posted by Jessica Lynette on Home

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Originally posted last summer, the importance of this has continued to be impressed upon me – setting a pretty table magically changes the atmosphere of a meal. It doesn’t have to cost much – nor should it be complicated. The other day I had a pretty table runner and our china dishes on the table and one of the boys commented that the table looked prettier than a restaurant table. With yard sale season just around the corner, it’s a great time to start considering what elements would be a nice addition to help you set a pretty table that children can sit at without fear of damage occurring.

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 Thrift stores and yard sales have proven to be gold mines for vintage linens, china plates, goblets and pretty napkin rings — all things I love using but hate paying money for due to a trend in our house for stains and broken things.

While writing the 31 Days of Romance series I shared that I felt setting a pretty table just for the four of us was a simple and yet sincere way I could romance my guys – I still feel it is true. Since we already make an effort to eat together I might as well go the little extra distance and make them all feel like I want them around my table by dressing it up a little bit.

This summer and last I have been able to build a nice collection of items to use for pretty place settings. A lot of the beautiful lace or hand crocheted table cloths have smaller holes or stains on them – this is actually my preference! What should be someone elses family heirloom is being passed on for .50 cents because of small imperfections {which place mats or centerpieces can hide!} And I do not worry in the slightest if my children add an extra spill or snag to the fabric. {And hopefully company feels just as at ease!}

I don’t pay more than a couple of dollars for a table cloth. If they are asking much more than that for it examine it closely and you’ll likely find a few stains that you can point out and ask for a lower price.

China plates have been accumulated in a random assortment of prints. I try now to only buy white, dinner plate size, with a border of flowers around the outer edge so that there can be some harmony amongst them, even with the varied prints. These I pay $1 – $1.50 a piece from the Thrift store.

Place mats and cloth napkins are purchased sparingly as they can often be found. Cloth napkins are a fun detail to add to a dinner, especially when accompanied with a pretty napkin ring.
With the cloth napkins I make sure there are at least two identical items to purchase so that it can be mismatched with something else coordinating to equal the amount needed for the table settings.

For the place mats and napkin rings I make sure there are at least four identical ones to purchase – with mismatched plates I feel like the matching place mats really anchor it all together.
I make sure to buy only plain napkin rings so that I can add details to it myself {such as the bird, as seen in the above image, which is what currently adorns our napkin rings.}

Don’t be afraid to start collecting little bits here and there as you find pieces that match your style – it takes time to evolve such things when finances are limited but is really a fun, cheap and easy way to add style to your table when you’re still living through the accident prone stages!

Tags: children, family, thrifty