How to Create a Budget Friendly Sustainable Tablescape

Hello friends!  Welcome to our spring tablescape hop, where I am joining several other bloggers to share creative and fun ideas for your spring gatherings.  (You can find their links at the bottom of this post). I’m currently enrolled in Marie Forleo’s B School, and have been digging deep into my own purpose and why I write this blog (other than because I truly love it!). I’ve discovered that what I am most passionate about is creating something from nothing and producing less waste in that process.  I love making the most of my home and wardrobe with limited funds, discovering ways to take care of my body that are free or easily accessible, and feeding my soul with things that I can find at little to no cost such as library books and podcasts.  I am definitely excited about digging deeper into my “WHY” and especially delighted to see where that leads me in how I can serve you and bring you ideas to live your best life on a budget.  Often people are afraid of inviting others into their homes, or unwilling to entertain for fear that what they have is not enough to impress.  However, opening up your home to others is not about what you have inside of your house, but what you have inside of your heart to offer them… warmth, inclusion, community.  Additionally, I will say that when I head over to friends homes what always wows me is how they’ve used cost effective and thrifted finds, branches from their yard, and personal touches like art made by their kids to create a welcoming space.  It’s not about the large ticket items at all.  With all of those thoughts in mind, I wanted to put together a tablescape using items I already had, as well as items that were less wasteful and hazardous to the environment.  I am thrilled with what resulted and excited to share it with you today!  I also created a little bonus wall treatment that I am super excited about!

Use Dishes You Have

It’s so easy to get caught up in the cycle of “I wants!” when it comes to creating tablescapes… like I want all of Anthropologie’s new Spring dessert plates because they’d be SO cute here! But guess what?  The dishes you have in your cabinets, you know those old ones you’ve had for a while…. they’re good enough!  You don’t need new dishes to create a warm and inviting table.  We bought these gray Ikea dishes a couple years back because the set we had just didn’t have enough plates and I couldn’t find an extra set of the same.  They get a little marked up from silverware, but I love them!  I love the light neutral gray color that works in any season and goes with everything.  If you legitimately need dishes, I highly recommend getting something neutral that can go with everything.  With these, I can easily change the decor around them to suit the vibe I am looking to create.

In addition to these basic every day dishes, I also used this black flatware I was gifted last year.  We use this daily as well, and it’s worn a little bit, but overall I love the modern feel it adds to my table.  The brand I got them from actually no longer carries them, but has these instead.  I am assuming it’s because there were quality issues to be perfectly honest, so I imagine the new version is much nicer.

Lastly, in using dishes I already had for this place setting, I grabbed these pink vintage goblets I thrifted last year.  I shared them when I revealed the dining room last fall.  I just love the color and how it works in my home!  We’ve got a lot of pink going on at this time… I’ve somehow fallen in love with that color!  Vintage glassware is relatively easy to find if you keep checking your local thrift shops, and it’s a great way to add a splash of color and personality to a table.

Make Practical Sustainable Choices

Using items that can be used over and over again is a great way to save money in the long run and take care of our environment at the same time.  Just as a I explained above, I chose gray everyday dishes because they go with everything and can be used for any occasion.  Vintage finds such as the goblets are always a sustainable choice since buying vintage doesn’t cause more to be produced in factories… you’re using what’s already out there in the world. I also want to be much more sustainable in the choices I make every day, and am working to eliminate waste.  Paper towels and napkins are a daily struggle for me, to be honest.  I am ashamed to admit that I am always reaching for a paper towel.

Just last week I bought these cloth napkins because I want my family to start using them at dinner.  I selected these particular napkins because of their neutral flax look and the sweet crocheted trim detail.  They were the perfect choice to go with every season, and knowing that I had more modern style dishes, I felt that the trim added a little vintage appeal.  Additionally, they’re super affordable at less than $20 for 12, and they’re machine washable which is essential if we are going to use them frequently!

I created this little fold on my own, and made a little video for you in case you want to recreate it. It was super simple!

