Thanksgiving dinner isn’t just a time for heaps of food (though that may be the best part), it’s also an opportunity to create a beautiful, fall-themed tablescape. The only problem is making a tablescape can cost a pretty penny — especially if you’re shopping at stores like Williams Sonoma, where a mere tablecloth can easily go for $150.

                By                    Nicole Spector

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Fortunately, there’s another place to shop for your holiday furnishings: IKEA. By shopping at the mammoth Swedish retailer, you can create a gorgeous Thanksgiving tablescape for under $100. 

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Here’s how, according to Deal News consumer analyst Julie Ramhold.  

Pick Up Candleholders

“You can find simple designs at IKEA for super affordable prices,” Ramhold said. “Think a set of three for $15 or a single candlestick holder for around $4. Be sure to look in the sale section as well, as you may find things like glass tealight holders for as little as 50 cents. Because of the affordable prices, you can pick up enough for your table, no matter how big it is, without spending a fortune.”

Get Cheap Candles

“Set the atmosphere for your holiday dinner with an array of unscented candles from IKEA,” Ramhold said. “Pick up sets of block candles for $11 for five, or even $3 for a four-pack of shorter block candles. Pillar candles are about $5 each, so you can pick up a few of those to serve as a centerpiece without spending too much; and, if you want unscented tapers, a pack of eight is about $7.

“Whatever kind of festive lighting you want, IKEA likely has something to fit, including LED candles if you don’t want to have to worry about exposed flames. Those are more expensive, though, and will cost anywhere from $6 for a single one to $19 for a set of three.”

Opt for Festive Colored Dinnerware

“Sure you can find matte black or white dinnerware at IKEA, but there are also really lovely colors if you’d rather mix it up,” Ramhold said. “For example, the FARGKLAR sets are about $60 for 24 pieces and come in colors like glossy dark turquoise, matte dark grey, matte green, matte light pink and more. While this would definitely be a bigger chunk of the $100 budget, it’s settings for eight people, so it’s a really affordable way to make your table look fancier for the holidays.”

String Lights

“IKEA has a variety of string lights available, including some that are battery operated and include leaves for a festive fall look,” Ramhold said. “These can be wound around the different elements of your tablescape to provide some festive lighting — and a strand of 40 lights is only about $13.”

Check Out Fall Table Decorations

“Items like a 14-inch wreath for $8 or decorative leaf dishes for $5 each make the perfect building blocks for a festive fall tablescape, and you can get only the amount you need,” Ramhold said. “Consider glass domes with bases, too — they can be used to display fall items as part of your centerpiece, festive string lights wound up, or even to cover snacks or mini desserts, depending on the size you buy. They range from $15 to $17, so you may not want to buy a ton of them, but they can definitely work as part of your centerpiece — or just general table decor.”

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