Low Cost and Easy Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Even though Thanksgiving is late this year, it seems to me like it came pretty quickly. I'm not hosting our family dinner, but I plan to go to my parents house a few days early to help with preparations and to set the table for our Thanksgiving celebration.  And I'll let you in on a little secret.  I'm not a big holiday decorator. I usually put a few holiday touches in each room, but I don't go to too much trouble.  It has to be easy and it has to be practically free.

Extra points if you can name any of the plant material in the arrangement below. Those big green things that looks like brains are the fruit of an Osage Orange tree.  We used to have one in our back yard and every year it dropped tons of these big green fruits. They provide great color and texture.  The small red berries look like Nandina berries, and we have one of those growing wild in the woods behind my house. Throw them in a big white bowl with pine cones sprinkled on top for a colorful, natural centerpiece.

Source

There is beauty in simplicity.  Behold.

All you would have to do to create the tablescape below is take a walk around your property with some scissors.. And please take note of the simple glass jar as vase.  

I love this idea.  Upside down wine glasses become a fun group of candle holders.  So smart.

It's a Southern thing, ya'all.  Magnolia leaves as chargers.

1. Partially fill a simple glass vessel with water. 2.  Put some fruit in it.  3.  Add a floating candle on top.  4.  Put it on a tray with found sprigs.  Done.  I really have done this one before and it looks great!

And finally, winter fruit in blue and white containers. That's what I'm talking about. 

This is just the beginning. I'm sure you smartypants have some cheap and easy Thanksgiving table ideas.  Share it with me in the comments!

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services to happy homeowners in Chattanooga, TN.  If you'd like to discover the joy of living in a well designed home, contact Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

New Flush Mount Light Fixtures at Home Depot

I'm sure by now you've seen this Home Depot light fixture makeover from The Hunted Interior.

I found it kind of inspiring so I took a little trip to Home Depot last week to have a look for myself.  If you don't already know, I'm working on my family room makeover for the One Room Challenge.

Here are my lovely inherited light fixtures.  Not the kind of "eclectic" I'm going for.

I've selected and purchased one of these styles for my family room.  

I've personally named each selection.  I call the one above "Simple Bling".

This one is "Simple Glass" - obviously I didn't spend much time on the naming part.

This handsome fixture is "Modern Lantern".

I call this fixture "Vintage"

And finally, there's "Geometry".

I'm happy to report that most of these lights fall into the $40 - $90 range, which can certainly help stretch the budget.

Any guesses as to which one(s) went home with me?  

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services in Chattanooga, TN.   If you would like to experience how a well designed home can improve your life, call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Recession Decorating 101

"I strongly believe that people may not want, or may not be able to, start again from scratch, so giving old furniture a new lease on life is at the heart of my philosophy," - Nina Campbell

Hey, it's no secret that a lot of us are struggling during these tough economic time and  so that's why I've decided to create this post about getting your chic on the cheap!  These tips are nothing new but they are common sense ideas that challenge us to tap into our creative sides and look at the items you already have with fresh eyes.  Possibilities are all around us if we carpe "design"!!  : )

This is about the 4th incarnation of my camelback sofa. It has been dressed in a mauve colored mini-print (remember country cute)?, a blue flamestich fabric, a denim slipcover and now this chenille paisley.  It is a great quality piece that has been with me for years!

I have had this mirror for decades and it started off life with a nondescript brown stain.  I freshened it up with a can of glossy white rustoleum and it has a clean new look.  I love the way white accessories "jump" off the wall.  So sculptural and modern.

This is actually a coffee table I bought at a yard sale for $25.  I snagged the animal print fabric on ebay and off I went to my upholsterer to create this luxe bench.  It's great for extra seating at my dining room table !

Speaking of my dining room, would you believe my dining table and chairs were FREE??!! Yep, I got them from a friend who was about to begin renovation on a flip house and the dining room set had been left behind by the previous owners  Lots of cleaning and some fresh upholstery gave me a dining room I have been enjoying for years!

What more can you say about this?

. . . except maybe this!  I love the colored glass of wine bottles and found a few ways to use them in design!

This collection of audobon prints are actually pages from a calender I bought a Barnes & Noble a few years ago.  Pre-matted frames came from Southeast Salvage to create this thrifty art collection!

These "curtains" in my breakfast room are really tablecloths I found at HomeGoods for about $15. They are a nice heavy fabric and they are hung from a cafe curtain rod with ring clips.  Tiebacks are grosgrain ribbon.

I hope this post inspires you to look at the things you already have with fresh eyes.  Just think, your new look could be as close as your local hardware store for that $4 can of Rustoleum!