Are you looking to refresh your home’s decor without breaking the bank? This guide will show you how to transform your living space with simple, cost-effective tricks. From DIY projects to repurposing old items, these tips will help you create a stylish and inviting home without spending a fortune.
MAKE NEW PILLOW COVERS
New pillow covers are one of the easiest ways to make a big statement with just a small change. However, they can get expensive, often costing $20 or more each. Luckily, making your own pillow covers is simple and can be done with almost any fabric. Materials like fabric scraps, placemats, and even old sheets work great. One time, a dress destined for the Goodwill pile turned into an adorable pillow cover! For those not too confident with sewing, try an easy envelope pillow method—no zipper required. Alternatively, no-sew hem tape offers a quick and simple way to create a great pillow cover without sewing at all.
USE A BLANKET TO COVER AN OLD COUCH OR CHAIR
There’s no denying it—new sofas are expensive. Even budget-friendly options from places like IKEA can still run several hundred dollars. While $500 might be a good deal for a sofa, there are times when spending that much just isn’t feasible to upgrade an old, unattractive couch. A simple and affordable fix is to cover it up instead. You can use a spare blanket, a tablecloth, or even an extra set of curtains to hide an unsightly sofa. Drape the blanket over the back and add some throw pillows to help mask the look.
DECORATE WITH NATURE
There’s often an abundance of beautiful items just outside our doors that can add character and charm to our homes. Simply gather what’s available—flowers, seashells, branches, acorns, pinecones, or river rocks. Arrange them in pretty jars or bowls to display around the house. Just be sure to clean everything thoroughly first!
FRAME SENTIMENTAL ITEMS AS ART
I love filling our home with items that hold personal significance. It’s even better when those special things are on display rather than tucked away in boxes.
If you’re like me, you probably have a collection of picture frames waiting for the perfect piece of art. (And if you don’t, you can find frames for just a few dollars at yard sales or thrift stores—almost free!)
Instead of framing photos or artwork, try framing something more meaningful—love letters, handwritten recipes, old baby clothes, dried bouquets, tickets—anything that you’ve kept because it holds sentimental value.
PRINT FAMILY PHOTOS TO FRAME
One of my favorite tricks is printing family photos at home and putting them in frames. I usually print on cardstock, but regular printer paper works just as well. For frames that need a mat, I cut a piece of poster board to size, place the photo on top, and secure it with clear tape. Once it’s behind the glass, you can’t tell the difference.
If you don’t have white poster board, you can use wrapping paper instead—most have a plain white back and can be easily cut to fit. Alternatively, poster board from the dollar store is an inexpensive option if you’re willing to spend a little.
USE FREE PRINTABLE ART
There are so many beautiful free printables available that can create stunning artwork for your home. Simply print them at home and pop them into a frame.
If you’re looking for a larger art piece and don’t mind spending a few dollars, you can get them printed at Staples or your local copy center as an engineering print. Black and white prints up to 24″ x 36″ cost less than $4.
If you’re unsure where to find great printable art, try searching Pinterest for “watercolor printables,” “vintage printable art,” or whatever style you’re after.
A couple of my favorite sources for free printables are Picture Box Blue for vintage maps and illustrations, and We Lived Happily Ever After for beautiful watercolors and farmhouse-style prints.
GIVE FURNITURE YOU ALREADY OWN A NEW PURPOSE
Sometimes, you may already own something that perfectly suits your needs. An old dresser can be transformed into a beautiful buffet for the dining room or a TV stand for the family room. You could even cut down the legs of an unused dining table to create a charming coffee table.
Or repurpose an old door, tabletop, or even a gate into a rustic headboard. The key is to look at your belongings with fresh eyes—rather than seeing them only for their original purpose, imagine all the other ways they could be used.
SWITCH THINGS UP BETWEEN ROOMS
Get creative and consider bringing in a few items from other areas of your home. We often become so accustomed to seeing things in specific spots that we overlook their potential in different settings. Sometimes, all it takes to refresh a space is swapping a few items between rooms.
