Okay. I’m one of “those” people who really like to set their table during the holidays just to make it look “pretty.” I just like to decorate – it’s one of my things (along with eating chocolate and lying on my sofa watching Hallmark movies). I’m definitely NOT a professional (at decorating, but I’m pretty darn close at eating chocolate and lying on the sofa…..), but I think decorating is a lot of fun, and sometimes other people seem to like what I do (or they pretend to – which is really nice of them). I’m NOT one of those people who like to cook and put lots of good food on the table. I like to EAT the good food on the table – just not “prepare” it……but I digress……

I decided to do a Thanksgiving tablescape this year mostly because I found these adorable little squirrel salad plates at Pier 1 on sale. (Y’all know it’s hard for me to ignore something cute when it’s on sale!) Some people say, “I just don’t know how to do that stuff!”  So I’m going to go step by step and let you know how I did this one and add a few tips here and there just in case you like it and want to try it, yourself!  Trust me, if “I” can do this, anyone can!!

So here’s my table “before.”  I found this table at a yard sale – really.  The chairs had ivory covers and were pretty stained, but my awesome husband re-covered them for me. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns in a room. I matched my floral curtains to my striped chairs, and I really like how they turned out! I bought the curtains from Pier 1 a while back, but because my windows aren’t that large, I only bought two panels, and I took them to a seamstress who cut them in half and hemmed the edges for me (I can’t sew a button on a shirt, y’all…) But it saved me some money to only buy two panels instead of four!  The chair cushion material is outdoor fabric from JoAnn’s Fabrics.

So, – back to the steps for a tablescape. For starters, you need a placemat of some kind. I like round ones, and since I was using squirrel plates, I wanted them to have a little “texture” – you know, “foresty.” I’m like, positive, that’s not a word, but that’s okay – you get me. I knew what I wanted, but they were so darn expensive everywhere I looked. I finally found these babies on sale at World Market (click on pic for link to them at World Market):

Thanksgiving Tablescape placemats

The next thing you need is a dinner plate. I found these nice white dinner plates on sale at Walmart.com. I really like that the edges aren’t exactly round, but have a nice scalloped, decorative edge. The cool thing about having a nice set of white plates is that you can use ANY salad plate with them at ANY holiday or other time!  You can buy really pretty salad plates and get a whole new look without having to purchase a complete set of dinnerware (now THAT will save you some bucks!)  Here are the plates (click on pic for link):

Nice (cheap!) white dishes www.walmart.com

I also purchased the bowls as well – more about those later! 🙂

Next, I put a napkin (folded in half twice long-ways – I’m making up words again). I got these cute plaid ones at SteinMart on sale. (My hubby says even when everything’s “on sale,” it still costs us money. Well, I. know. that. But still….)  I looked for napkins that had colors that matched my squirrel plates and the glasses I was using.

plaid Thanksgiving napkins www.SteinMart.com

Now comes the “focal” piece – the cute salad plates!  This is the plate that really adds your color!  Here they are with a link to where they’re on sale at Pier 1. They also have bunny and fox ones that are cute, too!

Mazey the squirrel salad plates – Pier 1

So, the next thing is your glasses. I found these for FREE!  (I borrowed them from my mom…..)  That’s another tip – always check with your mom before purchasing something! 🙂

Pretty green glasses (from Mom!)

I also bummed this pretty gold flatware from her, too!  Free is REALLY nice!

So here’s what the table looks like so far:

Gold flatware

The next thing I add is a soup/salad bowl. Yes, I realize there’s already a salad plate on the table, but the bowl is often a great place to add a little extra “decor!”  So I typically set the table with it whether it’s needed for the “meal” or not! (I know, I know…..just go with it, okay?)

These little bowls match the white dishes from Walmart (click on pic for link):

Better Homes & Gardens bowls

Here’s what I added to the bowls to add some decorative fall flair (that sounds good, doesn’t it?) Always good to try to have a little flair. 🙂  You can find decorative pumpkins like these in almost any craft store (Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, etc.) I chose some that had a variety of colors to bring out more of the colors from the squirrel plates. We’re almost done!

Fall Decor

The only thing left is a place card holder and place card!  I saved a ton of money on these, too! I walked out into my front yard and found 8 pinecones that were about the same size. I printed off names in a font I love (Lavenderia – get it here FREE!) in a color that coordinated with my glasses. I just stuck those suckers in there, and wa-la! 🙂

Pinecone Place Card Holders

Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

The very last thing is to add a centerpiece of some kind if you like. This wrought iron candle holder was on top of another piece of furniture in my house, but I thought it would look nice. I added battery operated tea lights (one of the best inventions ever…) – and I added a little “Give Thanks” decoration that I got at TJ Maxx a few years ago. Here’s the final look:

Wrought Iron Centerpiece

So there you have it, folks! Easy Thanksgiving tablescape in a few simple steps!  Please subscribe so you don’t miss a post and please share this with anyone you think might be interested. I would LOVE to hear your comments! Thanks so much for following – until next time! 🙂