No-fuss Thanksgiving tablescape for the rest of us

You can have a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape…*without* spending a fortune. Let me show you one way to create a pretty table…on a dime.

Thanksgiving is a lovely holiday filled with good food, plenty of family and friends, and a *Gorgeous, Over-the-top Thanksgiving Tablescape Deserving of a Pinterest Award*.

Oh, wait.

Let’s check that last part.

Is a drop-dead-gorgeous table your breaking point (both in regards to stress AND budget)? Who has hundreds of dollars to spend on *just* the tablescape?! Not me…and I’m guessing you don’t either.

Let’s do this the “real life” way – on a real life budget.

*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Full disclosure here.*

What a Thanksgiving Tablescape Isn’t

Girlfriend, a Thanksgiving tablescape need not be an over-the-top, budget breaking ordeal. I don’t know about you, but when I start looking for simple Thanksgiving ideas, what I find is anything but simple. And then I find myself deep in that ugly comparison game. That’s not a good place to be.

Everywhere on Pinterest, in magazines, and gorgeous blogs you’ll find perfectly curated and exquisitely layered Thanksgiving tablecapes.

Each one is absolutely gorgeous.

Absolutely perfect.

And they make me want to give up before the Holiday even starts.

A day that is supposed to be filled with thankfulness and gratitude is overshadowed by my own comparison and that feeling of always falling short of that perfect table setting. Even though I *know* it’s not what really matters. Can I get a witness?

Letting Go of Comparison and Perfectionism

If you also find yourself battling the Comparison Monster, I’m holding out my hand to you and inviting you to walk away from what you think the “perfect” table is…and embrace a simpler Thanksgiving.

One with less focus on the “things and stuff” and more focus on the faces of the ones you love gathered around the table.

Now, I’m not saying break out the paper plates and solo cups (although there’s nothing wrong with that, if that’s what works for you) – I’m just saying give yourself a break, try to use things you already have on hand and say goodbye to that critical inner voice that says, “it’s never good enough”.

I’m preaching to myself here.

This simple Thanksgiving tablescape idea is easy, budget friendly, and completely non-fussy.

With just a few things you can find by shopping the house and some pumpkins from your local grocery store, you’ll be set.

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Let me take a moment to point out that I totally dig the scars and imperfections on real pumpkins – if they bug you, you can certainly find “perfect” fake ones and use those instead. I personally like my pumpkins the way I like my people. Full of stories (some that carry scars), and endearing imperfections…and seeing the beauty in the “mess”.

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Don’t spend all the many dollars on your Thanksgiving tablescape!

Let’s work on this fun table together.

Now, don’t go running out and buying all the many perfectly coordinated things that will just end up collecting dust and taking up space. Shop your house. Use what you have. And maybe make one small trip to the farmer’s market or the produce section at a local store for some pumpkins. 😉

In the background of this photo, you can see my Gracelaced print that I mounted on a canvas using the easiest method ever, the fall leaf garland I made here and the corner of my huge thrifted chalkboard. (And yes, I have twinkly lights around our french doors already.)

*sidenote* If you’re a regular reader, you might immediately notice that my dining room – which is now black, is white in these photos. That’s because these photos were taken for this post last year. 😉 See my $100 dining room makeover here.

Here, I laid out a cotton garland that I already had down the middle of the table. (If you don’t have one, you can find some really pretty ones here. Remember, that these can be stored away and used year after year, so they really are nice to have on hand, plus they’re multi-seasonal.) I’ve had mine for a couple years already and they hold up beautifully.

Then I layered in different neutral colored pumpkins throughout. No real method here – simply whatever looks best to you. I also sneaked in a few antlers that I had elsewhere in the house – because I love the rustic texture they add.

A Note on the Table Setting

I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’ve not layered the usual “charger/dinner plate/ salad plate/soup bowl” combo. That’s because *this* is how we usually set our table.

Simple.

No fuss.

Just a dinner plate we pile high – and if there’s soup, the bowls are in the kitchen on the self-serve buffet.

The crystal goblets were handed down to me from my Grandma Harris. The china plates were a lovely gift many years ago from my Mother in Law. And the linen napkins are from my Mom. Again…use whatever you have and mix and match and combine to make your table *yours*.

Use pieces that have a story to them – it’s what makes your home YOU.

Oh – and the silverware? Yeah…it’s a mish-mash, too. I decided to keep it real. This is real life. It’s how we roll in this house and I’m doing my level best to set aside my own perfectionism.

This year, let’s switch our focus…

This Thanksgiving, let’s make the conscious decision to focus on the sweet faces of those we love around the table – and less on having the Pinterest-perfect table setting.

From my table to yours, I’m wishing you all the peace and love the season holds.

**Oh, and you simply *must* check out my recipe for THE best dinner rolls ever and these Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Roasted Nuts for a quick, easy (and totally addictive) appetizer.