If you have a living room and a family room, try switching the sofas or coffee tables between the two. You could also exchange dressers between different bedrooms or move some bookcases from a bedroom to a den. This simple reorganization can give your home a new look and feel!
REARRANGE THE FURNITURE
Once you’ve decluttered, take a moment to assess what you have left to work with. You might find that you don’t need to buy anything new to completely refresh a space.
Sometimes, all it takes is rearranging what you already have. Start with the largest piece of furniture in the room—be it the couch, table, or bed—and experiment with different placements.
You can sketch it out or visualize it in your mind, but I find that physically moving things around often yields the best results. There have been many times I was sure that a piece wouldn’t fit in a certain spot due to its size, only to discover it was the perfect location after all.
Once you’ve positioned your main furniture piece, start rearranging everything else around it. And if you end up with everything back in its original spot, at least you’ll know for certain that it was the best arrangement!
DECLUTTER WHAT YOU ALREADY OWN
Okay, so decluttering may not be the most exciting decorating advice, and it might feel odd to suggest getting rid of items when you can’t afford to replace them right now. However, I genuinely believe that when you’re unhappy with a space, the best first step is to remove everything that isn’t working.
Even if it seems like you have nothing to spare, taking a closer look with fresh eyes often reveals several items you may not actually like or that don’t belong there.
Of course, some pieces—like an old, unattractive sofa—might have to stay for practical reasons if you can’t afford a replacement.
But if you find decorative items that no longer resonate with you, let them go. Additionally, if there are unnecessary furniture pieces, consider moving them out. Sometimes, having a cleaner, more open space is far better than keeping items that weigh the room down.
CONCLUSION
By following these 10 tricks, you can easily decorate your home without spending a dime. Remember, creativity and resourcefulness are key to achieving a stylish and inviting space. So, start exploring your home for hidden potential, get crafty with DIY projects, and embrace the joy of budget-friendly design. With a little imagination and effort, you can transform your home into a beautiful and personalized sanctuary.
20 BEST THANKSGIVING TABLE DECOR IDEAS SURE TO WOW YOUR GUESTS
As Halloween fades into memory and the vibrant hues of fall envelop your neighborhood, the holiday spirit is in full swing. The leaves form a colorful, magical blanket that transforms the landscape.
With the fall festival approaching, it’s time to focus on one of the most significant meals of the year: Thanksgiving. Whether you’re hosting a grand celebration or an intimate family gathering, it’s essential to prepare, from table decorations to meal planning.
But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with stunning Thanksgiving table decoration ideas that will have everyone buzzing with excitement. Once your table is set, meal prep will feel like a breeze. So, take a deep breath and let’s dive into these amazing Thanksgiving decorating tips, starting with the essentials!
WHAT DO YOU PUT ON A THANKSGIVING DINNER TABLE?
Feeling stressed about how to set the table for a sophisticated or trendy impression? Don’t worry—we’ve got the perfect solution!
A well-set table can elevate even the simplest meal into a delightful experience. To help you de-stress from the planning, follow these easy steps:
Start Early: Begin your table decor well before the big meal day to avoid last-minute chaos.
Gather Supplies: Make a checklist to ensure you have all the essentials. This includes decorative items as well as practical items like plates, napkins, bowls, silverware, and glasses for the right number of guests.
Match the Theme: Ensure that all items coordinate with your Thanksgiving decor theme.
Lay the Foundation: For a formal setting, arrange the salad plates and main course plates first.
Arrange Silverware: Place the forks on the left of the plate—the larger fork closest to the plate and the smaller fork next for appetizers or salads. On the right, set the knife followed by the spoons for soup and dessert.
Align for Uniformity: Ensure everything is lined up neatly for a polished look.
Position Glassware: Place the wine and water glasses to the right of the plate, and then set the bowls or bread plates opposite the glasses.
And just like that, your table is set and ready for decoration! To be the most gracious host with the most beautiful Thanksgiving table, we have a fantastic collection of creative and easy Thanksgiving table ideas, complete with DIY centerpieces and place cards. Ready to dive in?
