Luxe for Less: Set a Timeless Table That Only Looks Expensive

You can set a table that looks expensive without breaking the bank. Timelessly on-trend, blue and white transferware dishes are some of the most readily available on the market, making it easy to snap up these vintage beauties at estate or garage sales and thrift stores for a fraction of the cost of new dishware.

And, use beautiful old containers instead. Antique tins, teapots, pitchers and storage containers, like this pressed-glass biscuit jar, make charming stand-ins for a modern vase while adding a hand-me-down touch of family history to your table.

Most often used for special occasions, chargers, also known as underplates or service plates, provide both a decorative and a functional purpose by catching errant spills and crumbs. For our budget table, we saved by using paper doilies (costing pennies each!) as a stand-in for much more costly porcelain or china chargers. Bonus: When the party's over, the paper can just be tossed — spills, crumbs and all.

Backyard blooms are a natural candidate for centerpieces — in addition to the cost savings of using free flowers, you can also show off your green thumb. Shown here, Veronica (AKA speedwell), dahlias, garden roses and bachelor's button are beautiful complements to the store-bought blooms: chrysanthemum, green ball dianthus and waxflower. Tip: Cut flowers early in the morning when the air and ground temps are cooler and plants are least stressed. And, be sure to place the cut blooms directly into a bucket of water to prevent any moisture loss. When arranging, re-cut the stems at a 45-degree angle before placing into a vase with added floral preservative.