Table settings that add charm and interest on budget
Creating a visually pleasing tablescape for your Thanksgiving Day feast needn't cost a lot of money. Using inexpensive materials found at thrift shops and department stores, your Thanksgiving table is sure to impress your guests and complement your feast.
Linen napkins and tablecloths coupled with silver-plate serving trays make for a lovely and sophisticated tablescape. Scrounge the local department stores for clearance sales on linens and search for silver-plate trays and bowls at thrift shops. With plain white china, white linens and silver-plate serving ware, you need only add a centerpiece of three white candles and a bit of pine bough for a simple yet elegant table setting.
If you have a nice set of china and serving ware, but need to spruce up your table, think beans and seeds. Colorful and inexpensive, these food items bring a homey charm to the table in easy to assemble centerpieces.
Buy one bag each of red beans, white beans and chickpeas, or any combination of beans that appeal to your sense of color and texture. Layer the beans in a small glass container with a wide mouth and set a candle into the bean mix. An alternative to this centerpiece is a mix of beans and seeds with a small bouquet of dried flowers set into the mix. These centerpieces are colorful, simple to make and inexpensive.
If you don't want candles on your table, use the glass containers for colorful wrapped candies, dried fruits or layers of colored stones. Line up three to five of these centerpieces along a table runner for a delightful visual effect.
Fabric remnants can be layered to create an interesting and textural tablecloth. Different colored napkins and mismatched dishware bring a casual appeal to the tablescape. Stay within a "Thanksgiving" color scheme, such as cranberry red, off-white, and earthy brown for a cohesive feel, but layer the colors to keep it visually interesting. Add bits of pewter and silver-plate for a touch of "old world" charm as well.
Use items you already have for this tablescape, and fill in what you need with materials from thrift shops, dollar stores and clearance bins at department stores. A few apples in a pewter or silver-plate bowl can serve as your centerpiece. If you're serving the traditional pumpkin pie for desert, use a group of miniature pumpkins in the bowl instead of apples.
Funky, fun and definitely inexpensive, this Thanksgiving table setting is sure to make your guests feel at home.
