For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday. From the late night and early morning preparation of all the fixings to devouring the feast with my family, I always look forward to this time of year. I mean who doesn’t love all the amazing side dishes. Don’t tell anyone, but I think they are the star of the show and way better than the turkey. Not only do I love the food, but it is always such a sweet time reflecting and sharing about how God has blessed us over the last year.
Kevin and I have been hosting Thanksgiving at our house since we first got married and I love the fact that we can fit so many people around our dining room table.
5 Tips For The Perfect Stress Free Thanksgiving Table:
No. 1: Use what you have
When I plan my Thanksgiving tablescape, I always look to the items I already have in my home. A perfect example are these plates that I picked up at the Dollar Tree many years ago. I bought 20+ plates when I saw them, because I love to entertain, and to this day, I wish I would have bought more! They are simple white plates that go with any season, style, and color scheme. You don’t have to go out and buy new items every year. Plan your table around what you already have.
No 2: Mixing vintage and antique items adds character to any tablescape.
I love mixing vintage and antique items into my Thanksgiving table. Several components of this years table are from many years of collecting, thrifting and picking at various estate sales, vintage markets and other stores. Everywhere we travel I’m always on the hunt for more brass candlesticks to add to my collections. You can never have enough. And the gold silverware, also timeless and goes with everything, I picked up from an Instagram account (@thriftersgonnathrift) a couple years ago.
No. 3: Repurposing items helps tell a story and save money.
Think outside the box. What else do you already have in your home that you can could repurpose, saving you money and another stop, because we certainly don’t have time for that. The napkins are actually just a white sheet I picked up from Walmart for a couple dollars and dyed using avocado seeds and onion peels. And the table runner is dyed cheesecloth (also a couple dollars at Walmart). One of my favorite elements on this table are the beautiful antique brass goblets I found this past summer on our travels in Spokane, that made the perfect small vases for the floral arrangements.
No. 4: Use fruit and florals to add texture and color to your table.
I like to keep a fairly neutral color palette when creating any tablescape and use florals & greenery & fruit for the added pops of color. I was able to use one bouquet from Trader Joes and stretch it out among 4 small vases. For the table runner, I used mostly trimmings from a friends eucalyptus tree, mixed with a little added greenery from Trader Joes. Each plate also features a few cranberries and a persimmon for a fun pop of color!
No. 5: Keep it simple.
I try to focus on keeping things simple. A little greenery and a pop of color goes a long way. Remember that the time around the table with family and friends is what Thanksgiving is all about, not the time you spent worrying about how everything will look!
