How to Style an Autumn Tablescape
After an unseasonably mild autumn for many of us in the northern hemisphere, the sharp drop in temperature signals that it’s time to cosy up indoors, light candles and gather round the table for the warmth of a convivial feast.
Whether you’re planning an intimate birthday bash or an opulent Thanksgiving banquet, making merry with friends or rustling up a cosy supper for two, an elegantly set table will elevate even the simplest of meals - a candle on the table at breakfast is a wonderful thing!
As we gear up for the festive season, this is the perfect time to polish your tablescaping skills. I like to host an autumnal dinner party before the end of the year gets really crazy (although in truth I feel as though we’re already there).
With the onset of winter comes a yearning for creating cocooning spaces and embracing the feeling of hunkering down with soft blankets beside an open fire. We’re naturally paying a bit more attention to our indoor surroundings, which often determine our mood. On the table, for me, it’s about embracing natural textures with flowers (dried and fresh) and my favourite ceramics, then adding the twinkle of fairy lights and flickering candles.
My Dad and I worked together on some new plate and bowl designs over the summer and, after a few trials and tribulations in the firing process, the finished sample pieces came out of the kiln last month. I’m so pleased with the way they’ve turned out, with their subtle etched design and tactile finish.
I couldn’t wait to get started pairing them with some of our existing designs and trying them out the table with the new placemats I’d made with fabrics chosen specifically to compliment them. I’m not keen on the “matchy matchy" look, and I love the way that they combine beautifully with our current plate collections without looking like they come from the same set. The two contrasting print fabrics of the (reversible) placemats help with a more mismatched vibe.
I added a pinky taupe checked table cloth and some linen napkins that I dyed with avocado stones years ago that are still going strong, some contrasting pale blue taper candles and mini dried flower wreaths in fall shades, with tiny twiggy bits covered in tangerine berries. Some dreamy dahlias mixed with dried grasses in one of our large Clevedon jugs provided a gorgeous pop of autumnal colour.
Throughout the darkest months of year, there’ll be candles and fairy lights everywhere in my home. I really don’t believe you can have too many. As well as the candles on the tables, this year I decided to weave strings of outdoor fairy lights around the dried seed heads of the plants outside the window to bring a warm, atmospheric glow to table gatherings.
As the cold creeps in and the days become shorter, winter is a time when we look to keep our spirits lifted. It’s been another tough year and now more than ever we want to connect with friends and family, to help keep us grounded and remind us of what’s important. For me, making those gatherings around the table even more delightful with simple, artful decoration and a relaxing atmosphere will make them all the more memorable.
My Autumn Table Tips: Five Ways to Create a Cosy Autumn Tablescape
Plan ahead - leave time to have a play, and create a feast for the eyes with colourful table linen and simple bunches of dried and fresh flowers that have been carefully selected to work in harmony
Look to nature for colour inspiration and pick out earthy, autumnal colours. Search for seasonal foliage in your garden or hedgerows - now is the perfect time as the colours start to change
Try using lightly scented foliage and woody winter herbs such as rosemary in your floral arrangements for added seasonal vibes
Put on a playlist of ambient, relaxed tunes and light scented candles ahead of time to create an inviting atmosphere when your guests arrive
Lay blankets and sheepskin throws over the back of chairs and soften with cushions