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Autumn is officially here, and if you’re like most people, you’re pretty excited about it. Surveys say that 29 percent of Americans agree that fall is their favorite season. After the sweltering summer, it’s nice to have a time where temperatures begin to cool down.

Autumn is a beautiful season in many parts of the world. It’s hard not to love it. The trees are changing colors before our eyes. The air smells sweet and all our favorite holidays are on their way.

Seriously, all the best holidays are from October to December. While Independence Day and Valentine’s Day are important, nothing beats the fall holidays. They’re simply amazing.

The main way we celebrate quite a few of those holidays is around a table. After all, much of Thanksgiving consists of eating a huge meal with your family. It’s so big that many people start cooking weeks in advance. Everyone has a favorite part of the meal (hello, pumpkin pie).

If you’re hosting a meal for family and friends, you want your food to be delicious, of course. But you also want your table to look festive. Fortunately, there are tons of ways you can make that happen with a little creativity.

1. White pumpkins and neutral linens

You can find tiny pumpkins and gourds like this one at almost any grocery or hobby store this time of year. Add a layer of white chalk paint and you’ve turned them into a statement piece.

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Home Stories A to Z Source: Home Stories A to Z

2. Talk about exploding with color

If there’s one thing everyone loves about fall, it’s those vibrant colors on the trees. This table plays with that idea between the colorful pumpkin bowls, the bright candles, and the warm patterned dishware.

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Facebook/Cost Plus World Market Source: Facebook/Cost Plus World Market

3. That garland must be super fragrant

During the fall, you’ll see pumpkins of every size and shape on dinner tables. This design included big pumpkins entwined with a bay leaf garland. Now the table is beautiful and aromatic.

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One Kindesign Source: One Kindesign

4. The theme is “yellow”

You might not expect to see flowers on an autumn table, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them. This table uses the bright shades of yellow in the gourds and sunflowers to contrast with the dark flannel table runner.

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Dimples and Tangles Source: Dimples and Tangles

5. Playing with light to keep things bright

The days get shorter and darker during the fall, so we all need more light. This table is aglow with rose gold cups and candles, providing tons of reflective surfaces. Of course, there are also some gourds and rosemary for the plates.

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Modern Glam Source: Modern Glam

6. Neutrals for Thanksgiving — why not?

The recent trend is to steer away from garish colors on autumn tables. Instead, you can pair pops of color with relaxing neutrals. The result is still autumnal without being overbearing.

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Instagram/cherished_treasures_ Source: Instagram/cherished_treasures_

7. It’s okay to go dark

Some people like to lighten the table up a bit during the autumn season. Others enjoy drawing on the darker hues of the holidays. This table strikes a great balance of pops of color to avoid being too heavy.

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My Creative Happy Source: My Creative Happy

8. Don’t forget the fruits

Fruits, flowers, and foliage all have a place as table decorations. But fall fruits don’t get as much attention as they deserve. This table gives them a nod with its display of figs, pears, and grapes.

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Shades of Blue Interiors Source: Shades of Blue Interiors

9. Playing with pumpkins

There are all sorts of ways you can jazz up those little pumpkins for just a couple of bucks. This table decoration alternates white and metallic gold to create a color scheme that’s striking but still seasonal.

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Lindsey Grace Photography Source: Lindsey Grace Photography

10. For the rustic decorator

Rustic chic is a style that’s been “in” for many years and it seems it’s here to stay. This table gets the effect with elements of wood, wicker, rose gold, and of course, natural plant life.

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My Creative Days Source: My Creative Days

11. Bring on the orange

Orange is definitely a fall color that reminds us of those bright falling leaves. Combined with some metallic shades and dark candlesticks, it’s a beautiful way to set the table.

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Bozideas Source: Bozideas

12. We’re all about garlands

You don’t need a tablecloth for your table, and your table runner doesn’t have to be made of fabric. This runner is garland intertwined with gourds, flowers, and candlesticks.

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Home Stories A to Z Source: Home Stories A to Z

13. It’s positively homey

There’s nothing like the classic combination of red and green when decorating a table. This design draws on the palette with the natural foliage and cranberry branches. It’s gorgeous but not overwhelming.

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My Creative Days Source: My Creative Days

14. This is definitely a modern fall dining table

Say goodbye to the Thanksgiving tables you knew from your childhood. This one is striking, stylish, and modern. The unfinished wood table is the perfect setting for candles, gourds, and garland.

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Modern Glam Source: Modern Glam

15. It doesn’t have to be orange

Sure, autumn is associated with colors like red, orange, and yellow. But no one said you had to limit the color palette. Some pumpkins are blue, which was the basis for this table setting.

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The Crowned Goat Source: The Crowned Goat

16. A floral explosion for fall

Again, there’s no reason to neglect flowers during the fall. This beautiful vintage piece became the holder for a combination of bright flowers and white pumpkins.

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Sarah Joy Blog Source: Sarah Joy Blog

17. And it doesn’t have to be pumpkins

Pumpkins are the classic food of fall. And, they make beautiful decor pieces. But if you want to get that pop of orange another way, you can opt for persimmons instead. They’re still gorgeously vibrant — and many people find them much tastier.

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Country Living Source: Country Living

18. Work with what you’ve got

You might not think a log would work as part of a centerpiece, but it’s actually perfect for autumn. Combined with bright fall foliage, pinecones, corn, and gourds, it’s simple yet eye-catching.

