The word tablescape has been trending for the past few years, but setting a pretty and visually appealing table has been around since the Renaissance period. I have always loved a "decorated" table and find it fun to do a little extra for holidays. Of course, I headed to the thrift store to find items to create a Valentine's Day tablescape perfect for a couples' dinner.
Keep reading to see what is from the thrift store and to get some tips for creating your own beautifully set table. one item I was on the hunt for was tablecloth or table runner. After my third or fourth trip around the thrift store, I found these heart shaped placemats and even though they were a little rough, I decided I could work with them.
The opinions on Facebook and Instagram ended up being about 50-50. I chose the long runner because I have a leaf in my table right now and it is oval shaped. If the leaf was out, I would have chosen the cloverleaf design. I sewed the placemats together, also sewing a few frayed edges. I sponge cleaned the placemats and sprayed them with Lysol,
The white plates, from World Market, and the silverware were purchased brand new. Everything else is from a thrift store.
Tip one--if you aren't using a tablecloth, be sure to set plates on a placemats, chargers, old books, picture frames, something to ground them. I used rattan chargers that add texture and warm color.
The red, heart plates were a great, thrift store find. I always use cloth napkins, even daily because they are better for the environment. These hand embroidered ones came in a bag with 20+ other vintage linens. They were washed with Lysol laundry sanitizer. I set them in the stemless glasses so that I didn't cover up the heart. Tip two is use cloth napkins, the thrift stores have lots of them.
Tip three, remember to set the silverware "correctly", forks on the left, knives on the right next to the plate, blade in towards the plate, spoon next to the knife.
I used vintage style valentines for placecards. I don't always use placecards, but I thought these were a fun touch.
A simple centerpiece stays on the table even when the table is not set. Tip #4 is to incorporate a centerpiece that fits your theme and helps to set a mood, one preferably with candles and plant life or flowers.
I created this one using a basket for the base (so I can easily remove it for big dinners), a brown dripware pitcher that I used for fall and Christmas got some red, thrift store flowers and were placed on a couple small, red, vintage books. A wood candlestick adds height and seed pods incorporate texture and organic elements. Remember to repeat colors or textures or materials.
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