Learn how to set an elegant table for the holidays for less! See these budget friendly Thanksgiving dinner tablescape ideas for a memorable family get together or holiday dinner party.
This post has been updated with new information.
I LOVE to entertain – especially for the holidays!! Having our family and loved ones around, music, holiday decor….there is nothing better!
Although I love to add metallics and texture to my everyday decor, the holidays give me a great reason to add a bit more drama and sparkle!
Today I want to pass on some budget friendly holiday table decorating ideas to show you that you don’t have to break the bank to create an elegant holiday table like this.
How To Make This Marble Table Runner
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 How to Set an Elegant Table For The Holidays – For Less!
1. New Art
While your friends and family are gathered around your table for the holidays – wouldn’t it be fun for them to admire something new on your walls and create a cozy, stylish ambiance?
Make some new art to hang in your home! These EASY DIY agate wall art pieces are a great way to add instant impact to the spaces you entertain in.
I hung two of these inexpensive DIY pictures on either side of our buffet in our dining room.
These agate look-alike pieces are colored with metallic silver and metallic gold (plus cream, gray and black!) so they actually shimmer in the candlelight.
They add a stylish contemporary twist to our traditional dining room furniture pieces.
See my paint colors here.
2. Dishes
Don’t buy a whole new set of dishes – save money and use your everyday white dishes!
Layer them with a dressy set you may have inherited or received as a wedding gift or pick up just a set of patterned dessert plates to add color and pattern to your white dinnerware.
I picked up these gold metallic oak leaf dessert plates here and I LOVE how they instantly give my table a ‘holiday look’ to enjoy!
3. Placemats
Add a few nature inspired placemats to give your table a touch of elegance, ready-for-entertaining style!
You can save money by skipping the head table place settings, or just buy two for the head table settings. You don’t have to add one to each spot.
I picked up 4 of these GORGEOUS metallic gold branch placemats (they are easy to clean and I’ve used them a lot!!).
I added one to each of the side table place settings and just used a set of placemats I already owned for the ends.
4. Runners
Instead of using one long table runner down the middle of the table try this updated look:
Add two runners placed across the table so they run under two opposite place settings.
5. Centerpiece
Create a statement centerpiece without dropping serious money at the florist (although florist blooms are so gorgeous – they can be really expensive!)
I made this simple yet chic centerpiece using faux silver dollar branches (they look real not cheap!) and I added some gold twiggy poplar branches from our backyard that I gave a quick spray with my favorite metallic gold spray paint.
You can keep the twigs after Thanksgiving to reuse for Christmas and beyond since they are dried and won’t disintegrate.
These silver dollar branches look amazing mixed with pheasant feathers as I did here or mix them with pussy willows for spring.
The point is that you can save a lot of money by reusing faux fabulous blooms/branches and dried botanicals like I do…. instead of buying fresh flowers everytime you entertain.
6. Flatware
Skip the fancy silverware if you don’t own any. Your everyday flatware will look just great when you have your table set with other elegant decor.
To give your everyday flatware a festive look: clean them well to give them a sparkle then bundle together and tie fork, knife and spoon with a bit of baker’s twine or ribbon and add a sprig of rosemary!
I used the stunning silver Greek Key design flatware that I got a few years ago  – but I could have used my everyday flatware.
7. Napkins
Cloth napkins add elegance and don’t have to be expensive! There is just something extra special about adding cloth napkins to a table! I love my paper napkins for everyday but when I’m entertaining I love to add a cloth napkin to each place setting!
I mixed up these gorgeous gray napkins (in an easy roll fold) with ta few green napkins and added hammered silver napkin rings for more sparkle.
See 20 plus napkin fold styles for lots of napkin folding ideas!
And YES – you can mix your metallics! I decorated my holiday table with silver and 2 shades of gold – it just all works!
8. Place Cards
Add place cards to each place setting. Print off these DIY Thankful printable tags with quotes perfect for the holiday with words like ‘family’, ‘friends’, ‘give’ and ‘thankful’.
9. Gourds and Botanicals
Add a few metallic painted pumpkins, metallic painted ginkgo leaves and metallic fall leaves.
I spray painted a few baby boo pumpkins, real ginkgo leaves (I press them under stacks of books to flatten them out) and dollar store faux fall leaves with my favorite gold metallic spray paint.
