How to set a pretty table with yard sale finds (tablescape for less than $5.00!)

I think you know by now that I love to set a pretty table.   I have been setting our kitchen table with placemats and a simple centerpiece ever since we first got married 10 years ago.  Started out with a small table that would only seat two and I had a couple sets of two placemats that I would use.

I continue to keep my kitchen table set all the time with a set of 4 placemats, napkins and a simple centerpiece.  We just slide them to the side when we eat or stack them on the counter and then put them back after the table has been cleaned off.  Takes all of about 1 minute.  If I have nothing on the table when I walk by it looks so bare to me!

So when I packed away the patriotic décor after the 4th, I put together this placemat/napkin combination and realized that except for the centerpiece (which was a DIY project I shared last week), everything was bought at yard sales!  I don’t always remember or get to show you what I do with all my frugal finds that I share pictures of each week, so on a whim, decided I needed to share this with you.

Placemat – can’t find a picture or a post where I shared it but I got these placemats last summer/fall and I think they were 25¢ each or all 4/$1.00.

The napkin rings are only 4 out of a set of 12 that I got at a small church yard sale.  I blogged all about this sale here, but it was my cheapest yard sale I had ever shopped.  I paid 40¢ for EVERYTHING in the above picture – 15¢ for the napkin rings so almost 1¢ each.

And the napkins I picked up at Value Village just a month or so ago.  They were brand new from Target and were 69¢ each – $2.76/4.

So my placemats, napkins, napkin rings cost less than $4.00.

And my upcycled tin can rope wrapped vase cost about $1.50 to make.  So this entire table was created for less than $5.00!

This is some of what I do with my frugal finds – no one would ever know that less than $5.00 was in this decorated table.

And just for fun, I thought I would show you what it would look like you if you were set it for dinner – maybe a double date!  $5.00 table changes to pretty summer tablescape with dishes from your cabinets.

I just grabbed 4 place settings of my white square Better Homes and Gardens porcelain dishes that I showed you in my dining room beach inspired tablescape a few weeks back.

Added silverware and a tea glass and it was set!  (I love those tea glasses – Libbey brand from Walmart – set of 4 for under $5.00.  They have become our everyday glasses and I don’t have to worry a bit if one gets broken.)

I reused my flowers from my tin can patriotic centerpiece and moved them all into the one white can – still planning on making a larger vase once I find a good can to use.  Just to add a little extra to the centerpiece, I put a white platter under it.  Love pieces that are versatile – can be used for function in serving food and also used as décor/centerpieces too.

My #1 tip would be to invest in a set of basic, pretty white dishes.  If you are getting married – register for them!  Or ask for them for Christmas, save up for them, etc.  You can do so much with them.

Then scrounge thrift store and yard sales for table linens and get a few sets you love.  You don’t have to spend a fortune as I have showed you – even if I would have paid $1.00 a piece for 4 napkins, 4 napkin rings, and 4 placemats it would have only cost $12.   I have seen one single placemat sell for more than that.

So here is just a small way that I enjoy and put to use some of my frugal finds! Hope to show you even more of my yard sale finds put to use in the next few weeks.

Do you like to keep placemats on your table?  Or even a basic centerpiece?  Ever bought table linens second hand at yard sale or thrift stores?