As Thanksgiving approaches and thoughts turn to the harvest bounty, baskets make for a beautiful table motif. Looking for a centerpiece that’s stylish, simple, and budget-friendly? Look no further! These baskets, filled with apples, pears, and walnuts, evoke the essence of a cornucopia overflowing with abundance. You can use multiple baskets to create a stunning display that runs along the length of the table, adding a warm and inviting touch to your Thanksgiving celebration.
GOLD TABLE SETTING
No flower, no matter how humble, fails to shine when grouped together. For this tablescape, we arranged clusters of mums, carnations, amaranth, wheat, and grasses in fluted glasses and small vases. To maintain a cohesive look, we chose a palette of amber hues—yellows, golds, and rusts—for the flowers, vessels, and beeswax candles. We opted for hardy blooms like mums and carnations, ensuring they are readily available. Simply clip the stems, remove any excess foliage, and place the flowers in clean water for a stunning display that brings warmth and charm to your Thanksgiving table.
GLITTERED CORN TABLE SETTING
Incorporating a few organic elements, enhanced with a touch of gilding, beautifully captures the abundance of fall. Begin with the essentials: the dishes, with their fluid shapes, reflect the natural world around us. Use sturdy silverware that gleams—whether gold or silver, it all adds to the elegance. Stripes of glitter along the edge of a table runner elevate the festive ambiance.
For a stunning centerpiece, transform a glass compote into a horn of plenty by filling it with sparkling Indian corn and squash. Vary the intensity of the sparkle by completely covering some ears of corn while using just a light dusting of glitter on others. A simple glittered stem on the squash is all it needs to catch the eye. This combination of organic charm and shimmering accents will create a captivating Thanksgiving table display.
SILVER COATED TABLE SETTING
Create a stunning table with elegant decorations in calming colors, using just a few simple supplies. Elevate plain woven bread baskets by painting them in a single, lustrous shade and lining them with vibrant fabric.
For a rich centerpiece, add a plastic liner to the basket and fill it with a mix of neutral, silvery-leafed plants paired with flowers in deep purples and soft magentas. In this arrangement, we used mums, dusty miller, viburnum, globe thistle, cabbage rosettes, and kale leaves—affordable options that are easy to find in the fall. This combination of colors and textures will bring a serene and sophisticated touch to your Thanksgiving table.
FORAGED TABLE SETTING
Embrace earthy, natural, and plant-based elements for your holiday table with beautiful materials like lichen-covered blueberry branches and velvety red spikes of staghorn sumac. Consider foraging for centerpiece materials right in your own backyard. Sculptural twigs and branches serve as a surprising alternative to traditional flowers, adding a touch of natural beauty that reflects the season.
An important occasion can be both chic and casual. Feel free to use stunning yet everyday earthenware, and there’s no need for a tablecloth or placemats. Your napkins don’t even have to match—just choose related colors or fabrics to create a cohesive look. This relaxed approach will infuse your Thanksgiving table with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
BRIGHT YELLOW TABLE SETTING
We crafted a warm golden yellow palette, anchored by a table runner made of metallic glazed linen. The combination of old and new pieces of ceramic vintage dinnerware, all in creamy white shades, creates a harmonious and easily mixable aesthetic. To infuse the setting with vibrant bursts of gold, we added spider mums and Craspedia globosa in shallow bowls and porcelain cups. This arrangement beautifully enhances the overall look, creating an inviting and cheerful atmosphere perfect for Thanksgiving.
RICHLY COLORED TABLE SETTING
Sometimes, simplicity is the key to an elegant tablescape. This thematic vision from former Deputy Creative Director Ayesha Patel embodies that principle for a Thanksgiving table. It features natural materials and textures, such as burlap place mats, a leather tie for the carafe, and block-printed napkins. These elements come together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, highlighting the beauty of understated design while celebrating the essence of the season.
