Table Setting Ideas

Budget Table Settings with a Homestead Feel

A welcoming table doesn't depend on expensive matching dishes. In many households, a good meal is a combination of things already in the cupboard, borrowed serving pieces, a few handmade decorations and ingredients grown or prepared at home. One of the pleasures of setting a table on a budget is noticing what can be used together, even when the pieces weren't originally sold as a set.

If you're preparing a holiday meal, think about how people will actually eat before shopping for decorations. You need enough safe dinner plates, cutlery and glasses for everyone, along with serving utensils and room for hot dishes. A large centerpiece that hides the people sitting across from one another can be less practical than a low arrangement made from a small pumpkin, some greenery or a simple vase of flowers.

Use Secondhand and Mismatched Tableware

Thrift stores and estate sales can be good places to look for washable linens, glassware, stainless steel utensils and serving dishes. A few similar colors or a common fabric napkin can help mismatched pieces look intentional. When considering vintage dishes, especially unknown glazed pottery, avoid using items of uncertain food-contact safety for serving food. They can still become attractive decorations rather than dinner plates.

Ask relatives whether they have extra dishes or linens they don't use. Borrowing a platter for one occasion is often more sensible than purchasing a piece you'll have to store for the next year. Label borrowed pieces discreetly so they can be cleaned and returned afterward.

Make Simple Decorations from the Homestead

Small gourds, pumpkins, dried flowers and evergreen sprigs can make seasonal decorations without a big shopping trip. Use sound materials and avoid placing plants treated with unsuitable chemicals directly on food surfaces. A plain runner or clean piece of fabric beneath the centerpiece can make the arrangement feel finished. Choose battery-operated lights if the table includes dried foliage or other flammable materials.

If you enjoy crafting, see faux pumpkin table decorations and glass pumpkin luminaries for related projects. You can use these ideas for a family dinner, a potluck or a holiday meal without treating each occasion as a reason to buy a whole new set of decorations.

Plan for Cleanup and Reuse

A table setting should be easy to take apart and clean after the meal. Cloth napkins can go into the laundry, reusable dishes can be washed and put away, and seasonal decorations can be stored for another year. Choose centerpieces that won't leave glitter or fragile pieces scattered where food is served. If you are hosting a large group, plan where clean and dirty dishes will go so the kitchen doesn't become crowded at the end of dinner.

That is really what makes a budget table work: the supplies fit the household, people can enjoy the meal comfortably, and nothing has to be elaborate to feel special. Do you have a favorite thrifted or inherited serving dish that comes out when company visits?

Creating an elegant meal is about more than just the food. The atmosphere is equally important because - let's face it - no matter how fancy the food looks, if the decor is too  simple, the overall effect will not be the same.

It is possible to jazz up your dining table - even if it is a card table or TV tray on a budget. Keep an eye out for sales after the major holidays and at the end of the season. Often you can find very expensive merchandise marked down as much as 90% making it possible to buy things you could not otherwise afford. Another great place to look for bargains is second hand stores. Keep an eye out for antique linens, lace or exquisite pieces of material that are large enough to cover your table.

Second hand stores are a great place to look for glasses and dishes as well. Just because the pieces don't match, doesn't mean they won't work well together. Use your creativity. Ask your friends and family for items they no longer use. Here are some ideas to get your juices flowing - and believe me - all of these table settings cost very little - most under $25.