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Jenna Burger Source: Jenna Burger

19. Distressed = perfect for fall

There are tons of genius ways to upcycle objects into beautiful pieces of decor. Even if they have some wear and tear, they’ll work well for autumn tables. Just look at these old buckets and how nice they look holding flowers.

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Stone Gable Blog Source: Stone Gable Blog

20. Big centerpieces make a statement

When it comes to centerpieces, there’s rarely a line for “too big.” As long as diners all have space for their plates, a big centerpiece — like this oversized trough — is a statement piece that’ll keep everyone talking.

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Stone Gable Blog Source: Stone Gable Blog

21. Thinking outside of the vase

This breathtakingly colorful centerpiece has something unique about it. Instead of a traditional vase, the flowers are held in a hollowed-out pumpkin. They’re secured in place with a bed of moss placed inside the bottom of the pumpkin.

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Jenny Steffens Hobick Source: Jenny Steffens Hobick

22. Runners can be made of anything

If you’re not a fan of traditional fabric runners, you can try a new idea. This crate of pumpkins, hydrangeas, and pussy willows is held on a table runner made of wood.

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French Country Cottage Source: French Country Cottage

23. Playing with neutrals and colors

You don’t need to limit yourself to a palette of one or two colors. In fact, the more your table varies, the more attractive it’ll be. This table plays with subtle shades of red, green, brown, cream, and gold.

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A Pumpkin and a Princess Source: A Pumpkin and a Princess

24. Don’t forget the classic fall fruit

There’s no doubt that the ultimate fall fruit is the apple. Not only are apples perfect for cider, roasting, and pie — but also decor. That bright red is a beautiful addition to any autumn table.

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Julie Blanner Source: Julie Blanner

25. Don’t limit your color options

Not a fan of the usual autumn colors or perhaps you want something different this year? It’s okay to play with other colors…like those in early autumn flowers. Combining them with wood or wicker is a great way to keep them from looking too summery.

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Craftberry Bush Source: Craftberry Bush

26. Don’t forget the candles

Candles are an important part of any fall table. If you have Thanksgiving dinner at 3 p.m., it won’t be long before it starts to get dark outside. You can put candles in mason jars and then nestle them among pumpkins for a cozy look.

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Pinterest Source: Pinterest

27. Why overthink it?

Sure, you can make an elaborate centerpiece if you’d like, but there’s no need to. A few pumpkins arranged the right way with the appropriate finishing touches — this decorator used stalks of wheat — can be lovely.

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Rooms for Rent Blog Source: Rooms for Rent Blog

28. It almost looks like a forest in the snow

This table consists of neutral colors interspersed with shades of natural wood for a truly beautiful effect. They decorator opted out of using flowers and instead, used some branches.

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Love Grows Wild Source: Love Grows Wild

29. Sometimes all you need is a simple flower arrangement

A few branches with some berries, four hydrangeas, and three white pumpkins. That’s all this fall table needed to look complete. And incidentally, it’s absolutely gorgeous.

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Life on Summer Hill Source: Life on Summer Hill

30. We live for splashes of color

The only thing more striking than a neutral palette is a neutral palette with one or two pops of color. This table would be breathtaking on its own, but that pumpkin centerpiece full of flowers is stunning.

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Maison de Pax Source: Maison de Pax

31. Straight from the garden

Autumn is a great time for bringing the outdoors inside your home — even onto your dining room table. These planter pots and pumpkins look like they came right from a garden bed.

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Liz Marie Blog Source: Liz Marie Blog

32. Who needs real pumpkins?

Maybe you’re not the kind of person who wants to buy pumpkins every year, instead, preferring to pull them out of storage. These velvet pumpkins are just as attractive as the real thing.

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Maison de Pax Source: Maison de Pax

33. Keep it simple and striking

Here’s a good trick when you don’t have the energy for anything complicated. Keep your centerpiece simple, but make sure it’s still big enough to make your table stand out.

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Instagram/bigfamilylittlefarmhouse Source: Instagram/bigfamilylittlefarmhouse

34. Everything about this reflects “fall”

This table is so perfectly autumnal that you’d be hard-pressed to beat it. The pumpkins, wood, and candles are perfectly offset by the large display of autumn flowers and foliage.

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Instagram/bigfamilylittlefarmhouse Source: Instagram/bigfamilylittlefarmhouse

35. The squirrels won’t mind giving up a couple of acorns

This table uses a classic autumn centerpiece that plays with pumpkins and pinecones. But it has a unique feature that’s sure to impress guests: DIY acorn napkin rings.

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One Kindesign Source: One Kindesign

36. This table is both elegant and festive

This table decor draws on polished and rustic elements. It has silver candleholders and delicate china. But it also has a forest feel from the garland, pinecones, and wooden planks.

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One Kindesign Source: One Kindesign

37. Eating dinner on a forest carpet

This table ups the forest theme with a table runner made of moss. Plants are everywhere, even printed on the plates themselves.

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One Kindesign Source: One Kindesign

38. Burlap can be a tablecloth, too

When it comes to rustic inspirations, burlap’s no longer a cheap and ugly fabric. It can be beautiful and versatile. Here, it’s the perfect foundation for this intricate centerpiece.

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One Kindesign Source: One Kindesign

39. Use what nature gives you

In the fall, it’s easy to get your hands on natural decorations. Just walk outside and grab the most vibrant leaves you can find. They’ll add a pop of color to a neutral table.

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One Kindesign Source: One Kindesign

40. Here’s an out-of-the-box design

This autumn table is super unique. It doesn’t use a traditional “fall” palette but rather, it goes for bright colors and lots of flowers and fruit. It’s lush and inviting.

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