PATTERN PLAY TABLE SETTING
Botanical dinner plates set the stage for this beautiful table. The fresh color palette, inspired by the floral pattern—yellow, lavender, brown, and gray—brings everything together in perfect harmony. Sleek gray side plates offer a contemporary contrast to the vintage design of the dinner plates.
To enhance the setting, assorted napkins are unified by stitched-on crochet trim along one edge. Antique etched wine glasses, simple low tumblers, and purple pressed-glass tumblers complement the old-new theme beautifully. Flat place cards adorned with single dried flowers reinforce the color scheme, creating a cohesive and inviting atmosphere for your Thanksgiving gathering.
GILDED TABLE SETTING
Give your table the Midas touch by transforming fallen leaves into a rustic yet elegant centerpiece. Start by collecting leaves and bare branches to create your arrangement—there’s no need to press the leaves, as their natural form is part of their charm. Spray the leaves with gold paint and allow them to dry. Once dry, use hot glue to attach the leaves to the branches and arrange them in a vase.
For the rest of the table, embrace a resplendent gold theme with modern flatware and dinner plates, complemented by a fringed linen runner. To personalize the dining experience, place Baby Boo pumpkins at each guest’s seat to mark their place, adding a delightful touch to your Thanksgiving celebration.
BARN TABLE SETTING
The Nordt family from Charles City, Virginia, hosts their Thanksgiving feast in a charming barn setting. Instead of traditional chairs, they creatively arrange bales of hay along the table, draped with handwoven blankets that add warmth and softness. The main table features an assortment of candles, glasses, and antique 1920s Theodore Haviland china that Dianne Nordt, the family matriarch, has lovingly collected over the years.
Nut wreaths, crafted by drilling holes in pecans and sweet-gum seeds and stringing them onto wire rings, add a rustic touch and adorn a reclaimed barn door. Above the buffet, a beautifully threaded magnolia wreath hangs on the wall, completing the cozy and inviting atmosphere for their Thanksgiving celebration.
SOFT METALLICS TABLE SETTING
Glints of gold and silver beautifully complement soft pinks and yellows at this inviting table. Arrangements of carnations, mums, scabiosa seed heads, and grasses are positioned on and around the mantel, adding a touch of natural beauty to the setting without overwhelming the table. This thoughtful design creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for gathering with loved ones during the holiday season.
COZY RUSTIC TABLE SETTING
Feelings of gratitude flow effortlessly in autumn, the peak season for ethereal light, rich colors, and joyful homecomings. This Thanksgiving, embrace these elements with a simple yet special table that honors great food and cherished company. Bring in a cushioned bench to create a comfortable setting for enjoying a spread of easy earthly delights.
Our interpretation of a pared-down Scandinavian aesthetic—where flowers are not essential—draws warmth from raw linen and the soft glow of beeswax candles. A casually stunning centerpiece features an informal arrangement of mottled gourds, leather-trimmed hurricane lanterns, and whole nuts ready for cracking, creating a relaxed yet beautiful atmosphere for your Thanksgiving gathering.
FALL HARVEST TABLE SETTING
While many people say grace at dinner, you can cultivate feelings of gratitude even before the meal begins by preparing an easy yet stunning, wilt-proof centerpiece. To create this simple arrangement, place candles on small glass dishes and cover them with curvy lamp chimneys, which can be found for just a few dollars at hardware or antique stores. Fill in any spare spaces with seasonal fruit and foliage for added color and texture. When guests arrive, light the wicks and enjoy the warm glow, setting a beautiful and inviting atmosphere for your Thanksgiving celebration.
DRIED FLOWERS TABLE SETTING
If you didn’t have time to wander through a meadow to gather materials for your tabletop, this setup is the perfect alternative. The key to achieving a breezy yet modern feel is to use mostly one variety of flower per vase, allowing the simplicity of the arrangement to shine. The mix of white stoneware vases beautifully contrasts with a rust-colored tablecloth, creating an eye-catching display.
By lining the vases up loosely, you maintain an effortless charm. This spare palette will carry you through the winter months; for a fresh look, simply swap out the vessels to match the season or your mood.
