Are you looking for ways to step up your Thanksgiving Day décor a notch or two — without breaking the bank?
If so, allow Goodwill Central Coast to come to the rescue. You can stop turning the pages of that expensive home décor catalog and deck out a fun and festival table with some unique Goodwill finds
Remember our mantra: Thrifting isn’t just good for the wallet, it’s great for the planet, too! Buying or upcycling second-hand items reduces air pollution and energy consumption, and keeps waste from heading to landfills. So before you enter your payment information for that catalog or head to the mall, stop in at one of our 14 GCC stores across three counties and turn a little creativity into holiday gold!
Here are some vivid examples of what’s possible when you show up at GCC with a little money and a lot of imagination:
Flower vases: Adding floral arrangements, whether dry or fresh cut, is a great way to add liveliness and color to your Thanksgiving table. You can easily find vintage glass vases, pitchers, and carafes at Goodwill. For Thanksgiving, everyone loves a mix of fresh flowers in creams, oranges, and pinks, mixed with dried grasses in neutral shades. One benefit of using mostly dried elements in your floral arrangements is that you can create the clusters well in advance of the big day.
But even if you’re using fresh flowers, build the arrangement at least one day in advance to allow the flowers time to open up fully. Remember, you want your guests to be able to see each other across the table. For that reason, if you’re using tall vases, only use sparse arrangements, including a few flowers and grasses. Otherwise, stick to low-to-the-table vases so you don’t impede anyone’s vision, or their ability to hand over the bowl of mashed potatoes!
Candlestick holders: Few things add a sophisticated, elegant touch like vintage candlestick holders, and you can find plenty of options at your local GCC store. A mix of copper, brass, and gold candlesticks works nicely on a Thanksgiving table, since they work as glamorous, metallic nods to the warm colors of the season, but there’s really no bad choice.
There’s always a vintage candlestick (or more) that perfectly fits your style. If your kitchen or dining room lighting is a bit harsh, candles are a great way to add a warmer amber illumination. And even if you don’t want open flames at the table, there are plenty of realistic LED taper and pillar candles available.
Unique tableware: You don’t need to buy a whole new dining ware set to give your Thanksgiving table a refined, sophisticated, and eclectic touch. You only need a few key pieces, and they don’t need to be part of a matching set. If you don’t already have a great serving platter, salad bowl, soup crock, or even gravy boat, don’t head for the mall. Instead, spend some time scanning GCC’s kitchen, glassware and dining aisles.
Linens: If you’ve never invested in cloth napkins or a tablecloth because it feels a bit old-fashioned, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to dress up your Thanksgiving table. There’s something nice about using a fabric napkin at a formal table. Plus, by washing and reusing cloth napkins, you can help to reduce your footprint by keeping used cloth napkins out of landfills. And thanks to thrifting, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Festive tablecloths: This is an easy way to dress up your table while protecting its surface from scratches or stains. At GCC, we stock tablecloths in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns. You can also make your own table runner by using fabrics found at Goodwill such as lace or burlap. For a fun children’s activity, pick up a plain white tablecloth and fabric markers to create a “thankful tablecloth.” Your kids can then trace turkeys with their handprint or write down what they’re thankful for on the tablecloth using the fabric markers. You can wash and reuse the same tablecloth each year and add more memories each Thanksgiving celebration.
Wicker basket centerpieces: These are perfect for holiday decorating. Shop at Goodwill to find baskets in all shapes and sizes. You can paint your baskets in a seasonal color or simply adorn the handles with ribbon. Then, fill them with apples, pears, miniature pumpkins, gourds, or even pinecones for a creative centerpiece idea for your Thanksgiving table.
DIY decor: Getting ready for Thanksgiving can be a crafty process if you decide to go the DIY route! If you thrift a number of items that you know will look great together but you’d like to change some of the colors or add a personal touch, it’s fun to use crafting skills to bring your vision to life. After your thrifting trip, visit an arts and crafts store to purchase paint, glue, and scissors. There are no limits!
When it comes to Thanksgiving, there’s no shortage of possibilities when you shop at Goodwill Central Coast! With an ever-changing inventory that’s updated daily, you can always find something new and unique at bargain prices. Best of all, the proceeds raised from your purchases will help fund our broad mission to provide job training and other services for those who face barriers to employment.