Thrifted Thanksgiving Tablescape
Share this post or pin it for later!
*This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my small business…at no extra cost to yourself!
Want to set a pretty table for Thanksgiving, but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Shop your local thrift store! I always make it a fun challenge to myself to look for the perfect decor for holiday tables when I’m shopping secondhand. I thought I’d share mine with you this year, to help inspire you to do the same.
Setting a pretty table is such a fun and creative process for me. I love sorting through all my vintage and thrifted treasures to find just the right things. Adding a few special touches like unique cloth napkin designs is icing on the cake. You can find a couple more Fall-themed tablescapes HERE.
This year’s Thanksgiving tablescape is different from years past, but has a few of the same elements. The fun part of styling with pieces you already own and adding in from the thrift store is that you can create really different looks with just a few new items and without spending a lot of money!
Just ignore the Christmas ornaments on the shelves. Sometimes holidays collide around here…
I started the Thanksgiving tablescape by layering a green striped table cloth I thrifted a few months ago. I absolutely love stripes and have been looking for ways to add them into our home. The funny and amazing thing about this piece is that it fits our table like it was specially made for it. Our farmhouse table was handmade by a local man and has very specific measurements…3’ x 8’. When we had it made, I wanted it to fit in our old dining room and have the benches be able to slide underneath…out of the way. When we moved into this house, it fit perfectly in the dining nook. Must have been meant to be! Imagine my joy when the table cloth fit so well too!!
I layered a very 1990’s scatter rug on top of the table cloth. Don’t worry…it was able to be washed…which was necessary before going on the table. I love the color, pattern, and texture that it adds.
Next up were the different place settings. I’ve been wanting some plate chargers for a while, but didn’t really want to spend the money on them…even from the thrift store. Somewhat recently, I found a stack of 12 for about the price of one new at the store. I quickly scooped them up, knowing they’d be perfect for the holidays. I love that the buffalo plaid isn’t a straight black and white, but has a bit of a brownish/gold addition as well.
On top of the chargers, I layered some pretty white ironstone plates I thrifted last year with a gold design around the outside edge. I love dishes so much, but have tried to limit myself on how many I buy because they can get out of hand quickly and I just don’t use them enough to justify having a ton of them. I made an exception for these, though, because they’re so neutral, can be used in lots of ways, and mix and match really well with my everyday dishes!
On top of the plates, I had a vision for some really cute cloth napkin designs, I didn’t have enough of the napkins to create a turkey for each place setting (although, would you believe I found 4 more of the napkins just today at the thrift??), so I added in 4 pumpkins as well. They are so easy to make!
What you’ll need to make both designs: napkin rings (2 for each turkey and 1 for each pumpkin), napkins for each, small gourd or Indian corn for turkeys, and cinnamon sticks for pumpkins.
To make the turkeys: fold the napkins accordion style, tuck the open edge side down into the napkin ring and arrange the spray, set additional napkin ring in front, place Indian corn down inside. I did have to help the corn stand up a bit, so I cut a piece of paper to fit inside and used candle adhesive to keep it in place.
To make the pumpkins: lay the napkins top side down, place the napkin ring in the center and pull a bit of the napkin up through, start tucking the outside edges of the napkins into the ring until you have a little puff, flip over and fluff to make it look just the way you want, insert half a cinnamon stick into the middle as the stem.
Seriously…so easy and cute! Your guests will think you’re a hosting genius!
In addition to the chargers, plates, and napkins, I added some flatware that I thrifted a few months ago. It can be hard to find full sets of silverware at the thrift, but I was able to find these at an estate sale. I wouldn’t use them for everyday, as they’re not dishwasher safe, but that makes them even more special for a holiday table!
I don’t have a lot of different glassware, so I try to change the look of what I do have by mixing and matching between sets. A lot of times there won’t be a full set of drinking glasses (or anything for that matter) at the thrift store, so mixing the pieces you find works out perfectly! I love the green of the goblets and the pretty gold on the tumbler (even though some of it has worn off with time). To me, the mix and match look makes it very Anthropologie style!
The last little bit I needed to finish the Thanksgiving Tablescape was something to use as a centerpiece. Again, our table is very narrow, so I try to be careful to not have too much going on. Even though we always eat buffet style, I don’t want guests to feel like they are too claustrophobic in their spots.
I’m keeping the Thanksgiving centerpiece so simple this year and I love it! I found these two milk glass candle sticks at a garage sale this year. I almost didn’t get them because…stuff…but I just couldn’t leave them behind. Good thing I didn’t because here I am using them! I added in two thrifted green taper candles (yes, I thrift candles too) and I love the stark contrast of the white and green together…vibing with the stripes!
To finish out the centerpiece, I grabbed a milk glass vessel I use in our coffee bar and added in some cuttings from our yard. Isn’t it so funny and amazing that dead and dying plants sometimes put on a more beautiful show than they do when they’re alive and thriving? I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere for us.
I hope this has inspired you to create a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape using items you already own and filing in the rest with secondhand finds. Making a lovely and welcoming home truly doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. You just need a little imagination and a few trips to the thrift!
If you decide to create a Thanksgiving tablescape or centerpiece, I would love to see it! Share a picture of yours in your Instagram stories and tag me when you do! You can find me on Instagram at @hilaryprall.
Want to set a pretty table for Thanksgiving, but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Shop your local thrift store! I always make it a fun challenge to myself to look for the perfect decor for holiday tables when I’m shopping secondhand. I thought I’d share mine with you this year, to help inspire you to do the same.