Create a Chic (and Cheap) Thanksgiving Table
By Katie Meyers of MeyersStyles for GalTime.com
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's time to start thinking about everything from food, to table settings, to home décor.
Start preparing in advance by following these simple steps to create an affordable, yet elegant holiday gathering.
1. Dress up your basics. No need to splurge on expensive new china for Thanksgiving! Your every day white dishes provide simple sophistication when paired with polished silverware. Simply top the plates with a crisp linen napkin and a miniature pumpkin. Proof that less really can be more!
2. Mix things up! Fortunately, the days of having to use perfectly matched china and décor are long gone. If you don't have white dishes, get creative with the mismatched plates you already own. Create an exciting table by pairing contrasting colors and materials such as wood with metal or vintage with modern. To take this eclectic look up a notch, pick up inexpensive plates at a local thrift store and add to your collection.
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3. Add a splash of pizzazz! Let yourself splurge if you find a few affordable items you can't live without. Then, build the rest of the Thanksgiving table around those pieces. For example, put a spin on tradition and trade in old champagne flutes with festive stemless glasses when making this bubbly recipe! You can also find inexpensive vases or serving pieces in shades that reflect the rich colors of the season such as cranberry, chocolate, or deep orange.
Crate and Barrel Verve Flute, $12.95
4. Bring the outdoors in. Autumn is ripe with natural chunky elements that make perfect and inexpensive décor! Try spray painting mini pumpkins in white or pinecones in metallic hues. Group items together in large bowls around the room or infuse them into your Thanksgiving table centerpiece. If you don't have time to paint your own, pick up the ones below for only $6.00 and (bonus!) reuse them again next month as ornaments on your Christmas tree!
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West Elm Gilded Pinecone Ornaments, $6
5. Make it personal. Create a sense of intimacy during dinner by designing a centerpiece that includes friends and family! Display old photos in frames so everyone is reminded of warm memories from their past. Another option - print copies of each photo and suggest that everyone write what they're grateful for on the back. After everyone has shared what they're thankful for, allow them to take their picture home as a reminder of the holiday festivities.
Now that your dining room table radiates style, it's time to pop the culinary star (the turkey!) into the oven and create warm long-lasting memories with your loved ones.
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