Thrifty and Thankful: My DIY Thanksgiving Table Looks Anything But Cheap

When it comes to decorating the table for a Thanksgiving celebration, I’m a huge advocate for making the most of what you already have. No need to buy special dishes or flatware that’ll spend 364 days of the year in storage!

This year, we’re focusing on letting the food and the harvest take center stage while being complemented by thoughtful, handcrafted accents.

Festive Napkins

For placecards this year, I created custom napkins. They lend such an inviting and charming first impression of the table, and I love how easy they were to make.

What you’ll need:

• Cotton fabric ($1.24)
• Sewing trim ($1.97)
• Fabric markers ($9.96)

I made these napkins with some beige cotton squares I had on hand, but you could absolutely use thrifted fabric or plain cloth napkins. Simply take your fabric and attach your trim to the edge. (If you sew, I recommend pulling out the machine to make quick work of attaching the trim. However, you can use hot glue or fabric glue if you’re looking for a no-sew project.)

Once the trim is attached, use a fabric marker to draw on a festive design or your guest’s name. I used this same technique — minus the fabric marker details — to create a table runner from a yard of fabric for $3.

Fall Harvest Details

Celebrate the fall harvest by highlighting nature’s bounty. If you’re a traditionalist, pinecones and ears of gem corn are always a pretty touch. This year, I chose to focus on a color palette: wine, orange, and yellow.

What you’ll need:

• Mandarin oranges ($6.67)
• Whole cloves ($1.52)
• Small pumpkins ($6.88)
• Faux leaves ($5.89)

I stuck a clove at the top of some small mandarins to mimic pumpkins and for a simplified, fall-inspired take on vintage pomanders. I also found a discounted branch of faux gingko leaves, so I trimmed the leaves off and spread those around the table. I really love how the yellow popped against my bordeaux table runner.

Again, I believe Thanksgiving season is all about making the most of what we have and showcasing all the gifts of this beautiful season, so if you have access to pinecones, crisp fall leaves, or other natural decorations, I recommend going in that direction.

Floral Arrangement

I really love how this centerpiece turned out. With an inexpensive bouquet, a pretty bowl, and extra fall harvest items, it provides a pop of color to enhance your feast. The best part is, it’s not tall — meaning no one’s view will be blocked from across the table.

What you’ll need:

• A large, low decorative bowl ($16.32)
• A short, wide jar or container
• Fresh flowers (varies)
• Leaves and small fruits (varies)

After filling a short, wide glass container halfway with water, I placed it in the center of my large decorative bowl and arranged my flowers inside. If you have a flower frogger handy, this will probably make things easier, but I was able to make it work with a little care and patience.

Once my flowers were ready, I placed my oranges and faux ginkgo leaves around the center bowl to create a symmetrical pattern. If you have a larger decorative bowl, you’ll be able to use larger fruit like pomegranates or apples — anything that celebrates the harvest and makes the most of what you have access to is perfect.

Want to see how it all came together? Watch the video below: