Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape on a Budget
This Thanksgiving tablescape incorporates gold plate chargers, melamine dishes, white pumpkins, and an olive branch centerpiece for a simple yet elegant look, all on a budget!
Hello dear friends! Today I’m sharing a simple yet elegant Thanksgiving tablescape that I had fun putting together. My favorite thing? It is budget friendly, and kid friendly too!
I’m so excited to be teaming up with my friend Kristi from French Creek Farmhouse, as well as some other talented design bloggers, to bring you a collection of inspiring Thanksgiving tables all week! Each day this week, Kristi is featuring four Thanksgiving tablescapes on her blog and Instagram. So grab a cozy drink and come get inspired for the Thanksgiving season 🙂
If you have not seen our fall home tour, here are the spaces I have shared already this year!
- Fall Living Room
- Fall Kitchen & New Textured Pendant Light
- Fall Shelf Styling | Modern Boho
- Fall Home Tour | Â Entry & Dining Room
Start with the Basics
As I began daydreaming about this Thanksgiving tablescape, I started with the perspective that I wanted to create something simple (mom with a newborn here!) that matched my existing decor. Our dining room is relatively neutral, but since our walls are a cool gray, I decided to warm up the space with a linen colored table runner. A runner grounds the tablescape and adds cozy texture to your table. Budget tip: you can also use a light blanket as a table runner, like I did here!
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Create a Simple Centerpiece
For the centerpiece, I selected a white vase and faux olive branches that I already had. Faux greenery and florals are perfect because you can save them to use again and again–ideal for decorating on a budget! Be sure to bend the faux branches outward and down a bit so that they appear more realistic.
Add Elegance with Plate Chargers
 
A simple way to add elegance to any tablescape is to use plate chargers. I never used these until last Thanksgiving, but now I’m hooked! A charger with a metallic look or interesting detail will give your table character and charm, but since many stores offer plastic chargers, they are very budget friendly!
You Don’t Need China!
Are you ready for my favorite thing about this tablescape? These dishes are melamine, and the flatware is plastic!
The dishes have a stoneware look and add the warmth and character I was envisioning for this Thanksgiving tablescape. Our everyday dishes are more practical than pretty–which is how I like them!–but when it comes to creating an inviting table for a seasonal occasion, sometimes it is fun to use something different. Melamine plates are a great budget option if you do not want to purchase (and store) multiples sets of dishes.
Similarly, our regular flatware is stainless and not in keeping with the look I was hoping to create, so I purchased inexpensive gold plastic flatware to use instead. All the fun of creating a completely new look, without the price tag!
Thanks so much for stopping by today friends! Please head on over to French Creek Farmhouse to see all of the other inspiring Thanksgiving tables on this blog hop! I would love to hear your budget friendly seasonal decor tips, or your favorite Thanksgiving traditions 🙂 Leave a comment below and say hi!
Your tablescape is so dreamy, Caitlin! I love the simplicity of the olive branches in the white vase, and the inexpensive gold chargers and plastic cutlery I never would have guessed were just plastic. Your photos are all so lovely! I’m going to go pin some images now so I will remember all your ideas!
Thank you so much for the comment sweet Kyla! I love trying to create a pretty and memorable look on a budget. So glad we met through this fun hop!
Caitlin, your tablescape is absolutely beautiful!!! I love the neutral and golds together! And I can’t believe that is plastic silverware!! It is all simply perfect. Your photography is beautiful as always!
Heather, thank you so much friend! I loved your pretty tablescape too! Such a fun time of year for decorating 🙂 Thank you for the sweet comment!
Caitlin, This is gorgeous!! I loved the olive branches and beautiful metallic touches!! So many wonderful ideas here!! Simple, yet elegant!! So happy to see your space, lots of inspiration!
Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words Deb!
Wowww, this is just woww! And I loved how you styled your Turkish towel ;)! Thanks for the tips on plastic silverware- love it!
Thanks so much Traci! So glad to be on this Thanksgiving hop with you! 🙂
This is breathtaking!I love your centerpiece along with the prints on the wall.
Thanks so much girl! I’m keeping it simple this year and it was fun to use things I already had 🙂
This is just beautiful. Neutral, warm, simple, and inviting. I’m honored to be in the company of women who create such beauty.
Thank you so much Kay! The feeling is mutual! 🙂
The olive branches are a nice touch. Who would know the plates are melamine and the flatware is plastic? The little white pumpkins are lovely in the bowls. It’s been quite fun seeing so many tablescape together for Thanksgiving.
Thanks so much Linda! I do love decorating on a budget! Plastic works great for kiddos too 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I love the gold and white and the pop of your black chairs! Your centerpiece is gorgeous! Fun to tour with you!
Thank you very much Kristin! Honored to be on this fun hop with you!
Wow, Caitlin! This is absolutely stunning, and I love the simplicity of everything you’ve done. Also, how fantastic that those dishes are family friendly!! Gotta love one less thing to worry about when you have a full house, amiright? 🙂 xo!
Kristi, thanks so much! This has been such a wonderful Thanksgiving tour. Thank you for hosting! 🙂