Coming up with fall table decor ideas that feel festive but not cliché can be harder than it seems. While some choose to lean completely into the season and all its signature tropes, others prefer to opt for subtle nods or unexpected details when decorating their fall tables.
If you’re looking for ideas, nature is always a good place to start. The season is synonymous with the colors found outdoors, and bringing them to your table is a sure-fire way to capture the mood and moment. Mary Hollis Huddleston, an author, expert entertainer and talented table-setter from Nashville, says she usually starts with the tablecloth, but this year, she designed three fall table decor ideas around her choice of dinnerware.
Sharing the looks with Livingetc, she explained how she styled paper and enamel pieces with more delicate china and glassware, to show how you can mix ‘high’ and ‘low’ pieces. “Two of the tables include enamelware plates which are great for outdoor entertaining, since they’re basically indestructible, but are a big step-up from paper plates,” she says. She also experimented with more unexpected fall colors and “mixed in food with floral centerpieces to show how you can offset the price of professional floral arrangements.”
Below, we’ve shared a breakdown of the three of Mary's table setting ideas, where to shop the looks, as well as 9 fall decor ideas for your table, and some frequently asked questions people have about styling fall centerpieces.
Fall Table Decor Ideas To Shop
Mary Hollis Huddleston is a master when it comes to designing tablescapes, and in the lead up to fall this year, has shared three designs with Livingetc, to help inspire your own seasonable table decor ideas. But not only that, she's also shared where you can shop the look, to make your fall entertaining even easier.
You can shop the look of her three fall table decor ideas for 2024, below, and read on to discover her top tips for setting your tables in style.
Price: from $20.50, Was: $29.50
Sizes: Small (6"), Medium (11"), Large (13")
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Price: $90, Was: $115
9 Fall Table Decor Ideas to Inspire Your Seasonal Settings
If you're after more fall table decor ideas, here are some thought-starters, from soft harvest looks to how to layer in autumnal accessories and even stylish Halloween decor, to dress your seasonal table in style.
1. Layer in natural textures and finishes
Fall has strong ties to the outdoors, and incorporating natural textures, fibers, and materials is a great way to celebrate the season. “Fall is the perfect time to bring in warm tones through natural elements like rattan, copper, and wood,” says Mary. “I love a woven placemat, copper flatware, and wood-grain patterns on dishes and linens.”
Another way to layer in textures is to use soft, linen home accessories like napkins, tablecloths, or runners — the natural material adds extra texture and will drape beautifully across the table. Plus, linen has a thickness to it that adds both depth and a sense of warmth.
2. Balance your patterns
The way you dress your table is an easy way to set the mood or add a touch of drama and 'wow-factor' to your event, but have you ever found that your table looks more cluttered than curated? The way to fix this is by balancing your patterns and prints with solid colors, says Mary.
"It's important to edit down patterns and prints and keep some things solid and more neutral to give your eyes a break when taking in all the decor," she explains. "I gravitate towards bold prints on tablecloths, so most of my placemats and napkins are solid colors, so I can layer them in without things looking too busy."
3. Pick seasonal flowers and foliage
Picking flowers for your table centerpieces doesn’t always have to mean an expensive trip to the florist. At the end of summer, Mary likes to cut any remaining hydrangeas in her garden to dry-out. “I use them constantly throughout the fall on my tablescapes when I don’t want to fuss with anything else,” she adds.
Fall foliage is another inexpensive alternative that can make a big impact. “Especially if it’s from your own garden,” adds Mary. “It’s an easy addition that can be styled on its own or included in a floral arrangement.”
4. Mix in fruits and vegetables
But you can also look beyond your garden beds and into your vegetable boxes, too. Mary likes to mix fruits and vegetables into her fall table centerpieces to offset the price of professional floral arrangements, as well as giving a small nod to the season.
“Miniature pumpkins and gourds can be clustered in mass down the center of the table or styled in small groupings,” she says. “Fruits in fall colors are also a surprising and unique addition to any fall table setting. I like to include pears, pomegranates, and apples in my fall tablescapes.”
