Super Easy (And Cheap) Thanksgiving Table Ideas…Using Everyday Items

I got an invitation to appear on KKTV’s Moms Everyday with host Jen Lennon to tape a segment for a Thanksgiving Special, which I of course said yes to. But because I had been busy helping my son move, I had neglected email for a couple of days and didn’t read the message until the day before filming. I can honestly say that I pulled all of these ideas from things I already had at home.These are ideas using everyday items, thrift store finds, items from my backyard and some dollar store things. Everything is basic, allowing you to add-to if you want, which will hopefully spark some ideas on ways you can decorate this year. I pulled all of these together in about an hour.

I personally like to have place settings clearly labeled when we have large groups over for dinners, which cuts down on the time to get situated once dinner is ready. It also enables me to plan for those who might need extra room or special needs, being able to get seated easier. For Thanksgiving get-togethers I tend to be more casual and fun with my table settings, using a lot of nature if possible (depends on the weather).

Because I did all of these so quickly I handwrote everything. But if you have a printer, you can get as creative as you want. (We just bought a new printer and I don’t know how to use it yet, which is another reason everything’s done by hand.)

VERY EASY-TO-DO PLACE SETTINGS –

If you don’t have enough cloth napkins to go around, check out your local thrift stores for extras. All of the napkins below were found at Discover Goodwill and cost less than a buck each. I typically don’t have all matching pieces on my table, especially when we have more than 20 guests, because pieces break or get stained so I have a lot of odds and ends. Play with colors, textures, patterns, and shapes to make your table coordinate without totally matching if you’re in the same boat as me. And seriously, who has 20 matching plates, glasses, linens, etc.? I don’t, that’s for sure.

This is the most basic of ideas for a place setting and literally takes seconds to do. Just cut a strip of heavy card stock or construction paper in a color that complements your table. Write your guest’s name on it, glue or tape the back once you wrap it around your napkin and that’s it. You can dress it up with a silk leaf or flower that you just tuck under the paper strip.

If you don’t have card stock or construction paper in the house, cut a strip off a brown grocery bag and write a little message on it if you want. A few items from my yard like decorative grasses add a touch of nature.

Mini pumpkins, gourds, or even fruits that have a flat bottom make great holders for name cards you can make with any type of paper you have in the house. Just cut a slit across the top and slide the card in.

I’ve made these place settings in the past that also double as conversation starters.

On the back of the card you can write (or type up and print) questions for your guest to fill out that can turn into a fun little game you can play during dinner or dessert. For example; list your favorite movie, color, food, book, etc. The guests can give you the cards once everyone’s seated and you can read off the answers and have everyone guess who the card belongs to. Or write inspirational quotes or sayings on the back and let everyone reflect on what they are grateful for this year.

PLACE SETTINGS/TAKE HOME TREATS –

I love to make place settings that can double as a little something guests can take home. Sometimes I send homemade cookies or spiced nuts with our guests or votive candles I used as part of my table arrangement.

The little vase of lavender (with Sarah on it) was 49 cents at Discover Goodwill and the lavender is from my yard. You can use whatever color ribbon you want to tie on a name tag, I used twine because I have a ton of it.

The small brown box came from the dollar store which I filled with spiced nuts. A bit of ribbon and fresh herbs glued or taped to the box tie into the colors I’ll be using this year for our dinner…lots of nature and fall hues.

The little spice jar is filled with a homemade Creole seasoning I’ll be using this year, which my guests can take home to use. I save my empty glass spice jars that I can get the labels off all year for this type of thing. Glue a few silk or real leaves on the lid…super easy and fun.

The shot glass filled with fresh rosemary (that has Paul on it) came from Goodwill and only cost me 29 cents. I got the price tags at Office Depot one year when they were on sale and I use them for so many different things I want to label.

I picked up the votive candle holder also for 29 cents at Goodwill. Sometimes when I’m buying a lot of items at Discover Goodwill for these type of events or get-togethers, I challenge myself to only buy items on sale that day for half off, which is easy to do when everything doesn’t have to match. A bit of twine and a name tag cut from a brown lunch sack finishes it up.

QUICK CENTERPIECES –

These are quick and basic centerpiece ideas that you can make in seconds. Of course you can elaborate on these ideas with bows, other fruits, and whatever items you might find in your own backyard. We happen to have lots of pine trees in our yard so I tend to use branches and cones year-round. Plus, they just smell like the holidays. Sometimes I’ll ask one of the neighbors if I can snip something off one of their bushes or trees, which they let me do. If you live in an area where you still have flowers blooming, bring some of those in. Decorative grasses, tree twigs or branches or even cactus can help bring in a bit of nature and keep costs down. One year I filled up glass vases with the little acorns scattered throughout the yard and they looked great.

If you don’t have enough candle holders, turn some wine glasses upside down and use those as your candle base. You can add bows or ribbons to the glasses or wrap around the candles themselves. Use various sizes and shapes for some dimension. Remember, everything does not have to match. I picked up all of these glasses for less than a dollar each at Discover Goodwill. The candles were also purchased from there. I always look for candles at thrift stores that aren’t dented or discolored because new candles can be so expensive. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been used and have some wax drips on them if you’re going to light them…

*I use unscented candles in case we have guests who are sensitive to certain scents. (Plus I don’t want anything competing with the delicious aromas of our Thanksgiving meal.)

**When making centerpieces, I sit down at the table we’ll be dining at to make sure I can see over whatever I’m using. You want your guests to be able to see each other.

Fresh fruits and nuts are popular items some people like to decorate with. I bought a bag of clementine oranges for $3.99 which make for a simple but pretty piece in this fabulous vase I got at Goodwill for $1.99. You can leave add cloves to the oranges if you want, which look pretty and smell good. This makes for a fun project for kids to do too.

Using pine branches and cones from my yard, along with a few cinnamon sticks and oranges make for a pretty centerpiece and really smells good. Got the basket at Goodwill for $3.99, which I use all year for various purposes.

Clipping a few more branches and putting them in small juice glasses (29 cents Goodwill) make for simple additions to the table if I want or scatter them throughout the house to continue your theme.

Everything I had on was a bargain too…Including my shoes, all the bracelets, my necklace and earrings (all from Discover Goodwill) and ring from Ashley’s Attic here in town…

And my dress (Goodwill) with the super fabulous animal-print wrap from Ashley’s Attic, I paid $35…for ALL of it total!

I love working with Jen who can get you relaxed and make you forget you’re on camera. Thanks Jen for having me on the show.