How to Set an Elegant Thanksgiving Table on a Budget!

Well,  my friends, there’s nothing more to do for Halloween, except turn on the light and put out our candy on Sunday afternoon.

With that holiday soon to be in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start planning for the next one. And Thanksgiving is one of my absolute FAVORITE holidays, second only to Christmas!

Of course, we still don’t have our dining room table yet, but I’m crossing my fingers it arrives soon.  With that said, I’m going full speed ahead on my planning process for how I’m going to set our new table for Thanksgiving!

Setting a pretty table for family and friends is very important to me. It is also something I enjoy doing a LOT! But there is a method behind my madness, and today I’m going to share that with you.

The first step in my process of creating the perfect table setting is coming up with a theme.

This year I decided I wanted a simple, yet elegant Thanksgiving table. And of course, it all has to be done within a minimal budget, because friends that’s how I roll.

Now that I had my theme checked off the list, the next step was coming up with a color scheme.

Fall is one of the few times that I step outside of my comfort zone and embrace color! So I began doing some research on fall color combinations that are popular this fall.

color choices:

• Burgundy, Yellow, & Blush
• Navy Blue & Rust
• Black, White & Gold

Then I chose three of my favorite tablescapes that reflected those color combinations.

Can you guess where I searched for some of the most GORGEOUS and elegant tablescapes EVER?

If you guessed wedding sites, then you guessed right!!

They are such an AMAZING resource for tablescape ideas and I was thoroughly inspired as I drooled over all the gorgeous linens, tableware, glasses, and centerpieces.

But since most of us can’t afford the high-end pieces that these tables are set with, I decided to re-create each table with items we can shop our homes for, or, that we can purchase inexpensively at thrift stores or our favorite discount stores.

So let’s get started!

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BURGUNDY, YELLOW, & BLUSH

I’ve never combined the richness of burgundy with the sweet paleness of blush pink but it truly is breathtaking. Add in the warmth of gold and you have both a romantic and elegant tablescape.

My PICKS TO RECREATE THIS TABLE:

• Textured throw      Glass and gold beaded chargers   White Salad Plates with Gold Trim

• Wine glasses   Eucalyptus garland    

•       Faux Flowers      Burgundy Napkins

Money-Saving Tips To recreate the inspiration tablescape:

A  textured throw in a soft blush placed over the table on the diagonal will do just fine as a replacement for the expensive tablecloth in the inspiration photo. The burgundy napkins I found are a fabulous deal for 12 and you can use them throughout the holidays too! But if you are crafty and love to sew you could buy some inexpensive fabric and make your own!

If you’re lucky you could find similar glass chargers with the beading at thrift or antique stores. But I found six almost identical to those on our inspiration table for under $20!!! And if you’ve ever shopped at the Dollar Tree you know you can find close matches for the white plates trimmed in gold and wine glass for $1 each!

To complete the table you can create a gorgeously lush centerpiece with a Eucalyptus garland(mine was under $10) and a few well-placed faux roses in lovely burgundy and blush. (TIP: If you prefer a live centerpiece and live close to a Trader Joes you could also pick up fresh Ecalyptus and roses pretty inexpensively too) Last but not least, you could add a little extra bling and drama by placing a few gold votives holders in and around the centerpiece to add more drama and sparkle.

NAVY BLUE & RUST

Navy blue has become so popular these past few years and there is a reason why. It’s classic and goes with everything! I especially like it with copper (rust) along with green in this stunning and sophisticated table setting.

MY PICKS TO RECREATE THIS TABLE:

• Chargers    Navy Blue Silk Napkins    Copper Tableware   White Plates

• Lantern    White Roses   Eucalyptus Stems

Money-saving tips to recreate the inspiration tablescape:

Our inspiration table pairs classic navy with copper. But if you’ve ever shopped for copper decor, you’ll find it’s a bit on the spendy side. So instead we’re keeping with the ‘rust’ theme but switching out the copper for rose gold. It’s a VERY close second to copper in warmth and color, but a lot more within our budget.

I found the wine glasses again at the Dollar Tree, along with the rose gold chargers and white plates for $1 each. The rose gold tableware was under $30 for a set of 4 and a great investment because you can use them over and over with both a fall or holiday tablescape. Inexpensive navy blue napkins with a slight sheen complete the table setting.

As for the centerpiece. The inspiration table uses a simple navy blue runner ( I found this one for under $15)and major drama by creating a lovely centerpiece using pots filled with greens, lanterns, and more textured pots filled with eucalyptus and white roses. The lantern I chose is rose gold versus copper, and is under $30! TIP: Shop your home for an existing lantern and spray paint it copper or rose gold. Simple faux stems of silver dollar eucalyptus and white roses can be added to textured pots or vases you already have, or you can make your own. (See how I created this earthenware vase is just a few easy steps!)

BLACK, WHITE, & GOLD

There is nothing more classic and elegant than the color combination of black and white. It truly is one of my favorites and I love the addition of gold in our inspiration tablescape. Which I think adds such warmth and sophistication.

MY PICKS TO RECREATE THIS TABLE:

• Chargers        Tablecloth         Black Plates      White cups with gold trim   

• Gold Tableware    Gold Candlestick Holders    Black and White Polka Dot Napkins

money-saving tips to recreate the inspiration tablescape:

An inexpensive black table cloth(under $15) is the base for this elegant tablescape. To create the table setting, I chose Gold Embossed Chargers from Dollar Tree. I also found the white coffee cups with gold trim there as well. Another great deal was the simple black dinner plates that were 4 for $20!  I also found these fun black and white polka dot napkins (set of 12) for under $20 as were the gold candlestick holders. Both are once again an investment but one you could re-use for years to come.

Finally, the centerpiece for our inspiration table was a white pedestal bowl (you could use any bowl, basket, or even a planter) filled with fresh eucalyptus, artichokes, pears, and gourds. You could shop your produce aisle and replicate that quite easily. Or create your own using mini white pumpkins or green apples. I would recommend sticking with one color palette for the centerpiece, as I think it creates more of a statement.

So there are my TOP three Thanksgiving tablescape choices this year. I think they are all stunningly beautiful, but I must admit I do have a favorite. My hope is we get our dining room table by the end of the week and then I can share my version of it here!

SAVE FOR LATER↓

Which tablescape is your favorite? Have you chosen a theme or color scheme for your Thanksgiving table yet?

Looking for more Thanksgiving table inspiration?

Thank you so much for stopping by!