Autumn Tablescape Tips

August 22, 2024 187 Comments

22 Aug

Setting a tablescape for Autumn with tips to build a lovely centerpiece is the topic today.

Centerpieces can be easy to make for your table! They don’t have to be expensive or elaborate to be lovely and elegant.

tips for tablescape

#1. Use what you have

#2. Use faux florals plus natural elements

#3. Add different colors in the centerpiece that complements your china and table linens

#4. Don’t skip over previously unused elements; reenvision how to use them

tip #1 Use what you have

I used my white china with a gold rim. Sage is a popular color, a neutral. These soft sage placemats, soft sage green placemats, a Christmas gift several years ago were a wonderful base for this Autumn tablescape.

I have lots of pottery choices in natural tones to incorporate courtesy of my studio art major daughter.

The unexpected pairing of Lenox Autumn china plates with the vintage gold trimmed salad plate is really highlighted by sage placemats. The combination is a perfect base for the tablescape.

Sage Placemats for placesetting with china and silver — Sage Placemats

tip #2 use faux and natural elements

fall tablescape elements purple clusters and red berry faux stems, apples,mercury glass votives, candlesticks,pottery pieces — fall tablescape

Do you have mercury votives tucked away in your Christmas decorations? Pull them out to use for Thanksgiving. In fact, these small votives add so much to any table!

I also took into consideration our Thanksgiving turkey and fruit motif china with several colors to accent when choosing new colors. Think of it as the same a building your wardrobe. I also knew I have a variety of colors in my table linen collection including my neutral linen table cloth.

I always use the turkey dishes on Thanksgiving Day. I bought them at an action years ago. At first my family thought they were a bit hokey but no more.

I wanted to add purple and maybe red, not deep burgundy this year. At Michael’s I found two long stems to use. Dusty purple and red cherry stems were my choices. Always check for Micheal coupons. Take advantage of military and teacher discounts. This and fresh candles were added to my stored decorations.

Use fresh fruit or vegetables. Eat them later!

tip #3 add different colors that complement what you have

I looked to nature’s richness of the autumn. Intense red and dusty purple colors may not seem like they would go together but they do! There are so many colors and shades to chose from!

These colors look very pretty with the soft sage backdrop placemats. I’ll use them when I set the table with the Turkey plates. It’s a simple switch.

tip #4 don’t skip over previously unused elements

fall tablescape place setting with candle light — fall tablescape place setting

I tried the gold rim white china by itself. Nope! It just didn’t look good. So I went to my all season Lenox China, Autumn. Wow! Did it ever work well, to my surprise! A combination I have never tried.

Sometimes, all we need is a fresh look at the old and familiar.

The green in the trim is a match. I missed that before.

building the centerpiece

Having the basic base color with the sage placemats set for the backdrop was the first part of building the tablescape.

hand thrown brown pot with gold leaves and candlesticks — Making the Centerpeice

Tall candlesticks are a tradtional touch to any tablescape. These brass ones are covered with shell pieces that are shiny and add another texture with color to the centerpiece.

fall tablescape elements purple clusters and red berry faux stems

As a base for the arrangement, I put the purple berry clusters end to end. I did not cut the stems. The length is equal to the two long stems added together. To cover where the stems overlapped in the middle I added red berry clusters. I stripped them off the red berry stem. They came right off with a tug. They were only wrapped to the stem.

I tucked each one to cover the middle section taking care to cover bare overlapping stems. It also adds a little height and dimension to the arrangement.

From the kitchen I grabbed 5 apples to randomly tuck in the stems for a natural element and to highlight the fall colors.

Another versatile element is mercury glass votives. I placed them at random intervals in between the purple berry clusters. The subdued color fits with the elegant feel of the centerpiece. I like using odd numbers often for table centerpieces and vignettes.

hand thrown pottery vase in centerpiece — hand thrown pottery vase

The ceramic pot and vase with the shiny brown and individually crafted leaves with gold brushed paint were the final touches that made this centerpeice something extra special. There are Amy’s work.

No shiny ceramics? Use rustic like wood pieces.

Balance and symmetry is important to consider when arranging your centerpiece. The length should be equal on each side or for a round centerpiece. The elements can be odd or even amounts.

It usually takes me a few tries to get just the right arrangment that is pleasing to the eye. A mistake I made in my early tries was to not have enough elements. My arrangements could look skimpy. Collecting those pieces thatI knew I could use repeatedly was done over time. Don’t forget natural elements from your kitchen and yard.

place settings

fall tablescape centerpiece with amber goblet

Next I finished the place settings with layered plates, silver and amber goblets. I had the fruit designed paper napkins left over from a previous year.

Fall Place Ssetting with vintage white china and Lenox China withvintage sliver — Fall Place Ssetting

I’ve used the chinas together before but with the addition of the sage placemats and fruit napkins, they made a beautiful autumn place setting. The white china is vintage. The Lenox china Autumn was a gift from my husband over several years! It was a favorite for many years; I just had to be patient. I bought my first piece, an oval bowl at a local auction years ago.

The finished tablescape is so pretty. With just two new faux stems I made this lovey centerpiece.

I enjoyed creating this Autumn tablescape for the coming season. Hope it inspires you when making your own!