Muted Colors for a Casual yet Sophisticated Fall Gathering
I can’t tell you just how much of a pleasure it is to finally have guests gather at my table to share a meal and enjoy each other’s company! After the past year with everyone locked inside, I feel a sense of freedom and am ready to celebrate good company.
Designing a fall table brings me such joy. The warmth of the indoors against the cool crisp Autumn days makes it always feel cozy and comforting inside. Add a roaring fire in the fireplace, and you have perfection!
Today, I’m having my daughter visit from Washington, DC, and a few of my friends want to see her catch up. I’m so excited!
I wanted to design my table with a look and feel casual with a touch of elegance.
Since I am starting with a soft fall theme for my table, I first select the flowers that will be the centerpiece. Honestly, it is always the way I start my table designs! I love flowers, and I get the most pleasure when decorating a table. I wanted to use lovely, muted colors representing the vibrant foliage I see outside my windows.
I chose salmon-colored roses and filled in with varied shapes, colors, and sizes using dahlias and chrysanthemums. I picked some hydrangeas that were changing color outside to add to the bouquet. My vase is an antique Waterford crystal I purchased at an antique store, and it is just the right size for a small table gathering. Once we eat, I remove the centerpiece and put in small bud vases of roses.
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”
DESIGN TIP: The rule of thumb that designers follow is always to make your centerpiece low enough for everyone to see each other across the table. Often, I create statement centerpieces and remove them once we are ready to eat. I love serving family style and will bring dishes to the table, and I need room to serve them. That is where the bud vases come in. I add to my bud vases some of the same flowers from my centerpiece and then place them here and there to create a picturesque table while serving my meal. It’s a win-win!
I went back and forth to see whether I wanted to use a linen tablecloth, a runner, or both. I chose just the runner since I love the warmth of my wood table and wanted it to create a more casual feel. I then moved on TO the napkins. I started with a light pink but instead chose a more colorful plaid that worked well with my centerpiece. They had just the slightest strip of green in the napkin, which brought the runner INTO the color scheme.
To add depth and layers, I added some of my favorite dishes. I started with a casual Juliska charger and plate and layered it on my Pearl Casa Nova dessert plate and soup bowl. I often mix and match place settings to add texture and visual interest to my tablescape. Although all the dishes are white, the contrasting patterns and textures bring interest and depth to the place setting. The use of antique and new patterns
brings richness to the table.
Design TIP: Designers often go rummaging into old antique stores to find linens. There is nothing like antique linen napkins and tablecloths. I love the softness that years of use have brought to them. The more you use them, the softer they are. They are exquisite. When you buy them at an antique shop, they are generally much less expensive than new ones.
“When layering a table design you bring in just a bit of formality and elegance.”
Fill the empty space found in the TABLE’S CENTER with flowers, small candles, and tiny pumpkins. Although these flowers and OTHER decor are muted in color for fall, they add a sweet pop of color that creates a Casual yet Sophisticated Fall look.
Design Tip: Design your table from the outside in. The negative space that you are left with in the middle of your tablescape will be surprising to you at times. I have been left amazed at times by how much room PLACE settings, glasses, flatware, and napkins take up. OFTEN, the space in the middle will be either much smaller or larger than you anticipated. From there, you can effectively decide on the size of your florals as well as other decor needed in the middle. This is when I assess how much more or less color I need for my table.
This delicious pumpkin and ginger soup is such a beautiful color and is super flavorful. I served it with homemade biscuits, arugula, sliced apple, and grilled chicken salad, and finished with a pumpkin roll for dessert.
You can find my recipe for my family’s all-time favorite biscuits here.
OLD FASHION BISCUITS
Delicious Pumpkin Roll Dessert
Click on the picture to go to the recipe. It is really delicious!
The pumpkin roll was relatively easy to make. My only recommendation is to mix the cream filling lightly until completely incorporated. You want to have a firm consistency. The flavor of the cake and filling is light and filled with fabulous fall spices. YUM! Your guests will love it.
Warm soup and decadent desserts filled with pumpkin, brown sugar, and cinnamon warm my soul when cold outside. Nothing is better than using fresh produce such as pumpkins, apples, and squash to create a delicious meal.
“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”
Relax and enjoy the video
A complete design is all about the details. add a few items that will allow THE tablescape to flow throughout, giving it a cohesive look and feel. I added different hues of fall colors along with pumpkins that coordinate with the centerpiece. In this photo, I added a french tablecloth and removed the runner TO give an example of what the table would look like when adding a bit more formality, and It takes on a different look.
““May peace, love and prosperity follow you always.” ”
A gathering is about the people you bring to your table, sharing laughter and creating memories. Designing a table to represent who you are is the key. Use your imagination and bring things to your table that represent what you think is beautiful. Pick a few colors from accent pieces, as I have done on this table. Bring those colors to the rest of your tablescape using flowers, napkins, and other decor. That’s it! It’s all you need. Get creative and have fun with it!
Muted Autumn Colors
As with everything I post on my blogs, if you have any comments or questions, please leave them here or email me through my contact page. I would love to hear from you and welcome you anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining, my friends!
Mary
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
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