already had that my Mom found one year on clearance. The assortment of leaves and pine cones were also pieces that I already had as well. The basket is also sitting on a wooden bowl to sit it up higher that my uncle made for me and my husband when we got married. You will be surprised what pieces of décor you already have that you can use and save so much money.
On each end of the table, it just felt blank to not have something extra. I was in Michaels shopping recently and couldn’t resist the most beautiful artificial fall flowers. They were having their lowest prices of the season sale with discount craft supplies and each grouping was only $0.99 each. Plus you can always use a coupon at Michaels saving you even more money. I places the flowers in mason jars that I had kept from different grocery items including spaghetti sauce and salsa. This is a great way to repurpose your glass jars. Mason jars can be expensive if buying them brand new in the store. I wrapped a piece of burlap ribbon around the taller jars. The burlap ribbon was a supply that I already had in my craft supplies. For the smaller jars, I placed different colored artificial acorns which I already had as well but found a new use for them this year. To add something to the smaller jars, you could put some burlap ribbons and bows as well.
I must say these flowers are one of my favorite parts of this tablescape adding so much color.
Laying on the table in the middle is a burlap table runner that I made myself. I bought burlap by the yard at Joann in the home decor fabric section. This particular burlap has a gold shiny finish over it which I love and couldn’t resist. It is more expensive than just the plain but be sure to use a coupon. This was $12.99 a yard and I used a 60% off coupon. Plus I didn’t use it all and have more to use for another project.
If you just buy a yard, you will have to piece two different sections together. I just measured and cut two sections and then used a fabric adhesive to stick them together. I really didn’t want to have to sew them together and then the stitching show. This gold finish will also be something that I can use for Christmas as well.
Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house this year or just want something beautiful to decorate your home, a tablescape is never a bad option or waste of time. Now when I open the door and enter the kitchen at my house, I can’t help but smile at the gorgeous flowers and be reminded of all that I have to be thankful for. Using my great-grandmother’s books also brings back sweet memories of her and her precious Bible that is falling apart because she was always so devoted.
Hopefully you will feel inspired to decorate your Thanksgiving table this year with these table setting ideas and not feel pressured to have to have expensive dishes. Also don’t forget to be thankful for all you have this time of year and not take it for granted. Enjoy the little things in life too!!
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I love these decoration ideas Bethany. I was just talking to my daughter about decorating. We have a two year old running around so we need to incorporate something for his own that’ll keep him distracted from the ones on the adult table :).
Thanks for the suggestions! Happy Tuesday!
A kids table with fun things to keep them busy is a great idea. I hope you will decorate too. I would love to see your decorations.
These are great ideas. I am pinning to my board! Thank you.
Thanks so much! I love them too and how it all ended up looking together.
I LOVE this! Those colors are great and the individual settings are so creative too! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year, so you may have inspired me! 🙂
I sure hope I did. This would be something simple but also very pretty that looks expensive but really isn’t. The key is shopping around your house for things you already have that you can change around and it will look brand new to your guests. Plus the vintage books and other items are not expensive and can be found at thrift and antique stores.
so creative and crafty. It looks awesome!
Thank you so much! I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
You’ve created a very happy looking color pallet for Thanksgiving. I’m loving that basket you have a pumpkin in!
Thank you! I love how the colors turned out. I couldn’t resist that basket either and especially for just $4.99!
I can’t wait to have a Thanksgiving at my house some day so I can decorate. My mom and MIL still want to have everything at their house.
I actually don’t have Thanksgiving at my house but do it just for me and my husband. When others come over, they see it but it isn’t actually for a Thanksgiving dinner. May be silly to some people but I just enjoy doing it and love how it turned out.
Love, love, love this! You decorating ideas are really cool! Pinterest!!!
Thank you so much! I am so glad you liked them.
I love the little pumpkins in the nests. Cute idea.
Thank you so much!
The books for each place setting is such a good idea! I never would have thought of that. You have some talent.
Thank you! I absolutely love using the books because it is so much cheaper and is still so beautiful with more character than just the fancy dishes.
I am not by nature a very crafty person but your post here will help a lot to inspire some great ideas! Thank you!
Thank you! I hope it does. Plus most of these don’t require you to be “crafty” necessarily because you are really just placing different pieces. And I bet you are crafty too!
What a gorgeous table scape!
Thank you so much! I was so happy with it!
This is a gorgeous table and is just bursting with beautiful fall colors. I really love the place settings! We are featuring this on Motivational Monday, starting tomorrow evening!
Thank you so much! I was so happy with how it turned out and all the fall colors. I’m so glad to hear you are featuring it and appreciate it so much! Thanks again!
This is SO PRETTY! I love how you placed it all on the table. The books open on each table setting is so unique and clever! And I love all the burlap, too. Thanks SO much for linking up with us at Motivational Monday!
Thank you so much for stopping by! Burlap is definitely one of my most favorite things to decorate with.