Simple Tips for Creating a Modern Fall Place Setting

I hope I’m not the only one blown away by the fact that it’s already the end of October. It feels like yesterday was the start of summer, yet here I am, writing this as the leaves are turning yellow and starting to cover the ground. If you’ve been following along with me on Instagram, we just recently moved into our new home in June. It’s been a busy summer getting settled in, all the while tackling a few renovations and minor upgrades.

As the season changes, I love tweaking my decor around the home to reflect the fall season. The smallest changes really make a big difference, and you don’t need to redecorate your home from top to bottom to welcome the new season.

One of my favorite fall areas I love to decorate is the dining room. Most tend to decorate the dining table for Thanksgiving Dinner, but why not have a beautiful Fall table throughout the cozy season and not just for special occasions? This year, I decided to do a modern minimalist fall table setting and create a simple table that is elegant, yet neutral. I wanted something clean for the season, also something simple to put together…just for my partner and I to enjoy.

If you are looking ahead for some Holiday inspiration, check out this easy DIY Winter Table Setting.

In this post, I’ll be sharing some of my top tips a creating a beautiful Fall table or Thanksgiving Table and sharing simple (and inexpensive) centrepiece ideas. Let’s get to it!

Tip 1: Shop at Home…

The first thing I always do when setting up a tablescape for either a dinner party or a seasonal place setting is to shop at home. Have a look around the house and gather items that might have wooden accents, gold and brass pieces, your favorite vases and some pillar candles. The possibilities are endless when creating a beautiful centrepiece for your dining room table. I don’t have any fall decorations per se, but I do have a variety of home decor accessories that can easily be placed together for a more rustic, moody and cozy feel.

Some of my favorite items to grab around the house to create a simple fall centrepiece are:

• Old Books, everyone has an old book or two that looks antique. If not, a thrift store is a great place to buy them for very inexpensive.
• Table Runner, having a neutral-colored table runner is always practical to have on hand. Great color options that work all year round for various seasons/themes are beige, cream (or off-white), light grey, and natural linen.
• Votive Candles or Candle Sticks, you can’t go wrong with some candles on your table. I love to mix and match candle stick holders on a pretty table.
• Small Decor Accessories, small vases, bottles, metal objects (like knots), little modern figurines or objects, wooden bead garlands, faux floral stems or greenery.
• Throw Blankets, perfect to add a cozy look to a dining chair or bench! You can even use it as a tablecloth or table runner if needed!

Don’t have a table runner? use a throw blanket or blanket scarf. Just bunch it up to create some texture.

Tip 2: Go for Neutral & Natural…

Let’s face it, home decor trends change just as fast as fashion trends. The thing that never goes out of style is natural elements. I’m talking linen, wood, pottery, woven baskets, and cement bowls. Choosing neutral colors and textures will go a long way in home decor longevity.

For this simple table setting, the color scheme that I chose to do was a neutral fall color palette with creams, oranges and beige. I chose cream linen cloth napkins and a beige tablecloth.

I even used these rattan glasses that I found on sale. While they would look great on a summer al fresco style table, when tied in with other natural elements, it works!

I also love to use woven placemats. I’ve used these ones from Ikea for the last few years. They are inexpensive and durable and I use them for everyday use as well as tablescapes for an easy way to create layers of texture.

Tablecloth hack:

I didn’t have a beige tablecloth, but I did have a beige curtain that I hadn’t used in years! Yup, I just cut it, hemmed it to clean up the cut edge a little bit, and voila!

Tip 3: Mix & Match

I love to mix and match when it comes to a beautiful tablescape. A simple way to elevate a table setting is to play around with different sets of dishes. I always like to start with white plates and then add a pop of color from another set. I like adding the color on top of the white since it automatically creates a focal point.

For a simple Fall table setting, I also love to mix and match different candle holders. My favourite combination for Fall is wooden candle stick holders mixed with a set of gold candle holders! Classic and simple. You can also layer in some glass bottles or a simple white vase or two to add some extra height to your table.

Add an extra layer of cozy by placing a few throw pillows on every other chair or hanging a plaid blanket off the back of one or two chairs. Fall is the start of the Holiday season, so make it cozy and keep it around for the upcoming winter weather.

Tip 4: Use Seasonal Items

I love floral arrangements on tablescapes, but sometimes you want something that will last for a few weeks! My favourite way to add a rustic touch to the overall look is mixing some faux items with different styles of fresh fruit or vegetables.

I decided to use some pears since I had a bunch on hand, and just loved how it looked clean and minimal.

Heirloom pumpkins, faux pumpkins and little pumpkins (fresh) are also a great way to do this, but some other creative ideas I love to add to make a stunning Fall table are:

• white pumpkins and gourds
• pine cones
• pomegranates
• apples
• pears
• different varieties of squash
• fallen leaves collected outdoors
• fresh greenery, like eucalyptus

I hope this inspired you a little to decorate a gorgeous tablescape of your own this Fall season with my simple ideas. Tag me on social media if you do, I would love to see what you create!

Hope you all have a wonderful Fall season!

– Christopher