Hello! If you can believe it, Thanksgiving is upon us again … where did 2017 go!? And, if you’ve been following me on the blog or Instagram, you know that after I gave birth to Emme, we moved back to the D.C. area and are in the process of house hunting …which means right now, we’re living in a tiny apartment, with very limited space. Since I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a few family members, I’ve had to get creative with what little space we have! If you can believe it — we’ll be eating our Thanksgiving dinner at our coffee table this year … but, I refused to sacrifice on tradition or formality — for me and my family, both are important, particularly for the holidays. So … here are my four tips for creating a simple, elegant Thanksgiving table … even if it happens to be your coffee table.
choose classic neutrals as your base
Classic neutrals are timeless … and if you’re going for simple elegance, they should dominate your table … white, cream, beige, tan, or grey are excellent choices to serve as a backdrop for your meal. Then you can use a variety of textures, and maybe a pop or two of color, to make your table stand out.
the simple equation: table runner, place settings, centerpiece
If you’re going for super-simple, which also has the benefit of being budget-friendly, there’s three main components you need for your table setting: a table runner and/or placemats to serve as an anchor, a place setting for each guest, and a festive centerpiece to bring it all together. You can always add more if you wish, but these three elements alone are the essential building blocks of a beautiful table. And, in terms of budget, it means you can create a traditional holiday table without spending a fortune. I spent less than $40 on the table runner and centerpiece for this look! I’ve also linked to some classic budget-friendly place settings below.
keep the decor simple & natural
There’s a great degree of elegance in simplicity … so keep your table simple! Neutral colors get you part of the way there … for the rest, focus on natural textures and decorations. I chose pretty white pumpkins and simple orange berry branches to cluster around a few fragrant birch candles. I tend to prefer nature-inspired decor — it’s naturally beautiful, with minimal fuss, and it’s accessible to everyone.
think outside the box with seating
As I said above … we’ll be eating Thanksgiving dinner at our coffee table this year … there will be four of us, plus Olivia and Emme! If you’re facing limited space like us, think outside the box a bit. I toyed with the idea of getting tray tables, and sitting on the couch, but that’s not a traditional dinner-table style meal, which is really important to me for the holidays. So, I ultimately decided on using pillows and cushions for seating on the floor for the adults, and Livi can use the chair from her table and chair set to eat at the table with us. Emme is still breastfeeding, so she won’t be gorging herself on turkey this year! And don’t stress about finding the perfect floor pillows — I used pillows from our bed, and a few throw pillows we have for the couch! Arrange a few around the table, and voila! You have “seats” for your super-low coffee table. And there you have it … my four tips for creating a beautiful Thanksgiving table (even if it’s your coffee table), on a budget with limited space. Happy Thanksgiving you guys! Be sure to check out the blog on Thanksgiving Day — I’ll be sharing a post on the things I’m most thankful for… something I urge all of you to take the time to think about this Thanksgiving.
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