Use What You Have Thanksgiving Tablescape. This year there’s no stressing over your Thanksgiving table decorations, when you can decorate with what you already have on hand. In this post I’ll share some easy ideas that I’ve been using for years by reusing my fall decor.
Grateful Gatherings Thanksgivings Hop
I’m so excited to be joining the Grateful Gatherings Thanksgivings Hop, hosted by my friend Laura of Decor to Adore. We have 14 bloggers today sharing their Thanksgiving decor, from the kitchen to the dining room. If you’re looking for inspiration or last minute ideas, this is the place to be.
If you just happen to be stopping by or popping in after visiting Common Ground, welcome back to Thistle Key Lane. Debra always inspires me with her vintage styling, and I’m loving her gorgeous French urn centerpiece too!
I have to say, I’m so happy that we’re pausing long enough to give Thanksgiving a shout out. These days we tend to focus so much on Christmas, that I’m feeling as if Thanksgiving is getting lost in the shuffle.
Well at our house we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving, even when it’s on a small scale. I think of it as a time for counting our blessings, and gathering those that we care about around the table to savor a delicious meal.
Every year we focus mostly on the preparations of cooking and baking, so it’s nice to step back and appreciate a festive table too. Sometimes I think I’m the only one that’s aware that the table is set, but then a few compliments makes it all worth while. Anyone else feel that way?
Use What You Have Thanksgiving Tablescape
That may sound like a crazy title for my post, but that is exactly what it means. Several years ago I decided to not worry so much about the Thanksgiving table, because I can alway reuse my fall decorations. Here’s a list of what I’m gathering from fall vignettes from around the house, plus some craft projects for this year’s centerpiece. You can make a list of what you have available too.
- real and faux pumpkins
- twig pumpkins
- pine cones
- unshelled nuts, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts
- mini gourds
- preserved moss
- deer sheds
- small round tray
- books
- candles
Creating A Thanksgiving Centerpiece
The centerpiece starts with a pedestal in the center of the table. Well actually, it’s a round tray on top of a short candle stick holder held together with command hook tape. So, voilà we have a makeshift pedestal. A stack of books creates another platform, so I can vary the heights of the pumpkins in the center of the table.
Even though I’m using a mix of real and faux pumpkins, I try to incorporate as many organic elements as I can into my centerpiece. The yellow faux pumpkin sits on a bed of preserved moss with unshelled nuts and small pine cones around the edge. More unshelled nuts and pinecones are scattered on the tabletop.
Mini gourds and twig pumpkins work their way into the centerpiece, as well as deer antlers. I’m loving how all these earthy colors mix together to create a warm and inviting table.
The interesting looking mossy pumpkins are from a post I shared last year. To see the tutorial, you can click on my post Thanksgiving Centerpieces With Moss Pumpkins.
Even though this is a casual Thanksgiving table I love adding a little drama with candles. I’m using a small collection of brass candle stick holders of various shapes and sizes. Candles can make almost any last minute tablescape seem extra special.
By the way, I’m using flameless candles for the sake of safety. I can click them on with a remote, and not have to worry about lighting candles before dinner starts. I love the instant warmth and charm the candles provide.
Mix and Match Place settings
Using what you have, extends to place settings too. In my opinion, you don’t have to have everything matching to set a pretty table. For example I’m mixing my mom’s crystal with my everyday wine glasses. As long as everything is sparkling clean, it will look great together.
Thanksgiving Tablescape Place Settings
Same goes for your dishes and flatware. Sometimes I mix my grandmother’s smaller vintage china plates with my everyday white porcelain and it looks fabulous. Be sure to check out my post Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape With Plaids and Gourds for mix and match table setting ideas.
It’s been a tradition long before blogging, that I create something special for each place setting. It’s usually a place card or something small and decorative. This year I made small wreaths out of raffia with a simple knotted ribbon.
These sweet little wreaths add interest to the table with a wee bit of color and pattern. If you like this idea, think about adding a name on the ribbon or tie a place card to the top.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with decorating ideas you can use right now!
