Thanksgiving in the Dining Room

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.”

Oprah Winfrey

It isn’t fancy shmancy gifts or diamond encrusted things that make one happy. Sure those things might make you smile, but what truly makes me happy is time at home with my little family. Spending time together is the greatest gift. I can’t believe my kids are getting so big – John is nearly my height!

Thanksgiving is such a special holiday around here. It is my mom’s favorite and my parents come each year to celebrate it with us.

Luke, who is English, also loves this holiday. They don’t have it in England (though I used to make him celebrate it with me when I lived over there).

On Instagram and Facebook and in blogland, it seems everyone has moved on to Christmas. I have posted a few Christmas posts (click here and here), but we do not have any Christmas decorations up yet.

My kids have seen all the Christmas stuff in every store and asked if we were skipping Thanksgiving.

No, we are not.

This is how our dining room looks for Thanksgiving:

I kept everything very simple this year.

Why?

Because I wanted to focus on what’s truly important.

Our delicious food and the conversations we’ll have around the table.

A simple runner was placed on the table along with some feathers and wicker pumpkins.

In lieu of flowers, I decided to clip some leaves from our yard. I noticed them when we were raking this weekend and I’m hoping they last until Thursday 😉

I painted the watercolor leaf and shared that with you guys last week, click here.

I placed simple linen napkins on the plates and folded them in a casual way. I also put tiny baby boos on each place setting.

The chargers were originally ugly gold ones I found at the Dollar Tree and I painted them to look like aged copper, I shared the tutorial yesterday, click here.

I love how rich they look on our table and how the copper adds a layer of warmth.

In previous years I’ve wanted to go really light and airy. Last year I did a lot with dried hydrangeas.

This year, I’m drawn to warmer colors and hues.

I’m so inspired by the nature outside.

While I was decorating the table I also tackled our new Welsh Dresser. I’d really love to decorate this piece entirely with ironstone but I don’t have a big enough collection yet. I can just see all white on this and love that idea.

For now, I’m using what I have. Some shells, some blue and white china plates.

Dried hydrangeas and some more feathers. These always say fall and Thanksgiving to me.

This large Welsh dresser has brought such warmth into this room. It’s currently my favorite in the entire house.

I love all the imperfections and tiny drawers.

I’m thankful for this piece.

The blue cabinet is still in this room and I think I’ll aways keep this one, but you never know with me 😉

It’s my favorite color after all!

Here’s one more view from above:

I guess what I’m trying to say is; there’s so much to be grateful for in life. Sometimes little things we take for granted like the embrace of our children, or the playfulness of our dogs, or our health.

I also wanted to share that just like you guys we’re on a budget and I try my best to achieve the look I love without breaking the bank. I always shop my house first. In the dining room I decorated with everything I already had. I’ll include a source list below, in case you’re interested in anything I used but most of the items I decorated with are from nature or the thrift store 😉

Hope this gave you some ideas for your own home.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

This source list contains a few affiliate links. If you purchase a product through this link. It doesn’t end up costing you anymore but I receive a percentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting the blog in this way.

Thanksgiving in Dining Room Source List

• Welsh Dresser – Yard Sale site, shared more here
• Dining Room Set – Freecycle and we painted it
• Blue Cabinet – Painted in Eulalie’s Sky MMS Milk Paint
• Leaves from our Yard
• Wicker Pumpkins – Balsam Hill
• Table Runner – Target
• Hobnail Pitcher and Glasses – Uncommon Goods
• Chargers – Dollar Tree and I created Aged Copper Finish, click here
• Watercolor Maple Leaf Place Cards – click here
• Napkins – Save on Crafts
• Plates – Birch Lane
• Hammered Silverware – Birch Lane
• Ironstone in Welsh Cupboard – Thrift Store
• Pears – Faux from Thrift Store
• Baby Boo Pumpkins – Grocery Store
• Dried Hydrangeas – Our Yard
• Metal Basket – Marshalls