Budget-Friendly Holiday Table-Setting Ideas

Few more days and many of us will be either hosting a dinner party or lending a hand at a party. Beside a good menu, every host likes to add stylish holiday sparkle to the dinner table, but not everyone, including me, is willing to spend a fortune, season after season, on a table decor.

In order to achieve a desired holiday look and still not spend a dime on table setting decor you may follow these budget-friendly table-setting ideas.

1. Use a white tablecloth. It is always classic, but you can add a layer of color and dimension to your table setting by choosing a runner cloth in a contrasting tone or design. Or you may leave a textured wood table bare and use a table runner in the center, or use various cloth or DIY placemats.

In my case I turned a white linen curtain panel to a tablecloth. I had a curtain panel which I could not use anywhere, so it ended up serving as a tablecloth for the holidays.
I wanted to add some dark blue hues for my white holiday table setting so to achieve this palette I used a silk scarf in dark blue to serve as a table runner.

2. Use classic white dinnerware. They are versatile and can be used everyday and for entertaining. White dishes also show food to its best advantage— which is why the pros use them.

I used my everyday Mikasa fine bone china set. To create contrasting layering, I placed them on the black inexpensive chargers purchased last year at a half price. This way in case I decide to change the color palette next year, which most probably I will, I can spray paint these chargers into a desired color and my white dishes will always match that color.


3. Cloth napkins are inexpensive so buying a set or two is a good and inexpensive way to instantly dress up and add elegance to your table.

I used these very inexpensive wrinkle free cloth napkins purchased years ago and I have been using them for almost every occasion. I used napkin rings, and to add an extra finish I “garnished” the napkins with lavender springs.

4. Make a on-hand centerpiece. Use serving pieces, vases, pitchers, or bowls from your everyday collection and fill them with flowers, fruits, pinecones, leaves, branches, or your favorite pieces from around the house.


As a centerpiece I used my soup serving dish and filled it with white silk flowers. To add some holiday sparkle to the centerpiece, I dip-painted birch branches and placed them into the soup dish. I used a florist foam to make them stand in a vertical position.

5. Use candles as a low-cost way to add impact and atmosphere.

I grouped candle holders of different heights around the centerpiece, and the glow from the candles make this DIY centerpiece look even more appealing.
For some more holiday sparkle I filled white ramekins with silver ornaments.

Holiday table decorations can set a merry scene in no time, but as you can see there’s certainly no need to spend a fortune.

Small but strong points—such as a festive focal point, festive decor touches, can instantly update your tablescape and add seasonal sparkle.

I think that my holiday table looks pretty and elegant, and all this on a budged and with some power of DIY.

Are you still in search for the holiday table setting idea? I would love to hear from you.

Linking to: The Shabby Nest; Tablescape Thursday; The Cottage Market

Great thanks to the following blogsites for featuring this post: The Cottage Market; One More Time Event
Thank you for reading.

Besa