PLACE SETTINGS Archives

Now, is the time to be thinking about Thanksgiving? Why? Because we are not in a manic panic mode yet. So let’s take advantage of the calm before the food and pumpkin frenzy.

HOW TO CREATE A THANKSGIVING TABLE SETTING

Hopefully, this leaves you with some ideas to plan your Thanksgiving table in advance. This is the year you get ahead of the holidays! Let’s do this!

You could be done before Halloween!

Since our kitchen remodel we decided to host Thanksgiving. It justifies the fancy oven that is on the brink more days than on bake. #wink

I want an easy, place setting that is simple, inexpensive, festive, and kid-friendly.

HOW TO CREATE AN INEXPENSIVE PLACE SETTING

With our kitchen demo running over budget, I did not want to spend money to create 20 place settings. I created a place setting with texture, layers and color.

Adding one layer at a time turned an ordinary salad and dinner plate into a family-friendly and pretty seasonal place setting.

Layers

I began with brown craft paper for a table runner. It was an easy way to protect the table and give the table an earthy, organic feel.

The added bonus was kraft paper makes for easy cleanup. I love chargers! Last fall, I purchased these galvanized chargers on a visit to see my sister in Knoxville.

I think galvanized chargers are a southern thing, but this Colorado girl loves them. My favorite set of plates are from World Market. They were a Pottery Barn knockoff find a few years ago. And, like my galvanized chargers, the dinner plates work year-round.

I used cotton gingham napkins I found online this summer. Usually, I think of gingham as a summer pattern, but I loved the contrast between the blue and orange pumpkins.

Sidenote: I am on a mission to buy these gingham cloth napkins in every color. They are much cheaper than the Pottery Barn gingham cloth napkins I bought with a gift card. I tucked a paper napkin as a safety net for spills and sticky fingers. And, I added a pumpkin to each plate with a note to pumpkin up. And, finally, I splurged on new pewter silverware after our kitchen remodel. The pewter finish has an understated vibe.

My sister said they looked tarnished! #snarkysisters And of course every place setting needs a pumpkin!

With the place setting done, I turned my attention to the table. And, the limited real estate remaining on the table.

With my solid wood dining room table, I used this repurposed centerpiece to add some much needed greenery. For this place setting, I used my upcycled Anthropologie candle jars and added new votives.

The glass-painted pumpkins are oversized votives too.

I love to see how a few small and inexpensive changes can make such a pretty place setting. In a world of Instagram, I love the simplicity that fits my life and style.

Please check out the other bloggers and their Thanksgiving table settings. This was such

Oh and don’t forget to do this before Thanksgiving!

My mom’s version of a place setting included a placemat, plate and silverware. If it was a holiday she added cloth napkins and a napkin ring. This might explain why my holiday place settings have more layers than a ski day ensemble with sub-zero temps and wind.

The thing to remember is the options are endless to layer a place setting.

I created a layered place setting in September with ulterior motives. If our dining room is set with place settings, my family is less likely to drop their coats, mail, or random objects on this dining room table.

EASY IDEAS TO LAYER A PLACE SETTING

The best part is if you are like my mom your tablescape may only have two layers (plate +napkin) and that’s okay!

I never put much thought into my place settings until I joined this challenge.

As Meghan Trainer sings- it’s all about the base.

I found these woven placemats at this fun shop in Knoxville, Tennessee. There was no way these placemats would fit in my suitcase for the return flight to Denver. And, then the girl said, “We now offer to ship.”

Cue the shipping angels.