Whether you cluster them down the center of the table, fill large bowls with them, or style individual pieces at each place setting to prop up a place card, “fruit substitutes nicely for traditional fall decor items, and adds warm colors and textures to a tablescape,” says Mary.
5. Add candles for a warm glow
Candles are a go-to for any table centerpiece, and fall is no exception. “Multiple candles in various heights clustered down a long table creates a warm and enchanting mood,” says Mary. “They’re also an affordable way to fill a tablescape.”
If you’re working with a narrow table, or are generally limited on space, Mary suggests opting for taper candles that add plenty of height and interest without taking up too much room. There are also plenty of twisted taper candles on the market these days, that add a further decorative touch. Then there's pretty tealights that flicker away in dainty candleholders, and more decorative candlesticks that can be layered into your scheme.
If none of that is possible, though, an easy lighting trick that helps set the mood is dimming the overhead lights, or forgoing them all-together and using the soft glow of nearby table lamps instead.
6. Set the table correctly
A good table starts with how it's set. There is, of course, the basic table setting principles of where your wine glasses would sit and the correct order to lay cutlery, but you also want to think about the way all the individual pieces you pick will look together.
Mary also has a little trick when it comes to this: "I will often add a charger plate on top of a placemat before setting the dinner and accent plates to add more layers. It might not be practical, but it's pretty," she says.
You also need to keep your centerpieces in mind when setting the table, and depending on the size, you may need to adjust accordingly. "For example, if the table is set for six people with three people on each side, there is room for two arrangements splitting the center," says Mary. "If the table is set for four people with two place settings on each side of the table, you are left with one main opening in the center of the table for a centerpiece."
7. Mix high pieces with low
Setting the table can seem like a costly exercise, but it doesn't have to be. For her tables this year, Mary made a point of mixing in high and low accessories, to prove that you don't have to spend a lot to be stylish.
In particular, she chose enamelware plates that "are perfect for outdoor entertaining, but are chic enough to use indoors to jazz up a more formal tablescape." She also incorporated paper napkins and other paper goods (like this plaid runner from Hester & Cook) into her looks. The best part: there's no need to worry about stains or things breaking!
8. Don't forget the finishing touches
And then there are the finishing touches that truly elevate a table setting. Personalized place cards are reasonably inexpensive — and easy to DIY — but can go a long way in making your guests feel welcomed and considered. For her fall table decor ideas this year, Mary opted for simple designs, including this pressed flower acrylic place card from Etsy, and this autumnal themed paper place card from Hester & Cook.
Etsy is a great place to source fall-themed place cards, with some designs starting from as little as 20 cents each.
And then there are your napkins. While linen designs are a beautiful, tactile touch, paper napkins can be elevated by the way you choose to fold them, or the designs you pick and how they layer with the overall look. We've previously shared three viral napkin folding tricks, if you're game to try.
One last thoughtful detail that doesn't take too much effort is having blankets on hand just in case the weather drops and your guests need something to stay cozy.
9. Try tasteful Halloween decor
And considering Halloween happens during fall, you can, of course, find ways to incorporate chic Halloween decor into your fall table ideas. The key is to play down the more kitsch and stereotypical pieces in lieu of more elevated, subtle nods to the season.
Pumpkins and gourds are a classic way, and while Mary has already mentioned using ones pulled straight from your garden (or grocery store), you can also try switching this for decorations, like woven or ceramic pumpkins instead.
A pumpkin planter can also be fashioned into something quite stylish, and makes for a great way to frame a table centerpiece come fall.
FAQs
What are the best colors for a fall table?
Nothing says fall like the typical seasonal color palette of rusty reds, cranberry, burgundy, gold, spiced orange, and earthy brown shades. And it may be obvious, but simply looking outside to the color of leaves still hanging to the trees, is a great way to find inspiration for the best fall table colors.
If you're worried about your table appearing too clichéd, you can always take a different approach. Pairing just one typical autumnal color with a crisp white makes it feel more fresh, while a touch of navy blue will add sophistication.
And don't forget about green. As seen in one of Mary's fall table ideas above, a fresh, minty green can be made to feel like fall when paired with a floral tablecloth and plenty of natural textures.
