Sustainable DIY: 5-Minute Zero-Waste Rustic Tablescape

Are you short on time but want to create a zero-waste, rustic tablescape? This quick and easy sustainable DIY uses everyday items from your home and yard to create a stunning, elegant table in mere minutes. 

Growing up, I was sure my life would look like an issue of Martha Stewart Living. However, these days, before we have people over, I spend the 10 minutes before they arrive cramming muddy sneakers into the hall closet and sweeping clutter under the entryway table. 

I love having friends over, but with how busy our lives are lately, I don’t always have the time to create the elegant eco-friendly tablescape of my zero-waste hostess dreams, let alone make food and get the house together… and hopefully take a quick shower. 

If you do have a little downtime to play with, you should absolutely check out some of my sustainable DIY tablescapes below: 

• Sustainable Craft: 4th of July Tablescape with DIY Firecrackers
• Sustainable Craft: Uncle Sam-inspired 4th of July Tablescape
• Boho Valentine’s Day Tablescape with Prima Pavé Non-Alcoholic Champagne Bar
• DIY Christmas Table Runner: Repurpose Old Greeting Cards
• Cheap DIY Halloween Decorations: Haunted Orchard Tablescape
• Elegant Halloween Tablescape with Upcycled Decorations
• Easy DIY Christmas Table Decorations: Upcycling Ideas for an Eco-friendly Holiday

If your hall closet is about to explode with your husband’s dirty sports equipment and you’re frantically rounding up slobbery toys (dog and/or child’s), this post is for you. I’m going to show you how to throw together a practical, beautiful, and zero-waste table in a matter of minutes. 

So, what makes this rustic tablescape a must-try sustainable DIY? We’ll be using:

• Wood cutting boards or serving pieces you already own. 
• Glass jars from your recycling bin. (Relevant reading: How To Clean and Reuse Glass Jars For Everyday Use)
• Reusable cloth table linens, including cheesecloth, a must-have for crafty zero-wasters. 
• Seasonal plant clippings from the yard instead of imported, plastic-wrapped flowers. 
• Reusable china from the neighborhood thrift store instead of new or disposable plates.
• A beautiful homemade seasonal dessert as the centerpiece in lieu of cheaply manufactured seasonal decor items. 

The end result is a warm, cozy, rustic tablescape that’s so beautiful you’ll forget it’s a 5-minute eco-friendly DIY. And who knows, you may even have time to shower before your guests arrive!

Suggested Materials for a 5-Minute Zero-Waste Rustic Tablescape

Note: Like many DIYs, this post is intended to inspire you rather than be taken literally. We encourage you to improvise, adapt, and make this concept your own! 

• Wood cutting boards and serving pieces in various sizes and colors
• Cloth table runner or several yards of cheesecloth (I keep some on hand for crafts, cooking, and zero-waste projects like straining scented vinegar.)
• Cloth napkins
• Clean recycled glass jars (I used empty Oui yogurt jars, but yours do not all need to match.)
• Greenery clippings from your yard. (I snipped pieces off a low-hanging juniper tree that had beautiful pale blue berries.)
• Silverware
• Glassware
• China (I found these gorgeous vintage English Audobon commemorative plates at the thrift store.)
• Votives and reusable glass votive holders
• A pie, dessert, or colorful appetizer as the centerpiece (My niece and I made this berry pie recipe using seasonal u-pick berries from local small farms… and a pre-made, pre-rolled pie crust.)
• Vintage glass pie pan (Mine came from the thrift store.)

How to Assemble Your 5-Minute Zero-Waste Rustic Tablescape

1. Make your pie or assemble your food centerpiece and set it aside.  
2. Add 1-2 inches of water to the bottom of each glass jar. (I poured these gently from a pitcher to prevent splashes on the inside of my jars.)
3. Iron your table linens. Lay the centerpiece or cheesecloth along the center of your table. Lay each napkin flat at each place setting, leaving a little room between the edge of the napkin and the runner. 
4. Place your largest cutting boards or serving pieces along the runner, leaving some space between them. Then layer your medium cutting boards to bridge the spaces between the large boards, and artfully stack any small boards on top of the medium or large boards. Play with your angles to create a look that suits you. I didn’t want anything too structured or matching. 
5. Arrange your greenery in your jars, and add them throughout your cutting board arrangement on various levels to add height and interest. Then add your votives, making sure that they’re a safe distance from any greenery, and light them. 
6. Set the table with your china, silverware, and glasses. 
7. Add your freshly baked pie, cheese plate, or edible centerpiece, and enjoy a lovely evening with friends!

I love the simple, elegant aesthetic of this rustic tablescape, and it really made the delicious, seasonal ingredients shine. The warm, cozy vibe was perfect for a long-overdue family dinner, and I got to spend my time being present instead of trying to host an over-the-top event. Sometimes the finer things in life are actually just the simple things in life.

After the festivities are over, you can dispose of your tablescape by:

• Washing and putting away the silverware, glasses, cutting boards, and napkins.
• Donating, gifting, or keeping the plates and pie plate. 
• Composting the greenery.
• Recycling the glass jars. 
• Reserving the candles and candleholders for another use, and use any leftover wax in DIY aromatic firestarters. 
• Eating the rest of that delicious pie with a fork in your pajamas around midnight. 

All photos via Reese Moore Photography

If you enjoyed Sustainable DIY: 5-Minute Zero-Waste Rustic Tablescape, you may also enjoy:

Easy Budget Bathroom Makeover Using Thrift Store Finds

The Master Guide to Sustainable Decluttering

20 Low-Waste Birthday Snacks for School, Teams, & Clubs

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