One of the many challenges in preparing for Thanksgiving Day is decorating your table. You want your table to look rich and luxurious but the reality is that most of us do not set the table like this the rest of the year. You may be hesitant about spending a lot of money on decorating your table for a once a year occasion. But the good news is that you can decorate your table to look like a million bucks without breaking the bank. There are numerous ideas to give your table style and flair, even on budget. And best of all they require little decorating skills and not much time. So before you give up the idea of a great looking Thanksgiving table, here are inexpensive ways to decorate your table for Thanksgiving-
• Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Cornucopia-This is perhaps the easiest and most traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece decoration. From your local craft store, purchase a simple cornucopia basket; its curved cone shape is iconic of Thanksgiving (the symbol for a bountiful harvest). You can use real fruits and gourds or, while you are at the craft store, purchase silk or sugared plastic fruits and gourds since this way you’ll be able to use them year after year. A nice idea to personalize your centerpiece is to fill your cornucopia with things that reflect your geographic location (if you live in a warm climate citrus fruits and flowers or up north pine cones and acorns). Simply place the cornucopia basket at the center of your table, and fill it to overflowing with your gourds and fruits.
• Scented Candle Forest-This idea can look elegant and simple for your Thanksgiving table. Start with a large oval or rectangular mirror (an antique mirror looks best, but even an inexpensive new mirror has the same effect). Choose one or two complimentary colors for your table. Candles can be purchased very affordably at discount and dollar stores. For example: If you have gold colored napkins, choose gold and brown colored candles in different sizes (from tea lights and votives to short and tall pillar candles). Cluster the candles together with the largest in the middle until you have created a varying-level “candle forestâ€? which will beautifully illuminate your Thanksgiving table.
• Potted Mums Centerpiece-Choose a potted mum color that matches your tablecloth and napkins. This works best if you purchase several sizes of the same color chrysanthemums. If you do not have matching containers, you can spray paint terra cotta pots in varying sizes in which to place the mums, or get colored foil sheets from the florist to cover the containers. This is just a matter of placing the plants at varying levels, with candles on either side which makes for a fresh, lovely table centerpiece.
• Pilgrim Hat Centerpiece-If you are feeling creative, this centerpiece is quick and easy to put together while allowing you to stretch your creative muscles. Simply take a terra cotta pot and turn it upside down. Spray paint the pot black and let it dry thoroughly. Using felt or even poster board, measure and cut out a hat band and buckle to decorate your pilgrim hat with. Attach the band and buckle and you have a cute pilgrim hat to decorate your table with. You can surround this with other symbols of Thanksgiving (cutout turkeys, gourds, small cornucopias) to further decorate your table. You can even have large sunflowers coming out of your pilgrim hat for a fun floral look.
• Gourd candle holders-Ever wonder what you could do with those beautiful gourds in the supermarket? Simply select some colorful gourds, hollow them; add a tea light to each, and place them on a narrow rectangular mirror in the center of your table with a pair of candles on either side.
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