Up next on our Grateful Gatherings Thanksgiving Hop is my sweet friend Cindy of County Road 407. Cindy is sharing a beautiful woodsy tablescape that I know you’re going to love. Take a look at that amber glass!
Thank you so much for stopping by today. All the links for everyone in our hop are below. You can click through them at your leisure, and don’t forget to pin these fabulous ideas to your favorite Pinterest boards.
Cheers!
Our Grateful Gatherings Thanksgiving Hop Continues…
© 2023 Use What You Have Thanksgiving Tablescape post first appeared on Thistle Key Lane.
So many great ideas. Thank you so. much for the inspiration. Blessings to you.
Thank you so much Renae!
What a gorgeous tablescape Michelle! I adore how you used a variety of textures to create such beauty. Thank you so much for joining in. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for hosting a wonderful hop this year Laura! I’m so impressed and inspired with all the posts. Everyone did a wonderful job with their Thanksgiving decor!
Love these no stress-shop the house ideas, Michelle. They are seriously so beautiful! I’m totally with you about slowing down to savor all the holidays in the season. It’s such a special time of year. I’m on team “don’t rush” too. Wishing you a Thanksgiving weekend filled with all your favorite things, CoCo
Thank you CoCo! With the table set and ready for entertaining we can focus on the food LOL! I’m making my grocery list this morning so I’m not rushed at the last minute. Happy Thanksgiving sweet friend!
Hi Michelle, your gorgeous organic centerpiece is perfect! Love all the textures, and having the pumpkin elevated makes it so lovely. Your individual personal little wreaths on the plates is so pretty and special and I know each person appreciates it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!
Debra, I think I have learned a lot from your vignettes on reinventing what I have if different ways. As always thank you for inspiring me!
A girl after my own heart. I love using whatever I have to create a different table. Yours is amazing and so thoughtfully designed. Adding the books, greenery and pedestal for your pumpkin are all so interesting and fun ideas. Love it all.
Thank you so much Marty! We are so ready for turkey day, I can hardly wait to gather around the table!
I LOVE shopping my house for decor and other things to use!! Usually I can find everything I need so I don’t need to go to the store.
Your tablescape is so wonderfully curated and styled. The candlesticks are my favorite! Thanks so much for sharing at Home Imagined this week!
Thank you so much Rachel! I’m still hunting for more candlesticks every time I go thrifting or antiquing. 😊
So beautiful! Love all the natural elements! Deer sheds are a favorite of mine to use and loved them in your tablescape!
Yes I love deer sheds too! I told the Mister I would rather he bring me deer sheds than flowers LOL!
Your table is so pretty, Michelle. I love that pedestal with the pumpkin and nuts. And the little wreath on the plates is the perfect finishing touch. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you Angie! The wreaths were a last minute addition and so easy to make!
Love all the organic materials you brought together here, Michelle! And the raffia wreaths are so sweet and simple:) Your brass candlesticks give that perfect old world touch to the whole setting. Just gorgeous, my friend!
Thank you so much Lora! I love having the table set early, and I’m enjoying how it looks every time I walk through the room.
I adore your style, Michelle. This year, we were on the same mission to use what we had at home. I don’t know about you, but my cabinets are too full. It is time to do some purging after the holidays. Thank you for sharing your beautiful table, and I wish you and your family a lovely Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much Wendy! I still can get over the beautiful persimmons on your table. I wish I had a local source for those!
A beautiful and thoughtful table as always, Michelle! Those little raffia wreaths are so cute, and I love the unshelled assortment of nuts you added! My mom always had a bowl of unshelled nuts out during the holidays (I’ll have to remember to decorate with them!). Wishing you and your family a beautiful Thanksgiving!
Thank you Cindy! My mom used to put out a bowl of nuts for the holidays too. It was such an indulgence back then, and brings back sweet memories!
Always so beautiful, Michelle! I love how you created your pedestal and added all of the lovely natural elements. The raffia wreaths for each place setting are so sweet! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much Lynne for the sweet comments! The count down to turkey day has begun! Happy Thanksgiving!