An Inexpensive Tablescape : Thrifting + Target + Dollar Store

I first discovered the joys of thrifting through something known as estate sales, they tend to have a little bit nicer things than just whatever someone decided to get rid of piecemeal. And generally, the items are from an older generation, either someone has passed away or is moving into a child’s home or assisted living and somehow their descendants do not see the value in keeping their parent or grandparents items. There’s been plenty of articles on this phenomenon.

I, however, love these items. Old chinoiserie vases and bowls are the passion I’ve had for the past few years now, to be more specific. Even just this past week I was able to stop into an estate sale in my neighborhood and snagged three bowls and a plate for under $20.

This particular family gathering I used one estate sale vase, one vase from I don’t know where, a hyacinth I got on markdown from Kroger- along with some other last minute flowers, and finds from Target and the Dollar Tree.

The gold bunnies were a spur of the moment Target find- you know, in that section at the front of the store that I forget what it’s called.

The ivy vine was at Dollar Tree- and honestly I find a LOT of really good things there. In fact, my favorite Christmas decor are some fake magnolia clips and I think I bought all of the ones Dollar Tree had that season. They have yet to return which makes me sad.

It was pretty simple to put them all together, made even more simple by the fact that I already had camellia branches in the vases. The buds and flowers had fallen off a few days prior, but I had kept on adding more flowers over the past couple of weeks. The branches have held so well, and stayed nice, and their shape just looks so cool that I am waiting as long as I can to take them out. They help to create an anchor to work the flowers that I’ve added around, much like the trick I learned from Mary Pinson in her floral arrangement class. (Seriously so excited about the next class I’m taking with her in a couple of weeks!)

From there I added in pieces of my great-great grandmother’s china to display some of the food, and I realized for the first time that another chinoiserie find could be used as serving utensil rests.

Any way that I can work more pieces in I will! Just call me a maximalist- you might even spy my chinoiserie print Wheaton Whaley pillows in the background (still working on convincing my guy to let me hang the curtains)- I know they’re in my IG Reel here.

All of these tips can be used for any holiday, and I’ll store the bunnies and Easter specific items away in their own dedicated bin. Just like I do for each holiday. I’ve found that these bins from Walmart stack the easiest. I also use them in my car for yoga gear and other kid items.

Let me know if you do anything like this too!