How to Create an Effortlessly Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape from Thrift Store Finds

Are you looking for easy Thanksgiving table decor ideas? Are you interested in using thrift store finds to create an effortlessly elegant Thanksgiving tablescape? Read on for how to use common thrift finds for a gorgeous Thanksgiving table! 

The best part of Thanksgiving is, hands down, the carbs. Any meal that includes stuffing, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese is basically heaven, and I’m blessed to live in a part of the South where all three of those things are unquestionably referred to as “vegetables.” (If you know, you know.)

The second best part of Thanksgiving is eating those warm, buttery carbs around a beautifully set table with loved ones. 

And, if anyone thinks I don’t have my priorities straight there, you may be right, but when was the last time a bowl of mashed potatoes started a political debate at the Thanksgiving table? (I’m looking at you, Dad.) 

Back to the beautifully set table: while my mom has more sets of China and table linens than Martha herself, coming up with elegant table decor can sometimes be a struggle in our home. 

For starters, there are always about three levels of chaos unfolding. It’s like the Fyre Festival up in here, but with more dirty laundry. Secondly, we have nowhere to store sets of fine china and use-it-once-a-year table decor. Thirdly, I’m an environmentalist and hate buying new, cheaply made decorations that will likely wind up in the landfill within a year or two.

Did you know that Americans produce a whopping 25% more trash during the holidays? Yikes.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to indulge your festive side without clogging the landfill this Thanksgiving, starting with this effortlessly elegant Thanksgiving tablescape that uses thrift store finds.

Are you new to the magical world of secondhand shopping? You may enjoy 10 Types of Secondhand Stores and Why We Love Them.

So, what makes this eco-friendly Thanksgiving decor? I used:

• Leftover Halloween pumpkins
• Reusable cloth napkins and table linens from the thrift store
• Reusable secondhand china 
• Pre-owned decor items
• And locally foraged and compostable botanicals instead of imported flowers grown in a greenhouse with pesticides 

As an added bonus, I only spent a whopping $27 on everything on this table (excluding the silverware), and I plan to recoup some of that money spent by selling the decor after Thanksgiving. 

Alright, pass the stuffing, and let’s do this. 

Elegant Thanksgiving Decor from Thrift Store Finds

Note: I find the easiest way to curate a cohesive collection from a thrift store is to decide on a color palette or theme. For my Thanksgiving tablescape, I wanted warm shades of gold, cream, rich amber, and mustard that echoed the beauty of our local landscape. 

Suggested Materials for an Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape with Thrift Store Finds:

• Wicker Cornucopia or Large Basket (I realize a cornucopia is a specialty item, but I found multiple on my thrifting trip, so I think they’re a pretty common find.)
• Leftover small to medium Halloween pumpkins, decorative gourds, squash, or seasonal produce like apples or pomegranates 
• Cloth napkins
• Table runner
• Napkin rings (I meant to paint my natural wood ones, which I scored for $1, but I ran out of time.)
• Candlesticks and candles
• Set of vintage plates or China 
• Visually interesting water glasses
• Silverware
• Other rustic elements as desired (I incorporated two deer antlers I originally got at a flea market but that are part of my day-to-day mantle decor)
• Yard clippers 
• Colorful leaves, flowers, greenery, seed pods, etc. from your yard

Note: I say this every time, but it’s important to be able to identify poisonous plants in your area, such as poison ivy and poison oak, before foraging for floral arrangements. Nothing will kill the Thanksgiving vibe like poison ivy on both hands. Also, keep all foraged elements away from toddlers unless you’ve foraged exclusively edible plants.

How to Assemble a Thanksgiving Tablescape with Thrift Store Finds:

1. Clean your thrift store finds and remove price tags. For baskets, I like to give them a good “sweep” with a dry paintbrush. Wash, dry, and iron your table linens. Remember that a lot of vintage glassware with embellishments and china needs to be hand-washed. 
2. Rinse your foraged botanicals where possible. For more feathery pieces, like I used, you may want to give them a good shake or sit them aside for an hour in case any insects are hanging on. If you picked delicate flora that’s shedding, try a generous spritz of hairspray to keep everything in place. 
3. First, place your table runner. Check from several angles to make sure it’s centered. If you’re using placemats, or laying down additional napkins, like I did, add those at each place setting.
4. Next, place your wicker cornucopia at one end of the table, preferably where someone will not be seated – so they don’t have to stare at the “butt” end all evening. If that’s not an option, you can use a pretty basket and center this Thanksgiving centerpiece. 
5. If desired, add an extra napkin or two to line the basket. I did this to help tie everything together, but my foraged elements were so voluminous, you ended up not being able to see them. 
6. Next, add any additional large rustic elements you’ll be using, like my antlers. 
7. Set your table! Add your plates, bowls, cups and saucers, silverware, and glasses. Tuck your cloth napkins into your napkin rings, and add them as well. Since my plates had a pretty autumnal motif, I added my napkins to the side so as not to cover it up. I also went with a very minimalist fold so the napkins wouldn’t distract from everything else going on on the table, but this is a personal preference. You do you. 
8. Next, add your foraged plant elements! I wanted mine to cascade out of the cornucopia, so I laid the clippings down in the direction they were growing. I used the autumnal leaves for a pop of color and to make the inside of the basket feel “full.” I added the star-shaped seed pods along the outside of the arrangement for a little extra drama.
9. Add your pumpkins, setting your largest pumpkin or a selection of pumpkins inside the basket to help it feel “full.”
10. Tuck your candlesticks and candles in along your centerpiece, taking care to keep them clear of any highly flammable elements. If you’re worried about it, you can use tea lights inside glass votive holders or clean glass jars.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! I hope your holidays are full of love, laughter, and steaming of buttery carbs. 

As you take down your tablescape, please dispose of the elements responsibly!

• Please consider washing and storing the china for next year. You can also resell it on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or other online platforms. Finally,  you can donate it to a thrift store or give it away in a Buy Nothing Group.
• If you don’t plan to keep your table linens or baskets, please consider selling or donating them.
• Your pumpkins and foraged plants are compostable! If you don’t have a compost pile easily accessible, you may enjoy reading Pumpkin Recycling | 10 Sustainable Ways To Dispose of Pumpkins After Halloween.

All photos via Reese Moore Photography

If You Enjoyed How to Create an Effortless, Elegant Thanksgiving Tablescape from Thrift Store Finds, You May Also Enjoy: 

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