INDIGO TABLE SETTING
Take a break from the hassle of formal floral centerpieces and instead showcase wispy dried branch stalks in a variety of vases. For a snow-kissed effect, lay the branches on paper and spray them with white floral paint before arranging them.
While block-printed linens can be expensive to buy, they are surprisingly easy to make using just textile paint, muslin fabric, and woodblock stamps. When block-printing napkins, mix colors and patterns to enhance your table’s eclectic vibe. This unique combination of colors and loose materials creates a relaxed yet inviting atmosphere that still feels celebratory.
In this setup, vintage yellowware pie dishes serve as unconventional dinner plates, while individual cutting boards hold bread and salt dishes; adding a stylish touch by winding ribbon around their handles. Vintage and reproduction Dutch tiles add personality to the table and can serve multiple purposes. Arrange them in clusters or as a band down the center of the table, using them as trivets or placing them individually as coasters for a charming touch.
BOTANICAL POTS
To elevate your table for the feast, transform plain terra-cotta pots into elegant, one-of-a-kind displays with botanical accents. All you need are silicone baking molds (typically used for making fondant details on cakes), white air-dry clay, and craft glue. Here’s a simple how-to:
Prepare the Clay: Start by kneading the white air-dry clay until it’s soft and pliable.
Mold the Shapes: Press the clay into the silicone baking molds, ensuring you fill each detail. Let the clay set as per the manufacturer’s instructions until it’s firm.
Assemble the Accents: Once the clay pieces are ready, carefully remove them from the molds. Use craft glue to attach these botanical accents to the sides of your terra-cotta pots.
Plant Your Botanicals: Fill the pots with soil and your favorite plants or flowers, allowing the clay accents to enhance the overall aesthetic.
Set the Table: Arrange the decorated pots on your table for a charming and personalized centerpiece that adds a touch of nature to your Thanksgiving feast.
This simple DIY project not only beautifies your table but also creates a unique and inviting atmosphere for your gathering.
TERRA COTTA TABLE SETTING
For a natural and earthy aesthetic this Thanksgiving, consider using terra cotta serving ware. Terra cotta isn’t just for flower pots; it can be transformed into beautiful and versatile tableware that complements any holiday theme, whether dressed up or down.
METALLIC MINI GOLD PUMPKIN TABLE SETTING
Elevate your Thanksgiving table settings by spray painting mini pumpkins in metallic gold. Place one on each plate, attaching a name card for a personalized touch that enhances the seasonal ambiance. For a cohesive look, arrange larger metallic gold pumpkins down the center of the table. This simple yet elegant decor idea adds a festive flair while keeping the aesthetic sophisticated and inviting.
NATURAL PUMPKINS AND GOURDS TABLESETTING
Create a charming autumnal table display by arranging a mix of gourds and mini pumpkins along the length of your table. Pair these colorful accents with navy blue plates, soft linen napkins, and natural wood-accented silverware for a refreshing twist on traditional Thanksgiving tablescapes. This combination adds warmth and texture, perfectly capturing the spirit of the season while ensuring an inviting atmosphere for your guests.
BOHEMIAN VIBES
Embrace a bohemian-inspired table setting by layering patterned tablecloths to create visual interest. Use a mix of eclectic plates in various colors and designs to enhance the laid-back vibe, and complement them with vintage glassware for a touch of charm. To complete the whimsical atmosphere, hang dreamcatchers or macrame accents from the backs of the chairs. This unique decor not only adds character but also invites a relaxed and inviting feel, perfect for a memorable Thanksgiving gathering.
CONCLUSION
As your Thanksgiving feast draws near, remember that the table setting plays a crucial role in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. By incorporating these 20 best Thanksgiving table decor ideas, you can effortlessly wow your guests and elevate your holiday celebration. From rustic charm to modern elegance, there’s a style to suit every taste and preference. So, gather your favorite elements, let your creativity flow, and create a Thanksgiving table that will be the talk of the town. Happy Thanksgiving!
