10 Eye-Catching Autumn Table Settings

I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t love autumn. That brief respite before winter is meant to be enjoyed.

The 4-day Easter weekend provides ample time for you to enjoy the time off work. Along with the school holidays, it is an ideal time for people to host enjoyable meals at their favourite restaurants and cafes.

With its vivid colours and great weather, it is the perfect time to host a fun dinner with family and friends.

This is an opportunity to wow guests with bold colours that reflect nature. Feel free to use vivid reds, oranges and yellows. They will make for a cozy dining experience before you hunker down for winter.

It doesn’t matter whether you host the event at home, at a restaurant, or a cafe. There are some truly eye-catching table settings which will make the meal memorable. 

Proper table settings are a crucial part of any gathering. They set the mood for an exclusive dining experience. They may even provide conversation topics for your guests. 

Creating unique tablescapes does not have to be tedious or expensive. Let your creative juices flow and move away from everyday table settings.

What should you include in an autumn table setting? Let’s guide you through with these few tips.

Elements of an Autumn Table Setting

Fall is characterised by the changing colours of leaves. This creates a beautiful landscape that can be the inspiration for your tablescape.

Use these 3 elements for awesome autumn based table settings.

A. Warm Colours

Image from: Johannes Plenio

The colour palette for your table setting need not be dull. You can move away from the typical whites and neutral colours. Instead, use yellows, oranges and reds for inspiration.

By using these warm colours, you can create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests.

B. Foliage

Autumn is the time when trees shed their leaves, so what better way to reflect the season than to use the fallen foliage on your table?

Incorporate natural elements in your tablescape. You can place fruits and vegetables strategically on the table.

Plants to include are pumpkins, corn, squash, coloured leaves, apples and pears.

C. Centrepieces 

A centrepiece is the main attraction for any table setting. It serves as a decoration which matches and compliments the overall theme. 

Use natural materials to create your autumn-inspired centrepiece. You can keep it simple or make it festive. 

Take note of the size and proportions of the centrepiece in relation to the size of the table. Avoid overly large arrangements that block the view of people seated across from each other. 

Now that you know what to include in your autumn table setting, use these 10 ideas to inspire you to create an amazing tablescape.

1. Orange With a Splash of Blue

 

Orange is the go-to colour when it comes to decorating for autumn. It is vibrant and closely associated with the season but it can become overpowering. This is why it is advisable to use it alongside muted colours.

It might seem surprising, but orange works wonderfully with white and blue. They create an appealing table setting which is both warm and muted.

To create this setting, place an orange charger onto a white tablecloth. Depending on the shape of your table, the cloth can be round or square. Make sure you use quality tablecloths that do not stain easily and have a clear, bright colour.

Put a blue and white floral plate on the charger with a slight white trim of orange peeking out underneath. Match the plates with a teacup and saucer or a side plate if appropriate.

Instead of an overpowering centrepiece, make every place setting unique by placing a small pump-ke-mon on each plate. These small tiger pumpkins are especially popular for decorations with green and orange stripes.

You can get a bit creative with the decorations by using blue shot glasses filled with miniature orange flowers.

2. An Apple a Day…

Although these apples may not have much impact on your health, they are sure to give your dinner table a healthy boost of creativity. They give colour to any fall-inspired table setting.

Set your choice of tableware noting that it should match and not be too fancy. You want the apples to be the centre of attention.

For ambient lighting coupled with a unique centrepiece, apple candles are the perfect way to celebrate autumn.

Use various coloured apples ranging from bright green to dark red. The more shades you have, the more attractive the centrepiece.

Use a knife to scoop out an inch off the top of the apple. Place small candles in the hole and voila! Arrange the votives by colour down the centre of the table. You can also place some on wooden stands for added effect.

Another great idea from Southern Living is to create an apple topiary. For this high-impact centrepiece, check out this video below.

How To Make an Apple Topiary

3. Rustic Table Setting

Rustic tablescapes have always been popular and they are ideal for an autumn dinner table setting. With natural colours, they are compatible with the browns and creams of nature during autumn.

To get the look, place a burlap table runner as the base for your decorations. You could also opt for greenery or moss as the runner. Place small candles on the runner to create a cozy atmosphere.

The rustic table setting is not complete with a  picturesque centrepiece. Create a log decoration by simply drilling holes which can fit small candles. Embellish the log with small pumpkins, acorns and seasonal berries.

Check out these simple steps here. 

Accessories for rustic table settings can be made by substituting normal chargers with wooden stumps.

You can combine these with open weave rustic napkins which are currently very popular and available from Australian Linen Supply.

4. Pumpkins Galore

Image from Lauren Conrad

Pumpkins are a staple when it comes to autumn decorations. Create a pumpkin-inspired table by using different size pumpkins as the centrepiece.

Place a table runner or overlay along the length of the table. Alternatively, use dried leaves and lay them down in runner formation.

Match the colour of the runner with those of the pumpkins you choose. These may range from white, yellow, orange and green. Spice it up with other types of vegetables like butternut and squash.

