Looking for classy tablescape ideas that won’t break the bank? Check out the secrets I used to create a beautiful fall table setting on a budget!
I’ve never really been much of a tablescape person.
Truth be told, we don’t even have a dining table in our home at the moment.
When it’s nice out, my husband and I go out on our deck and eat at a small table we have there.
But, most of the time we just sit at our kitchen island and eat.
Larisa and I recently planned a fall in Maine dinner party and I decided I wanted to try setting up a grown up table with decorations.
And I loved it! It was so fun to eat at a table with a festive table setting! It felt so fancy!
If you are not a tablescape person, like me, you should try it sometime.
If you are a table setting person, what are your favorite tips to keep it inexpensive?
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Budget Tablescape Ideas
I didn’t spend a lot of money on my simple fall table setting because I didn’t want to buy a bunch of stuff that I would only use once and then throw away, or store, or give away.
So here are tablescape ideas that I used to create a pretty fall table setting on the cheap!
1. Use Decor that you already own
The first thing I did when I started planning my table setting was shop my home.
I should say shop your stuff. Because people store home decor items in all kinds of places. So don’t forget to check your garage, camper, shed, or attic! Any place where you have stuff.
I really wanted neutral white dishes to use for my table setting. But I didn’t want to buy a new set of dishes. And then I remembered that I had some white melamine dishes that I could borrow from our camper.
And I used a table that I had stored in our garage.
What am I doing with a table in my garage?…that’s a whole nother story!
2. Borrow Table Decor
The next thing I did to find free decor for my tablescape was ask people I know if they had specific pieces that I could use.
The first person I ask when I’m looking for something to borrow is Larisa! She lives next door and she has a lot of stuff. Then, I move onto my mom. She doesn’t have as much stuff but she often has things I can use.
Ask you friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers if you can borrow their stuff!
I borrowed these martini glasses from my mom for our apple cider martini mocktail.
3. Rethink Home Decor for your Table
I continued thinking about pieces that I wanted to incorporate into my table setting by thinking about how I could use some more of the stuff I already had in unconventional ways.
I wanted something to hold the candles and elevate them above the flowers on the table.
So, I used some plant pots that I already owned and turned them upside down to make holders for the candles.
The possibilities are endless! Let your imagination run wild and repurpose a piece of your decor into decor for your table!
4. Scavenge in your yard for table decorations
Often times you can find flowers, acorns, and other natural items right outside your door that you can use as table decor.
I looked for a few wild asters that I wanted to poke into the edges of the potted mums I used for my table setting. But they had already gone by here. So, I didn’t have any luck this time.
But, I know it can be done! Last winter I upgraded my Christmas wreath by adding greenery that I found in my yard.
And if you can’t find everything you want for your tablescape using the free methods above, here are a few more tablescape ideas that are inexpensive:
5. Buy Inexpensive Items and upgrade them
Turning inexpensive items into things that look like you spent a lot of money is another one of my favorite ways to live luxuriously on a budget.
For my fall tablescape I bought a six pack of chrysanthemums at the hardware store, cut them apart, and placed them into terracotta pots that I already owned!
Easy peasy! I didn’t even repot them, I just stuck them in the pots!
6. Make Tablescape Decor
Making your own home decor is not always the cheapest option, but sometimes it is.
And it is mine and Larisa’s favorite!
And it’s a nice way to add a thoughtful item to your table.
And it’s fun to try new things and learn new skills.
Decor that Larisa and I made for this simple fall tablescape:
I think that about covers all the inexpensive tablescape ideas that I used to find all the decor for my simple fall table setting!
- plates, silverware, water glasses, table – used my own
- martini glasses – borrowed
- candle holders, upside down plant pots – repurposed
- Flowers – bought inexpensive and upgraded into pots I already owned
- table runner, leaf napkins, and candles – DIY
I hope these ideas help you!
If you liked this blog post or have a question or comments, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and I will get right back to you.
Thanks for visiting! See you next time.
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