Talk about one-stop shopping! With Thanksgiving and holiday entertaining coming up, I wanted to create a beautiful yet simple DIY centerpiece with common household items. I think I succeeded! To make this tablescape, you’ll need just a few things from your local True Value hardware and grocery stores, but other than that it’s an inexpensive, rustic and easy table to put together. While I used an assortment of vegetables and candles, you could really use anything you wish. I think tablescapes can often be kind of intimidating because all we see is the end result, but I created a gif below to show you how I went about putting this one together and you’ll see building blocks is all it is…building one thing upon another. Here is how I created this rustic table…perfect for your fall entertaining :)

For my table, I picked up a few cabbages, oranges, pomegranates, eggplant, squash, sweet potatoes and a 2 lb. bag of lima beans. Some good additions would be pumpkins, cranberries and apples. Of course you definitely need some mood lighting. I added candles of all shapes and sizes using votives, tapers and some DIY candles too.

I cut a small round hole in the cabbage and oranges and scooped out some of the “guts” so that my votives would sit inside. Tearing off the outer layers of the cabbage makes a perfect little vessel for a votive candle. I think the key is just adding layers. Starting with a clean, wide open table, add in some inexpensive kraft paper, which you can find in the paint prep area of your local True Value. Add in some height with cake platters. Upside down vases also work great. Start with the biggest vegetable, working down to the smallest. For mine, I placed the squash than added the eggplant, cabbages, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, oranges and finished up by scattering the lima beans. I love the varied texture and colors that all the different vegetables bring together. (click on this picture below to see how I arranged from start to finish)

Start with a clean wide open table, add in some inexpensive craft paper, which you can find in the paint prep area at True Value. Add in some height with cake platters, or upside down vases also work great. Start with the biggest vegetable, working down to the smallest. For mine, I placed the squash than added the eggplant, cabbages, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, oranges and finished up by scattering the lima beans. I love the varied texture and colors that all the different vegetables have together.

Mixing in some more elegant candlesticks against all the rustic tones makes it feel casual and thrown together but with purpose.

These simple oil lamps make great use of different size jars (how-to below!). You just want to make sure that the washer fits on the top because that is what’s going to hold your wick. These wicks make great use of wine bottles also:) I like the fact that this tablescape is really no fuss; it could be used for a Thanksgiving buffet or a sit down dinner, and when you’re done you can use all your vegetables. Win win!

To make these DIY oil candles, you will need:

· 3/8^th inch size washers

· Cotton roping (I buy this cotton wick material online)

· Lamp thread kit (1/8^th inch sold at True Value in the lamp repair area)

· Lamp nuts (1/8^th nut)

· Clear lamp oil

· A bottle with an opening that is no wider than your washer. I found these vinegar glass jars at my local Dollar Tree, but a wine bottle also works.

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The bottles that I bought said “vinegar” on the side, so to hide the words on the side I used some kraft paper and double sided tape to wrap the bottles. Burlap ribbon would also be great! I would suggest that you take the washers with you when you’re looking for the glass bottle that you want to use.

*Caution* The wax rests on the top of the bottle, so always keep your eye on the candle and do not leave it unattended. You can read more about fire safety precautions here.

The washer sits in between the two nuts and threads onto the lamp rod. The cotton wick goes up through the middle.What I love about these DIY candles is that they make use of an old bottle…plus you can make as many as you need! They are so pretty all lined up on a table.

Putting together a casual rustic table is easier than you thought right?? So just add these things to your Thanksgiving list…and your shopping will be done!

xo

I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.