Create a Simple But Stunning Fall Tablescape
Create a Simple but Stunning Fall Tablescape – Of course, when I think about creating a tablescape at any time of year, I want it to be stunning, but I also want it to be simple. A beautiful tablescape for a dinner party is the perfect way to make your guests feel loved and about for but not overwhelmed. Years ago, I would go so over the top that my friends would say, “Oh, I’m never inviting you to my house for dinner.” That is not what I was trying to do with my elaborate dinner parties. Now I focus on beautiful, but casual and simple tables.
So today, for Sunday favorites with Mary Ann and Cindy, I thought I would share a table I recently created on our front porch. It was a cozy fall tablescape, but it was simple at the same time. It celebrated the autumn season with all the warm colors and earthy garden flowers.
This tablescape could be used for a Thanksgiving or any fall gatherings. It’s all about the simple details!
The elements of a beautiful fall tablescape
There are several items that I start with when creating an idea for a tablescape in any season. I often start with an idea for a simple fall centerpiece. I love to use seasonal flowers or fruit as a focal point. This usually leads to the colors I’ll use for linen napkins, place cards, dinner plates, salad plates, glassware, and candle holders.
Seasonal centerpiece
The perfect centerpiece may be as simple as glass bottles with a single stem and votive candles lining the table. For this table, I used chrysanthemums in glass bottles with white dishes, and it’s effortless but still beautiful. I also used frayed canvas down the center of the table for a decorative accent or layer. Fresh flowers that cost no more than $12 for a simple centerpiece. I used fall flowers, but daisies, roses, or even carnations would work.
For today’s table centerpiece, I used this set of bowls/vases with hydrangeas that are starting to dry, and garden cosmos mixed with some Trader Joe’s flowers. Using these bowls or vases made me realize a fresh floral arrangement does not have to be complicated or even expensive to put together.
You can see another fall centerpiece using these gold bowls here.
Dishes, flatware, glassware, linens
My favorite ways to set a table include a mix of new and old or modern and vintage. I first decide the color (based on the flowers) and then the cloth napkins and tablecloth if using one.
Then, I will decide what kind of dishes I will need based on what I am serving. Will I need soup bowls, salad plates or just dinner plates? Or, I might layer plates for a look that’s a little different. I recently added these teak root dinner plates. They are a great addition to use with vintage French plates, white plates, or these beautiful brown salad plates. I love to mix a few of my favorite things and then add some natural elements suited to the seasonal decor.
I use these purple bee wine glasses so often. I would have never thought they would go with so many colors. I chose gorgesous amber linen stripe napkins to tie all the colors together.
Napkin ring or place cards?
I must admit that I rarely (if ever) use napkin rings. I feel like they sort of clutter the dining table once everyone is seated with napkin on lap. I guess the same could be said about place cards, but they can be tucked away more easily. And place cards add a lovely personal touch. People love to see their name in print. I have a lot of easy ideas for place cards. Like these pine cone place cards, or these watercolor place cards we made for last Thanksgving.
A few more favorites today…and all in brown.
Brown is earthy, there’s so many gorgeous shades of brown and it goes with everything! I’ve been adding more brown in home decor and my wardrobe. Here are a few of my favorite things that are brown, plus this cardigan in brown from Quince!
From left: A faux sherpa bag 40% OFF at GAP. It looks great with jeans and hanging on a hook in my entryway. // A linen grain sack pillow cover from Parachute that’s 44% off. // Gorgeous coffee stoneware plates from Terrain. // From Perigold, a chocolate brown windowpane cashmere and lambswool throw. It’s cozy, soft and does not shed a bit! (Show on bench in first photo)// This beautiful natural and brown Remi rug from Quince! It comes in five sizes, we ordered an 8 x 10 and it’s $599. // Flannel PJ’s grom GAP in a chocolate brown stripe.
Gorgeous table!! We have hydrangeas but they are still small with not a lot of flowers…but I think they will some day. I want every single thing on your brown list!
Isn’t brown fabulous at the moment? And it goes with everything from black to blue!
Annie I meant to feature that sherpa bag last week from Gap! I had it on my list and forgot it. So fun for a great price! Your tablescape is absolutely gorgeous. I am always so jealous of your hydrangeas.
Isn’t that bag great? My hydrangeas are short lived at the moment, one windy day and they would be gone! But they are the most gorgeous shade of brown right now!
Hi Annie,
Gorgeous fall table thank you for the ideas! I love my Quince dark brown boyfriend cashmere cardigan and like you I am on a serious brown kick at the moment! Love that brown rug you purchased! Picked up a chocolate brown cashmere scarf wholesale while in London and wore it on the plane back with my denim shirt feeling very trendy and warm.
Happy week:)
Hi Francesca! After you said you loved your brown boyfriend cashmere sweater, I ordered it in brown! I love it and wear it so much more than my cream one! I’ll bet brown with brown and denim looked amazing! So chic! How was your trip to London?
Very thought provoking post. Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoy your round white table inside your home.
What is the size?
Could I seat 4 chairs comfortably at this size table?
I.need inexpensive.
Any suggestions on where to shop for one?
Thank you!
Hi Ethel, my white round Saarinen is 42″ and you can easily seat 4 or even 5. Are you near an Ikea? They have some great opotions for dining chairs at very reasonable prices!
I’m a tablescape addict. Though as a 60 YO I realize we didn’t use that word when I first became enthralled, at my grandmother’s table. My husband is a chef and we owned a restaurant for many years so I was able to find creative outlets beyond my own tables at home. And now I have a Pinterest board with thousands of images that make me swoon! Love your blog and your style, thank you!
Love your table setting! You have an incredible talent pulling it together. Beautiful name tags – so simple but elegant.
Annie! Your fall table is lovely! I adore the color palette and your centerpiece arrangement … wow. xo
This is exactly the kind of guide I’ve been looking for in preparation for Thanksgiving. As always, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Amelia! I love to use seasonal garden flowers…even if they are dried hydrangeas! Although we are getting close to having no flowers left in the garden, but there’s always evergreens and branches!