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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
