Fall tablescapes might be one of my very favorite things. I love the layers and textures and colors of autumn. This year I wanted to create a budget friendly table with as many found and thrifted items I could, including things I already had around my home. I truly think you can create a beautiful tablescape with any budget- or even no budget- it is all about creating a warm and inviting place for family and friends to eat, talk, and visit with each other. I will be sharing a step-by-step process for pulling together a table on Instagram, so I hope you come visit!
The key to making your tablescape budget friendly is to start with the things that you already have. Collecting and investing in key neutral pieces allows you to whip up a tablescape at a moment's notice and with very little cost. These things can be collected from a number of places and I love to find many at antique and thrift stores. I will list my sources at the end of this post.
I started with place settings. I used the DIY copper chargers from last year (see tutorial HERE) and layered thrifted cream colored plates, napkins I have had for years, and grammy's Jewel-T Autumn leaf plates (see the story about these HERE). To top it off, I added beautiful red pears at each place setting just for fun. I love the deep red color of these pears and I like how it offsets and adds richness to all of the other orange and yellows in the table. Adding fruit at each place setting is an inexpensive way to add personality and color to a table.
I love adding touches of copper for fall and I thought this copper pot that my mom gave me was the perfect fit for this table.
I used these IKEA vases as hurricane lanterns. I have had these for a few years now and they are still my favorite vases.
I wanted to add a touch of amber glass to my table and I was hoping to run across some amber glass cups for each setting. I had no such luck, but instead found these beautiful pedestal vases at a local antique store and they ended up being even more perfect. The best part is they were about $5 for the pair!
For my flower arrangement, I wanted to use mostly foraged and collected flowers, plants, and leaves from my yard. The only thing that was not were these fern-like green branches which I found at Trader Joe's. They could have easily been replaced with a green yard clipping though. I also used plum tree clippings, white carpet roses, rose hips, and these awesome brown pod things from my friend's tree.
I will share a detailed step-by-step video on this arrangement in my Instagram stories for anyone interested.
I think my favorite part of this table is Grammy's dishes. I have such fond memories of Thanksgiving dinners with these dishes.
I believe a beautiful table can be pulled together on any budget with a little creativity and ingenuity. I think that fall is the easiest time to create budget friendly tablescapes because of the abundance of beautiful yard clippings in those deep autumn hues. Investing in good basics and then supplementing with found and thrifted items, creates a layered and interesting table.
Sources (These items I have owned and loved for a long time): Chairs | Cushions | Silverware | Cups | Chandelier | I also found some of my great-grandma's china HERE, My napkins aren't available anymore, but I love these, these, and these. Linen towels will be available in my shop when we open. Other Sources: Copper Pot- antique from my mom, candles- walmart, dinner plates- thrifted, Amber glass vase and goblet- thrifted, butter knife- thrifted
I have gathered these beautiful people together to share their tables today with you as well and good luck picking a favorite! I can't even believe the amount of beauty they have pulled together for our Seasons of Home tour!
Ella Claire | Shades of Blue Interiors | Dear Lillie | Home Stories A to Z
Love Grows Wild | Craftberry Bush | Kindred Vintage | Inspired by Charm
Zevy Joy | Nina Hendrick | Liz Marie Blog | My Sweet Savannah
Julie Blanner | French Country Cottage | Boxwood Avenue | Rooms for Rent
Kathy
Not only is your table beautiful, but some of the close up pictures surprised me with nostalgia - those dishes were my Grandma's too! She used them every day. I haven't seen them since. I'm so happy to see them again!
Holliday Johnson
Beautiful table setting! Your centerpiece flower arrangement is stunning!!
Vicki
Beautiful tablescape and gorgeous flower arrangement! My grandmother also had a set of Jewel T Autumn. I have a large round pitcher that I love to bring out in the fall.
Julie Blanner
Oh those flowers are beyond gorgeous! What a beautiful, warm and cozy table!
Jordan Hansen
I love everything about this tablescape but that floral arrangement is stunning!
Rachel
That floral arrangement Kristen. Holy smokes. Also love the way you make everything look so cozy!
chloe | boxwood avenue
Oh how beautiful is all of that copper!? Absolutely gorgeous as always! Thank you so much for putting all of this together for us to get inspired from so many!
Jennifer Holmes
Absolutely beautiful, Kristen!
Lucy AKINS
You do this so well. It's perfection..xo
Michael Wurm Jr
You. are. so. good!!!! This is stunning! I love how you gave a dated china pattern new life. It's beautiful. ... and that arrangement! Wow!
xo Michael