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How to Create a Rustic Thanksgiving Table Inexpensively

written by Rebecca E. Parsons

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Earthy elements grace our Rustic Thanksgiving Table this fall. A casual holiday feast will be served at the farmhouse table on the screened porch. Visioning and preparing a ‘Feast & Fête’ Table for friends and family is a great pleasure for me. This year I plan an intimate gathering of four. I hope you will find the tips and the tablescape styling, prompted by a shopping spree at my neighborhood At Home Superstore, helpful and inspiring. This post is featured here.

rustic thanksgiving table top

For me, setting a table is all about warm layers and casual bits and pieces gathered lovingly. The moment I spotted this rustic mirror with galvanized steel in wooden frame, I had my inspiration piece for the tablescape and my party theme.rustic thanksgiving table inspiration mirror

Rustic Thanksgiving Table Theme

As a graphic designer, paper goods are a big part of my entertaining schtick. People expect me to WOW them. I took a photo of the inspiration mirror and cut the center out in Photoshop. I added a hand-painted pumpkin and the text to create invitations, the menu card, and the place cards. It was super fun to design and the extra touch lets guests know I care.

rustic thanksgiving table paper goods

The styling pieces fell easily into place after the idea was sparked. I decided to use the new At Home purchases alongside some of my antiques and thrift finds. These would be mixed with natural elements foraged from the yard and garden.

rustic thanksgiving table top decor

My subtle palette is taken from the hues of the mirror–grays, aquas, and rusty brown tones. I believe these will make my guests feel warm and cosy. (And it is all about my guests!) These colors say autumn and harvest feasting, plus they offer a touch of my boho beachy personality. Adding leaves, fruit, flowers, and pumpkins bring in the natural accents I love.

Rustic Thanksgiving Table Elements for Under $100

rustic thanksgiving table At Home products

Browsing my At Home store for ideas and inspiration is just plain fun. Make sure you allot plenty of time because the aisles are chock full of specialty products for seasonal entertaining. Throughout the store are displays designed to ignite ideas for even the most novice hostess. Plus, the everyday low prices allow you to decorate within a reasonable budget. My tablescaping budget was $100 max. As you can see I was able to stick to that easily with At Home’s massive selection of holiday items large and small. Lovin’ my #AtHomeFinds.

Creepy Cloth, Aqua Plates, and Slices of Wood

rustic thanksgiving table Creepy Cloth used as tablecloth

How would one use those items to create a rustic Thanksgiving table? Let me spill the beans. One of my favorite finds is the creepy cloth (torn gauze) that I used to cover the table. It goes from Halloween, through Fall and into Thanksgiving, without missing a beat. It gives plenty of texture to anchor the table. It was just under $2 a package. Score! Look for items that you can repurpose throughout the season. They are time and money savers.

rustic thanksgiving table place setting

I have always wanted aqua square dinner plates. They had four of them for just under $15. That made me (and HIMself) happy. The slices of wood were another of my favorite finds. I painted my guests’ initial on them and tied them to the chair backs. They got to take them home. Another special touch guests love. There were about $6. See how many possibilities you can create?

rustic thanksgiving table chair decor favor

Borrow from Nature and Your Antiques

To complete my tablescape, I took a walk around my yard and garden. I picked up leaves, sticks, and even some bark from a limb. I used the bark in the centerpiece. I also borrowed some of my antique stash–hand-blown aqua stem ware, mercury glass votives, and old glass decanters to hold the drinks. They all add sparkle!
rustic thanksgiving table centerpiece

What are the plans for your Thanksgiving table? Will it be rustic and casual or elegant and dressy? Will it be somewhere in between? Please share in the comments what you envision. 

Here are some super Fall ideas from wondrous bloggers:

An InLinkz Link-up


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21 Comments Celebrate, Create, Feast & Fête, Gatherings, Party Ideas, Tablescapes

Comments

  1. Cindy Richter says

    October 25, 2017 at 11:05 am

    Love your fall tablescape and the color combination. Rustic and elegant at the same time. And you are completely correct when you say to allot plenty of time to the At Home store – I could spend hours in there!

  2. Stacey says

    October 25, 2017 at 11:55 am

    Your tablescape is really beautiful, Rebecca. I love those aqua square plates!

  3. Rebecca E. Parsons says

    October 25, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    I know. I usually spend the day browsing Cindy!

