As thankful as I am to gather once again with friends and family this season — and to not have to eat Thanksgiving dinner outside while wearing masks and passing the hand sanitizer — my fall dining table doesn’t reflect that sentiment.
In fact, it falls flat.
So in a quest for ideas to spice up my fall table, I turned to Sur La Table, the 50-year-old entertaining and tableware retailer.
“I need a fall-iday refresher,” I told Natalie Rodgers, Sur La Table’s senior director of merchandising for the entertaining division.
“In normal times,” she said, “the second half of the year is when hosts start to elevate their dining tables and make the everyday more formal. But this year, people are more excited than ever to gather and are ready to pull out all the stops. That doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy anything new. You can use what you have and what is in your backyard.”
All that sounds grand. However, before you get too carried away, heed this: It’s really easy to make a fall table look like a pumpkin-pilgrim mashup. Turkey-themed plates next to pumpkin-print napkins wedged into pilgrim-hat napkin rings on a tablecloth dusted with fall leaves can look like yesterday’s giblet stuffing.
So, I asked Rodgers to talk us through how to set a beautiful fall-iday table from scratch. Here’s our checklist for a fantastic holiday table.
Balance the blend. Mixing patterns and textures is what makes a seasonal table come to life, but it’s also where hosts get in trouble, Rodgers said. “Not everything should have a pattern. If you are using heavily patterned linens, balance them with plain, simple dinnerware. Conversely, if you have patterned dishes, use simpler linens in solids, checks or plaids.”
Start with your linens. Though it’s tempting to nab those pumpkin-patterned table linens, choosing solid or plaid tablecloths, runners and cloth napkins in fall colors (brown, gold, rust, plum, olive) will give you more flexibility. Using darker linens can set light-colored dishes off nicely. Choose color combinations that work with the rest of your home’s décor.
Formal or casual? A tablecloth will create a more formal look and is a great way to dress up a rustic table. For a less formal feel, a table runner in a fall color can be enough. Try making your own fall runner out of burlap, which adds interest and texture. You can also layer a runner in a contrasting color over a tablecloth to add drama.
Charge it. Placing a charger under a dinner plate instantly says, “special occasion,” Rodgers said. Round chargers made of woven abaca, seagrass or rattan work especially well on fall tables.
Put a ring on it. Seasonal napkin rings are another opportunity to elevate an everyday table for a holiday. Again, napkin rings don’t have to be adorned with faux fall leaves or stenciled turkeys. They can reflect the essence of fall through color.
Add the settings. Five-piece flatware settings are another hallmark of a well-dressed table. Put away the everyday tumblers and pull out the stemware for wine and water.
Look to nature. “Leverage what’s readily available, natural and in season,” Rodgers said. “I love the idea of incorporating seasonal produce from the grocery store, like pomegranates, gourds or fresh pears into table décor. I also like looking in the yard for branches to lay across the table.” (Wash them first.)
All eyes center stage. Your centerpiece is the focal point, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. The most successful centerpieces keep to a tight color palette or even a single color. Try making a simple fall floral arrangement out of yellow or orange chrysanthemums or marigolds. (Remove leaves to get rid of their smell.) If the table is long, place two or three simple floral arrangements down the center. A cornucopia overflowing with squash, figs, artichokes, acorns and greenery is a traditional favorite. Whatever you create, keep arrangements low, so guests can see over them when seated.
Save room for the food. If you’re serving a buffet, centerpieces can be more elaborate. However, if you plan to put food on the table Norman Rockwell style, they may be in the way.
Last, layer in candles. Whether tapers, pillars or votives, candles add magic and ambience to any table. Nestle them into your tablescape where you can, but be sure they’re unscented, so they don’t compete with the food.
Marni Jameson is the author of six home and lifestyle books, including “Downsizing the Family Home – What to Save, What to Let Go.” Reach her via www.marnijameson.com.
