Setting a Simple Harvest Table

While I was growing up every Sunday dinner was a “fancy” dishes, “fancy” flatware, napkins-plus-tablecloth affair. We didn’t have heirloom china, but I always thought the “reserved for Sundays and holidays” stoneware and flatware and heavy red glass goblets were incredibly chic. I don’t know if I’ve set a “fancy” table more than a handful of times in my life, but apparently I have been collecting dishes and things for years.

The last several weeks I have been cleaning out nooks and crannies I forgot existed and finding the most wonderful treasures, including about 80% of the items I used to set this table. I had completely forgotten about these mis-matched but complimentary creamy dishes and simple plaid napkins as well as the gold mercury glass pumpkin. I pulled out a few gold-ish votives and bought a few white pumpkins from the grocery store and started arranging things.

The dinner plates and salad plates are definitely not from the same set, but they are both creamy-neutral and I think they work well together. The placemats reverse to a dark red and I’m pretty sure I bought them at least 10 years ago at Pier 1. (Here’s to sharing some of my hoarding/storing tendencies with the wide, wide interwebs!)

I have no idea where I picked this up, but I imagine if you look at places like TJ Maxx, Ross, and HomeGoods you can find a little bit of gold for your own table.

Really this whole set-up is quite simple, placemats, dishes, and a few candles and pumpkins in the center. For me, the little touches of gold and the pretty napkins make it special. I also really like how the soft, muted colors go so nicely with my thrifted mustard-yellow velvet dining chairs. They are one of the best thrifty finds I’ve ever stumbled upon!

Pumpkin napkin rings, same ones I used for my Halloween table setting.

This could be a your inspiration for a small and simple Thanksgiving, a Friendsgiving, or a regular Sunday dinner.  In reality, J-Mo and I sat down to this table one Sunday evening with our plates piled high with green salad and homemade lasagna.