  4. Rebecca E. Parsons says

    October 25, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    I always wanted aqua plates. Square was just icing on the cake for me Stacey.

  5. Nikki Gwin says

    October 25, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    Wow! So beautiful. I love At Home, although I am rather overwhelmed in there. I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything.
    Your color pallet is gorgeous and your style is right up my alley.
    🙂 gwingal

  6. Rebecca E. Parsons says

    October 25, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Thank you Nikki. It can be overwhelming. I take it in sections. Love the holiday sections the most!!

  7. Paula says

    October 25, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    The mix of wood, fabric and beach colors really works. I especially enjoy the aqua plates. They really bring some fresh spice to the table.

  8. Mary says

    October 25, 2017 at 10:47 pm

    Rebecca this is a beautiful tablescape full of rustic goodness. I would love to sit at a table like that and just enjoy looking around.

  9. Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au says

    October 25, 2017 at 11:23 pm

    What a beautiful table setting! I am always so envious of people like you who can put something like this together and make it look so effortless. Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au

  10. Rebecca E. Parsons says

    October 26, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Thank you Paula. I love those plates too!

  11. Rebecca E. Parsons says

    October 26, 2017 at 9:12 am

    You are invited to sit at my table any time Mary. Thank you for stopping by today.

  12. Rebecca E. Parsons says

    October 26, 2017 at 9:14 am

    Oh Leanne, I love to collect table items. But I struggle with the actual styling of my tablescapes and my home. I always think others do it better. Perhaps I should reconsider my self talk.

  13. Carolann says

    October 26, 2017 at 10:12 am

    Rebecca, your tablescape is perfection! I love the rustic decor and the colors are all so beautiful! I think any home decor you have you can pull off this rustic look. All so lovely. I’m so inspired by it!

  14. Rachel says

    October 26, 2017 at 11:08 am

    Your tablescape is glorious!! I love rustic elegance. The aqua is simply divine!!

  15. nikki frank-hamilton says

    October 26, 2017 at 11:59 am

    What a gorgeous table. And all the extra touches make it so special. The burlap with the turquoise and gold is stunning. You’ve certainly made your mark here.

    I really enjoy having people over to share a meal, I’m going to pin this to come back to, I love all your thoughtful touches. Name cards, menus, the wood slices. I’m sure that everyone looks forward to each holiday to see what you’ve created for the table. Just stunning!

  16. Maureen says

    October 27, 2017 at 9:56 am

    What a pretty thanksgiving table! The colours are stunning! Our thanksgiving was in October here in Canada, but my inspiration definitely came from shopping the house and the great outdoors. I am working on a tablescape for my American friends and my inspiration came from a pomegranate that caught my eye in the grocery store! I love using food to enhance my tables!

  17. Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says

    October 27, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Your tablescape is gorgeous! I love the mix of earth tones with aqua! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

  18. Debrashoppeno5 says

    October 27, 2017 at 8:15 pm

    I love the fall tablescape and how you add texture and sparkle. The plates are so full of possibilities.

  19. Florence says

    October 27, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    Everything you’ve put together looks perfect. I’m sure your guests will feel very loved being a guest at your table. Love the mix of aquas and brown together too. That table runner made out of what looks like cheesecloth is a versatile winner, I’m sure. I can see how you could reuse it a lot.

  20. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    November 1, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    Rebecca, this is such a gorgeous table!!! I love the turquoise with the gold. It’s so pretty and interesting. And I’m swooning over the burlap, galvanized tin and rustic items too. I’m sure everyone feels special as they sit at your table. The extra touches let them know that their presence is valued and cherished. Is there anything better? I think not!

  21. Carol says

    November 1, 2017 at 6:42 pm

    Your fall tablescape is beautiful with the colors you used. It’s great meeting you from the blog hop.

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Chief Creative Force

DIYer. Graphic Designer. Creative. Foodie. Rebecca E. Parsons is a Renaissance gal with designers eye living happily where design meets new media. Rebecca is an award-winning graphic designer, writer, storyteller, digital and Photographic Artist, Dreamer, Lifelong Communicator and Blissful Wordsmith. Unconventional and delightfully curious, she is passionate about helping others find their visual voice through great blog design. She believes that every dream is possible and possible is everywhere!

to read a more in-depth story of Rebecca's life journey click here...

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