a tour of thrifted thanksgiving tablescapes
if you’re just joining us from Adored House, I’m so glad you’re here!
When Rachel of Cherry Street Blossoms reached out and asked if I’d be interested in sharing inspiration for a fall table using only secondhand items, I couldn’t say yes quickly enough! I am a big fan of Rachel and her work, so I was both humbled + flattered by her invitation. if you know me personally or have followed the tiny white house for any length of time, you know one of my favorite pastimes is shopping secondhand, specifically thrifting. so any opportunity to essentially create something from nothing [or using/spending very little] is right up my alley!
the challenge was to create a thanksgiving tablescape using only thrifted or secondhand items. when the majority of your household belongings are secondhand to begin with, this isn’t hard to do. but to not use anything new? well, that calls for a little creativity. per usual, my vision was a simple, timeless table. less is more and all that.
Most everything I used I already had on hand, with the exception of the “tablecloth” [which is actually a throw blanket] and the produce. this is one of the benefits of thrifting, but can be a downside as well. with patience, you can curate a lovely collection of unique, quality goods. but patience is the tricky part. while it may be easier and more convenient to purchase things new, I have found that in buying secondhand, I not only spend less [always a bonus], but what I come away with is original and often times better quality than buying brand new. you know what they say: they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.
if patience is an ingredient to successful thrifting, then preparation is a tasty reward. when I say that I had the other things on hand, I mean, though it may have taken time to gather, when such an occasion arose, I was prepared [a rarity in most other areas of my life] and already had what I “needed.” I found the rattan chargers earlier this year, the brown + white dishes this summer and knew they’d be perfect for fall. the seagrass glasses were my souvenir from our visit to the beach in September. while my family relaxed on the beach one day, I relaxed by visiting every thrift store in Destin and the surrounding areas. time well spent, if you ask me.
The only new [to me] item is the tablecloth, or throw blanket rather. a couple weeks ago, I saw a brown + cream floral sheet at a local thrift store. I didn’t grab it when I saw it—rookie mistake; and when I went back for it, it was gone. I was pretty bummed about it since I had kind of planned the table around it and was counting on some type of table covering. then on a fast + furious trip to Georgia for the funeral of an old friend, I popped in Value Village [my first time to visit one] before the nearly 500 mile trek home. it was a quick thrift haul, I was probably in and out in ten minutes. but I’m so happy I stopped by because I found the beautiful plaid throw that serves as a tablecloth… and a blue + white flat sheet [that I’ll use as a tablecloth] and a rattan basket and a lamp and a book and a mug—all for $12!
As for the centerpiece, I knew I wanted to use a flat-bottom basket I had thrifted a few months ago filled with fruits + vegetables. I thought it would make for a simple, yet colorful display, and would also be significant, considering the holiday we are about to celebrate. how fitting for the centerpiece to be a reflection of the very thing that brings us together—delicious food + the Lord’s provision! it also reminds me of the fresh markets in Paris. I had the incredible opportunity to spend a few days there this past spring with my mother + sisters. creating a table with things fresh from the garden [or grocery, in my case] is certainly a nod to the French.
the little linen napkins were a gift from my husband a few Christmases ago and the mismatched antique flatware is one of my many collections. after the pretty silverware from our wedding registry disappeared in the flood, I began to slowly replace it with these beautiful, antique pieces. the engraved pieces are my favorite.
I had a miniature ginger jar full of pheasant tail feathers on our mantle, so I snagged a few to tuck into the folds of the napkins. last month, I hosted our monthly book club meeting, where we discussed Where the Crawdads Sing. I used these feathers for the place cards [if you’ve read it, you understand], so the idea of incorporating feathers was fresh on my mind. besides, I thought it would be a nice touch and add a little masculinity to the mix.
even the cotton sprigs are secondhand! some of our dear friends who farm gifted me some to decorate with.
from now on, I think I’ll only buy carrots with the leafy tops still attached. and maybe leave them on the dining room table as decor year-round...
a little corner of our dining room… everything photographed is secondhand [thrift store, flea market, facebook marketplace], except the pears + pumpkin. those came from Walmart.
I don’t typically enjoy numbers, but I do love the “guess how little this cost!” game. plus, I thought this may be a helpful guide in that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create something you love.
cost breakdown:
brown + white dishes | $4.50 [$1.50/plate]
rattan chargers | $8.00 [$1.99/charger]
glasses | $12.00 [$3/glass]
plaid throw | $1.24
turkey platter | $8.00
flat basket | $1.00
produce | approximately $15.00
GRAND TOTAL: $49.74
I’m really tickled with the way this turned out! with the exception of the produce and throw, I already owned every piece used. it’s especially amusing to me that the artichoke I used in the centerpiece cost more than the plaid blanket I used as a tablecloth. we have yet to host thanksgiving dinner and are usually making the rounds during the holidays, but I plan to recreate some of this when we host friendsgiving in a few weeks.
I hope you enjoyed this and that it inspires you to create something beautiful as you gather with those you love—whether it’s in the form of a table setting, a delicious meal, or a meaningful conversation!
and thanks again to Rachel — such an honor to be included in this fun challenge! head over to Fabiana’s to see the beautiful secondhand table she created! I think this is the first time in the history of the tiny white house that I have ever shared any kind of holiday decor before the actual holiday. so this is what the real bloggers feel like!