Scatter the leaves down the middle of the table, tuck a gold ginkgo leaf into the napkin rings and perch a gold pumpkin around your centerpiece for some holiday glimmer and glow!
10. Candlelight
Add some candlelight. I love adding candles to our holiday table – this year I used low pillar candles instead of my tall taper candlesticks.
Gray marbled candles pick up the gray cloth napkin color and white pillar candles get dressed up in gold chevron votive cups!
I hope you all enjoyed my post on ‘How to Set an Elegant Table for the Holidays – For Less!’
Resource list:
White table runners (similar)
Silver Greek Key design flatware
Faux silver dollar branches (similar)
White vase (similar)
My favorite gold metallic spray paint
Make it! Easy DIY Projects:
EASY DIY agate wall art pieces
More Design and Decor Ideas:
- Flocked Christmas Tree With White and Gold Glam Decor
- Stylish & Chic Holiday Dining Room Decorating Ideas
- How To Update Dining Room Furniture
- Modern Classic Living Room- Design & Styling Ideas
- How to Make A Mood Board For Interior Design
- Repose Gray – Undertones & Coordinating Colors
- How to Pick Paint Colors With Confidence!
- How to Make Your Home Look Cohesive and Pulled Together -The Right Way!
- How To Fake An Entryway – Enter Right Into The Living Room
- Small Bedroom Ideas To Maximize Space & Style
Janet says
I love the mix of metals Heather…and those leafy placemats under it all!
xo, Janet
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Heather, I just love the mix of metallics balanced off the whites and greys! It’s so festive and pretty for the occasion. Wonderful tips, as well! Thanks for taking part in the tour… 🙂
heather says
Thanks so much Lory for your compliments! Thank you for inviting me to join in! xo Heather
Annie says
Heather I really enjoyed your tips and helpful ideas! You set a gorgeous table and the mixed metals were so very pretty!
heather says
Thanks so much Annie – so glad you enjoyed my post and decorating ideas!! xo Heather
Carolsue says
You make everything look so easy! This is just gorgeous!
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Fabiana says
What an ELEGANT and GORGEOUS tablescape, Heather!
I’m sharing it today on my HOLIDAY GROUP Board on Pinterest.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, ciao ciao!
heather says
Thank you so so much Fabiana for your lovely compliments – I’m so glad you like my tablescape! Thank you for sharing it on your Pinterest board too!! Have a beautiful week! xo Heather
Christie says
I just had a chance to look at this post and love this table setting centerpiece and your ideas. I do fall decorations but the day after Halloween is my birthday. I may just do something special for that day like this on my table. Thankyou so much for this beautiful table ideas. Love them.
heather says
Oh wonderful Christie – I’m so glad you enjoyed my post and decorating ideas! Happy Birthday tomorrow! That’s a wonderful idea to decorate your table for your birthday with these ideas!! Thanks for your beautiful compliments! xo Heather
Jennifer - Decor Gold Designs says
This is gorgeous! Your layers and details are simply perfect. Love it!!!
heather says
Thank you so much Jennifer – so glad you love my table top decor ideas! 🙂 Thanks for visiting xo Heather
Steph says
Those leaf placemats are stunning!! I love those and could make those work with our table decorating!
Wendi says
I love this. ALL of it. I ordered some (most) of the items and trying to decide what to do with my table. I was wondering what is everything sitting on in the center of the table. It looks like a long piece of marble. Where did you get that? or did you make it?
heather says
Great Wendi – so glad you found some tablescape items for your home here! Yes – I made it – I’ll do a tutorial on it!!! xo Heather
SD says
This is gorgeous. Thank you
heather says
You’re welcome!! So glad you like my table setting ideas! 🙂
Britney Walker says
This is so pretty! I wanna try it!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Kara says
Simply stunning! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year and you have inspired me to up my game. I love your bling pumpkins, and I’ve gotta get some of those carved wood chargers. I would use them all year round!
Becca says
We are hosting Thanksgiving this year and this was so helpful- thank you!
Amy Huntley says
I love all of your simple ideas to dress things up! It is all so elegant! And it’s always nice not to have to break the bank to decorate!!
heather says
I’m glad you like these holiday decor tips Amy! xo Heather