Yesterday was time change (“spring forward”) which sort of signals the official beginning of spring! Even though the spring flowers and early flowering trees have been in bloom for several weeks now. So over the next few days and into next week, I plan on sharing lots of “spring” posts with you – spring wreaths, my spring mantel, spring painting projects, spring table settings, and more!
Today lets kick off the spring posts with how to set a simple spring table (or any seasonal table for that matter.) In my 31 days to decorate your home on a budget series, I shared that one of the ways you can decorate your home on a budget is to set your table.
You saw a little of my spring table in my P52 post on Saturday but I wanted to share how to set a simple seasonal table on a yard sale budget. This is the table in my eat-in kitchen.
We bought this table and chair set off Craigslist a few years ago and I really like it (although I do have plans to change one little thing about it ) Anyways, I don’t keep dishes set on this table like I sometimes do in my dining room, BUT I pretty much always have placemats and some type of centerpiece on this table.
To me, it just adds extra decoration to the room, gives me a chance to display seasonal colors or items in my home, gives me a chance to change something up frequently without rearranging furniture or painting walls, and I just like pretty things!
Now let me stop because I know some of you are thinking, “NO way I can do this… I don’t have the money to spend on this, my kids would be pulling them off the table, they would be stained if we ate on them…” Now, I am certainly not saying that EVERYONE has to set their table with placemats BUT it is possible to do it for very little money and having kids does not have to hinder you either (and we normally don’t eat on the placemats, we just set them aside while eating, then reset the table after eating.) And maybe you don’t set it with placemats but just use a simple centerpiece.
Now how can you do it on a budget? By shopping at my favorite places – GW fashion (Goodwill), Value Village, yard sales, and finding clearance and coupon deals at Kohl’s.
This is another option I have for setting my spring table – new for this year!
- placemats – Value Village find sometime before Christmas ($0.99 each but 1/2 off so only $0.49 each) = $1.96 total.
- pink napkins – another Value Village find I showed you a few weeks ago found on a completely separate trip ($0.49 each x 4 = $1.96.) BUT I have found napkins 1/2 off too making them them $0.25 each so only $1.00 for all 4 napkins!
- vase – I got this FREE from one of the daily deals sites a year or so ago using some credit I had (think it was from Ruelala and you can get a free $10 credit for signing up here too
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- pink and white flowers – faux flower bunch bought at Michael’s quite a few years ago – don’t remember how much I paid for the flowers but I would say no more than $3.00 by buying them when they were 40-50% off.
- napkin rings – Kohl’s purchase on clearance + with a 20-30% coupon last summer – don’t remember exactly but thinking around $3.00.
So this total table arrangement cost less than $10!
Now, let’s switch out the flowers, placemats and napkins and we have a totally different look.
- Vase – same as before
- Tulips – $2.99 special at Aldi last week (wanted them for my P52 shot and they just made me happy!) I figured I saved so much with $0.79 strawberries, I could justify the splurge.
- Napkin rings – same as before – $3.00
- white napkins – Kohl’s clearance/coupon find that I use all the time – less than $1/piece
- placemats – I have had these for 4-5 years, think they might have been a Ross/TJ Maxx find?
Another table setting for around $10 or less.
Right now with all the trees and flowers starting to bloom you could easily bring some cuttings inside and decorate with nature for an easy centerpiece. On my “to-find at yard sales list” is a white pitcher that I could use as well for placing cuttings or flowers – haven’t found it yet but I am sure I will one day!
Oh, and can you do this with kids? My nieces (age 2 + 4 )and nephew (7 mos.) are in my home 3-4 days a week. My nieces ‘oooh and awww’ when they come in and I have the table decorated differently – they love it! and when we eat, play games, or craft, we just set or push them aside – no problem at all.
And there are kid-friendly placemats too – outdoor type ones or plastic/laminate ones that you could use if you wanted and even have them eat on them.
If this is something that you would like to do, keep your eyes peeled when you are secondhand shopping for deals. Pick up some basic/mix-n-match pieces and you will be set.
Have you set your table for spring? Do you decorate your table seasonally or just with placemats or décor that matches your home? Would love see yours – link them up in the comments!
{cj}
Sometimes I link up to these wonderful parties:
Sarahndipities, Skip to my Lou, Today’s Creative Blog, How to Nest for Less, Home Stories A to Z, Apron Thrift Girl, Tools are for women too, Not just a Housewife, A bowl full of lemons, Uncommon Designs Online, Someday Crafts, No Minimalist Here, Somewhat Simple, 36th Avenue, Sew Much Ado, The Style Sisters, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Weekend Blogging party at Serenity Now, Home Happy Home, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors,The Girl Creative,Miss Mustard Seed, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Remodelaholic, The Lettered Cottage, Before and after party at Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge at Young House Love
This is so cute & do-able! Love your site & getting your emails! Money is so tight but, you give me hope & great ideas! So thank you, I’m a fan! ;/)
Oh, I am so glad, Terri! I really want to show people that they don’t have to spend a bunch to decorate their homes 🙂
Thanks for subscribing 🙂
I especially like the pink set- love the contrast on the placemats! The simplicity is one of the most beautiful things about it. 🙂
Yeah, me too.. I like the pink set because of it’s simplicity, beside, I love pink the most.. :)) keep the great things happening, I’ll be waiting for update on your site..
Thanks, Jane! I like the pink cause they were fun thrifty finds 🙂
thanks, Leah! I am glad I found them at Value Village! 🙂
Very pretty! I used to decorate my table, but not anymore! It’s just on worth it to have to move it every day for school. Now I just stick something pretty in the middle when it’s not in use. =)
I completely understand! 🙂 and the something pretty in the middle works too 🙂
Love, love, love that pop of pink napkins! The flowers are so bright and cheery too! I found some rattan type placemats at GW that I need to pull out. Need some napkin rings though to complete the look.
I’ve had the placemats out since Christmas and while it is a bit inconvenient at times to move them since we usually have to completely move them to the side or even off the table since it only seats four and we need every inch, I usually just stack them and carry the whole thing to the counter or wherever.
I think that another thing that makes it doable with kids is once the newness wears off they usually end up leaving it alone. 🙂 Usually. Davis is at the point where he is getting into the cabinets and dumping things out so I put nothing past him. 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration to set my table. 🙂
Glad you are keeping up with it! I really think it is fun.
and you know you can make napkin rings too – glue a flower or pretty much anything on a tube cut out of a toilet paper roll – whatever! 🙂
Love the cheery spring table setting! Thanks for linking up this week. Always enjoy seeing what you have been up to. Have a great weekend!
Amy@homehappyhome.blogspot.com
Thanks, Amy!
Thanks for hosting the party! 🙂
I have made napkin rings with the 2″ clay flower pots. Just drill the hole a little larger at the bottom of the little pots. Decorate with sponge paint. They make a nice hostess gift along with four napkins made from quilting squares.
You have some wonderful ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Peggie Baker-
Love the ideas. Looking forward to reading decorating for spring and getting more ideas. Have placemats just need napkins.