20 Simple Thanksgiving Tablescapes that Wow Guests
A beautiful Thanksgiving table doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.
These fall and Thanksgiving tablescapes are simple and elegant. With a little creativity (and maybe a quick trip to your backyard or the dollar store), you can set a scene that feels festive, cozy, and completely memorable. Without draining your holiday budget.
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From items you already own to nature-inspired touches (that cost nothing at all), these cheap Thanksgiving table setting ideas prove that style and savings can absolutely go hand-in-hand.
Pumpkins That steal The Thanksgiving Show
First, these affordable tablescapes use the season’s most plentiful item!
Using large leaves as a backdrop, line up pumpkins with a few surrounding candles. Then use white, green, or orange plates and napkins.
Via 1905 Farmhouse. Tea lights in small jars are easy to do. Otherwise, it’s one simple burlap runner and one long decor piece to wrap through the pumpkins. Easy as pie!
Felt pumpkins add texture and variety to your Thanksgiving table.
You can also use sprigs of rosemary or eucalyptus for a clean, fresh vibe with your pumpkins.
Natural & Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescapes
For a natural tablescape, gather colorful fall leaves, pinecones, and acorns from outside. Scatter them down the center with tea lights in jars. Or use the following images as inspiration!
Via Barefoot Budgeting.
Via Kelsey Bang. You can make the cute pumpkins here. Don’t have the wood rounds? Using cake stands that you already have would give a similar elevated look.
Via Pink Fortitude.
Via Sustain My Craft Habit. Great if you’re looking for ideas other than the traditional.
Via Jessica Wellington Interiors
For a cheap kids table idea: Use kraft paper as a runner. Handwrite guests’ names. Then, kids can doodle or write thankful messages directly on it.
Via Elva M Design. This elegant table center uses small fake plants that the owner probably already had around her home. Long candles finish off the simple, yet elegant look.
Pinecones, small pumpkins, and natural elements are paired with large candles for a simple look that’s quite stunning. And easy to do.
Fruit Centered Thanksgiving Tablescapes
Fruit tablescapes are cheap and incredibly easy. Use what you already own (oranges, pears, apples) piled in a large bowl, tray, or lined through the center of the table.
Fruit bowl centerpieces bring a pop of color without spending a fortune. Mixing apples and oranges with bright flowers is an easy way to make your Thanskgiving table shine.
Adding apples to your simple centerpiece is the perfect fall touch. The leaves on the napkins are also simple and easy to do (for free).
Via Hearth and Vine. Looking for a tablescape that doesn’t add to your holiday storage or clutter up your home? Look no further! Add colorful fruits and nuts to a bowl and then eat it when Thanksgiving is over!
You can also do this with gourds, pumpkins, and squash. Fill a basket or bowl you already have and you have a centerpiece ready to go!
Related: 10 Smart Ways to Save on Thanksgiving Dinner
Candles & Glass Table Setting
Via Azure Farm Life. Recycled brown glass makes this tablescape stand out.
To Make This Cheaper: Remove labels from wine or soda bottles and use them as vases for a few stems of fall foliage.
Affordable Flower Thanksgiving Tablescapes
Whether it’s real or fake flowers, all you need are a few to make your table pop.
Via Hearth Petals. Mix white pumpkins with a bright flower for a contrast your guests will find impressive.
Sunflowers make your simple Thanksgiving tablescape unique and bright.
Simple Mason Jar Magic Thanksgiving Tablescapes
Via Ashlee Marie. Fill jars with dried beans, popcorn kernels, or cranberries. Then top with a tealight.
This Stovetop Potpourri gift can double as a simple cheap Thanksgiving table setting. Make them ahead of time and use them for decor. Then, give guests one as they leave for your Christmas gift this year.
DIY & Dollar Store Fun
Grab them at PJs and Paint. These personalized name tags are free and would make all of your guests feel special at the table.
Via Laura’s Crafty Life. This cheap Thanksgiving tablescape comes directly from the Dollar Store. It’s fun and bright, without the cost.
How to Make Your Thanksgiving Table Setting For Less:
1. Start with your foundation.
- Choose your tablecloth, runner, or placemats.
- Decide on what plates you’ll use.
- Look through your home, borrow from friends and family, and go outside to find decor before heading to a store.
2. Add Height and Texture
Varying your heights and textures add visual intrigue to your table settings.
3. Keep it simple
A simple, elegant tablescape can be just as beautiful and inviting as a more elaborate one. It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about how it makes you and your family feel.
Don’t miss more Thanksgiving savings:
- Tastiest Thanksgiving side dishes
- Most Fun Thanksgiving Party Ideas
- Best Ways to Use Leftover Turkey
What’s Next?
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Don’t forget to pin these simple Thanksgiving Tablescapes to Pinterest for later!