Use Fresh Seasonal Foraging Finds & Consumables

Finding branches and fresh floral clippings from your yard is a great way to bring in a touch of the season and… it’s free!  In the winter I love to use pine and holly, and I put our large magnolia tree to use frequently since its leaves stay green and it just feels southern.  I actually intended to use magnolia on this tablescape, but I lucked out with some free flowers and greens I had on hand. Last week mindbodygreen was here shooting a tour, and they were kind enough to bring fresh flowers and eucalyptus so I used the leftovers from that on this table.

If I didn’t have those, I’d have been out foraging in my yard!  We have daffodils blooming, and as I mentioned magnolia works year round.  If I didn’t have access to that, local farmer’s markets and Trader Joe’s are my go-to sources for affordable florals and greens. This particular flower is actually one of the most inexpensive and readily available, and they last a long time.

Seasonal consumables always make a table look fresh and cozy. When I first set this table, I left off the oranges, but it felt like it was missing something.  I added the oranges because we had them on hand (we eat them, naturally!) and they brought so much life and color!  I even added a basket with the extra just to add a little something to the center of the table.

If you don’t like oranges, there are so many other options that can be used.  For the season of spring, lemons or artichokes would look amazing at each place setting.  Even unpeeled carrots would add a nice organic vibe.  Radishes, apricots, strawberries, or even bunches of mustard greens or asparagus would also look lovely and have that natural earthy effect. The best part is that these items can actually be used in your cooking or snacking, so they would not be wasteful to set on a table.  I actually love to eat these little oranges for dessert, so it’s like dessert is already there waiting for me!  Although, let’s be honest, if I was hosting a spring dinner, we’d have some cake. 😉 Let’s just pretend we’d all be satisfied with oranges for dessert, K?

Those are all of my tips on creating a budget friendly table for any season!

Butterfly Swarm Wall

Now let’s talk about one special addition I made to this space for Spring…. the butterfly swarm wall!  When we added this mural last fall, I knew that it would be so much fun to play with that moon silhouette.  At Christmas I added a tiny Santa sleigh silhouette which was quite comedic!  Spring was just the time for birds, geese, or butterflies!  I decided to go with butterflies and created them using my Cricut maker and Cricut brushed paper in this silver/champagne look color. I only used one sheet of paper and created a pattern of butterflies in varying sizes.  My plan was to create a little swarm and I thought the silver paper would give them the effect of the moon shining on their wings.

I just love how they turned out and the added spring touch they bring to my dining room.

All I did was create the pattern in Cricut Design Space, cut them with my maker, and tape them to the wall.  If you want to recreate it, I saved my project here for you.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my Spring tablescape.  I hope you’ve found some ideas to help you create beautiful budget friendly and sustainable table settings all year round.

 

22 Beautiful Spring Tables

Colored Glass Spring Table – My 100 Year Old Home // Spring Table Setting Decorating Ideas – Hallstrom Home // Colorful Spring Cottage Table – Tatertots & Jello // Spring Table Setting Decorating Ideas – The Handmade Home

How to Arrange Simple Table Decor – Happy Happy Nester // Simple Spring Tablescape Decor Ideas – Twelve On Main // Spring Tablescape – Craftberry Bush // Simple Spring & Easter Table Decor – The Happy Housie // Simple Spring Tablescape with Colorful Blooms – Inspiration For Moms 

Romantic Spring Table – Modern Glam // Easter Basket Centerpiece Two Ways – Sincerely Marie Designs // Budget Friendly Sustainable Tablescape – Cassie Bustamante // A Lovely Spring Table – Finding Lovely

Vintage Inspired Warm Pink & Yellow Spring Table – The DIY Mommy // Blue and White Spring Table – A Blue Nest // Minimalisitic Spring Table – Taryn Whiteaker Designs // Simple And Lovely Spring Tablescape – She Gave It A Go // Colorful Spring Table Settings – Jennifer Maune 

Spring Table Decorating Ideas – My Sweet Savannah // Spring Table Setting Decorating Ideas – Art Of Everyday Living // A Spring Tablescape – Zevy Joy // Fresh And Natural Spring Table – Life Is Better AT Home