For a unique addition, hollow out medium-sized pumpkins and use them as serving dishes. They not only form part of the classic tablescape, they are functional as well.

To top off the beautiful pumpkin theme, complete the look with a pumpkin vase. You simply need to make a hole through the centre of the vegetable and clean it with bleach. Insert a can or glass, filling it with flowers of your choice.

You can create ambience by placing a candle instead of flowers in the tin can. Hold it in place with dried beans or small rocks.

5. Metallic Autumn Tablescape

Metallic colours reflect autumn perfectly.

With a little metallic paint, you can turn any dinner table into a charming tablescape. Use a mixture of gold, silver, bronze and copper shades and paint your accessories. These can include candlesticks, miniature pumpkins and vases.

Use a neutral coloured runner and table wear. Pair the metallics with soft cream, beige and ivory plates and metal cutlery.

Scatter greenery between the shiny decorations to create an eye-catching contrast.

Create an exceptional centrepiece with dried corn by spray painting dried cobs of corn in gold, silver and copper.

Tie them together with golden raffia and insert flowers in the middle of the collection.

6. Mad for Plaid

For a modern twist to a traditional theme, use black and white plaid as the theme for your table setting. Darling Darleen gives the perfect tips to creating a black and white tablescape.

Use neutral coloured dinner plates and glassware.

The table runner is the most important part of this setting. On a plain tablecloth, place a checkered cloth that has been cut to fit the length of the table. You can use checkered towels to make a runner and create your own style.

For accessories, wrap pumpkins in checkered cloth and place on the table. You can also use scraps and wrap them around a white cotton napkin and the menu.

Place metallic or glass vases to bring a light shimmer to the tablescape.

7. Woodland Wonderland

These resplendent woodland themed table settings are ideal to channel the beauty of autumn. They are a combination of the rustic tablescape accessorised with plants, along with earthy tones and a warm colour palette.

Woodland table themes are intended to reflect a forest. Create this by using moss as a runner, or to cover the whole table. Fill the empty spaces with pumpkins, apples, acorns, gourds or candles for an earth-toned glow.

Keep with the ‘woodsy’ theme by placing brown or beige plates on rattan chargers. Add fern stems and branches between the accessories for a fresh, organic look.

For a distinctive centrepiece, create a terrarium with plants native to your area. It works to replace fresh flowers and can be used for all types of table settings. Learn how to make your own and wow guests with this quirky table decoration.

8. Flower Power

Flowers are not only for spring and summer. Autumn blooms are just as impressive. They offer the chance to create striking floral tablescapes. Usually used as centrepieces, flowers are the traditional go-to for decorating tables.

Use a short vase filled with sand or small rocks to keep the flower stems and twigs in position.

Accentuate the natural tones of the dried leaves with tall feathers or heads of dry wheat which give height to the arrangement. Include wildflowers such as dahlias, mums and amaranth for a unique look.

Wrap napkins with a dried flower bouquet made with a variety of flowers and feathers in different sizes. Tie the bouquet with twine and tie to a folded napkin.

9. Boho-Chic

Boho-chic decor describes the use of eccentric and unusual styles which make a statement. It is characterised by layers, textures and dyed textiles.

Although there are no set ‘boho’ colours, warm earthy colours are common. These are paired with deep metallics and jewel tones. For your table setting, use base colours such as browns, greens and greys. Accessorise these with bright purples, fiery oranges and royal blues.

Boho-chic table settings are all about mixing and matching. Incorporate unlikely accessories such as coloured glass bottles as vases and mismatched tableware.

The glasses and plates do not have to be the same shape or colour. Customise the boho-chic look to autumn by using cutlery in rich shades of brown and copper.

Use woven chargers to enhance the texture of each individual place setting. Lace and organza runners are great for a base upon which to lay your decorations.

For the centrepiece, use a flourish of fresh flowers set in terracotta vases surrounded by slim candles.

10. Autumn Harvest Tablescape

 

Celebrate the season of bounty with a harvest-themed tablescape. This table setting is simple for a relaxed and casual meal.

Feature seasonal produce available from any farmers’ market. Mix up different sized squash, pumpkins and other gourd variations. Choose 2 or 3 complementary colours so you do not end up with a hodgepodge of random decorations.

This table setting matched pale yellow butternut, blue-green shades and beige white with shades of red for contrast.

Set a linen or burlap runner down the middle of the table with the bigger pumpkins placed intermittently on top. Use a variety of smaller gourds between the larger ones. 

Weave branches between the vegetables to create a cohesive look.

Create ambience with candles placed in mini-pumpkins. Learn how to make them here.

Finish off the look with napkins that add a classic touch to this simple table setting.

Get to The Business of Entertaining

All these autumn-inspired table settings require high-quality linen. Be it napkins, tablecloths or table runners, you will need a reliable source for these materials.

Australian Linen Supply is sure to meet all your table linen needs. 

Contact ALS today and begin creating enjoyable autumn tablescapes.

 

Feature Image: Mat Brown