Simple Thanksgiving Table Setting with Family Photos

Thanksgiving is a busy day, especially if you are preparing the meal. This table setting is pulled together with the busy person in mind, it’s affordable and simple… yet meaningful.

This table setting is actually party of a Blog Hop with 17 other bloggers. So, make sure to hop around to some more blogs when you reach the end.

Simple Thanksgiving Table Setting

#1 A Colorful Base

The golden-yellow vintage tablecloth was a flea-market find. I love the deep, rich, tone even though I’m not normally drawn to yellow. It’s not quite big enough for our table, so I started with a classic white tablecloth and layered the golden table linen on top. Typically, I choose white or lace table settings {like here and here}, but I wanted to mix it up for Thanksgiving. After all, fall is a season with a deep, warm color palette.

Family Name Art, shown in 11×14

#2 An Accent Color

Earthy-green cloth napkins were a perfect compliment to the golden tablecloth. It builds upon the traditional Thanksgiving color story which is simply, the colors of nature. The cloth napkins were a clearance find at Christmas, years ago. This olive shade of green is very true to my personal style and taste. In turn, I’ve been able to mix it in with many different table settings {with blues and florals, for example}.

#3 A Simple Centerpiece

Skip a visit to the florist and anchor the center of the table with a beautifully potted plant. I chose a snake plant, which echoed the colors found in the linens. It sits in a trophy cup style planter on the buffet in our dining room. I brought it to this table setting to become the star of the show.

#4: Something Personal

Place cards are a simple, affordable, item that adds personality to a tablescape. Instead of name cards, I chose family photos. I printed each individuals place card out on cardstock, from my home printer. Before printing, I converted each image to black and white {though you could also just do that in the print settings} and cropped them to a square. They give a nod to the vintage feel of a Polaroid or an antique photograph.

One thing I want to mention is that I didn’t buy anything for this table setting. It was a zero-cost deal. I’ve collected 3-4 sets of cloth napkins and 5-10 table cloths over the 10 years we’ve been married, mostly secondhand. The ones that weren’t secondhand, were on clearance. Now, I mix and match them for different looks. You don’t have to invest a ton of money to create pretty table settings. Instead, just collect items over time. I find table linens fun, because I’ll choose colors and prints that aren’t always my everyday style, but are a nice change for a party. I get to be a little bolder and more daring.