Fall Dining Room Table Decorating Ideas

MIKE GARTEN

Fall is on the way, and that means you're probably getting ready to host at least one festive dinner party for family and friends. The best way to set the scene? A killer fall tablescape, complete with seasonal centerpieces and place settings. But you don't have to buy all new tableware to make it feel autumn-appropriate—we've got you covered with plenty of creative and festive ideas to decorate your fall table for dinner parties (even if it's just you and one other person this year).

table set for fall dinner party

Mike Garten

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Lay Seasonal but Unexpected Fruit

Incorporate fall fruits, like figs. Though they're in season, they're also a little less expected and, thus, more sophisticated than the go-to pumpkin decor. Extra points if you can find matching plates.

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Cheetah Is the New Black

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Let Napkins Hang Loose

This fall dinner party hosted by Alicia Lund is effortlessly chic, thanks to the loose, hanging napkins tucked under the plates. The splatter paint cups also add a chic contemporary edge.

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Sara Ligorria Tramp

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Prep the Coffee Table

If you're serving appetizers in the living room, don't forget to prep your coffee table with the right fall decor. Emily Henderson optimized this one for seasonal entertaining with rustic coasters, dried florals, and a fall candle.

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Trevor Dixon

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Decorate With Jewel Tones

This table setting features fall colors like red and purple, but then it also introduces splashes of blue, green, and pink for a unique spin. The gold flatware is a perfect finishing touch.

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furniture, room, interior design, red, living room, property, table, house, floor, wall,

Rachel Whiting

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Simplify the Color Scheme

To make your rustic farmhouse table a little dressier for the seasonal brunches, add a voluminous, laid-back floral arrangement, French linens, and just a few hues to keep it simple. Here, the focus is on the colors taupe, gray, and crimson.

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Cheetah Is the New Black

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Set a Rustic Spread

An early fall al fresco dinner party is the perfect way to transition to the new season. Plus, it's always a good call to take it outside and enjoy the weather while you still can. And instead of flowers, use large candles and fall fruits like pears to animate the table.

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Manuel Rodriguez

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Go Blue

A rich, blue tablecloth makes neutral plates pop. Add fresh flowers for even more color and stick to an earthy palette with your plating and napkins to even it out.

BUY NOW Cotton Lexington Tablecloth, $35

outdoor dining table decorated for fall

MIKE GARTEN

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Bring Blankets

If you'll be dining al fresco someplace chilly, don't forget to provide everyone with cozy blankets and throws. This will also make the atmosphere feel warmer and more inviting.

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Nicole Franzen

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Use Wildflowers

Liven up a country kitchen or rustic breakfast buffet table this fall with bright yellow wildflowers. An antique vase will make the table look like it has a story to tell, perfect for facilitating the conversation. It's the perfect fall centerpiece when you want the meal to feel casual yet thoughtful and special.

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family table decorated for thanksgiving meal

Brian Woodcock

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Get Sentimental

Bring some sentimentality to your table by laying out old family photos as place cards for each dinner guest. It's such a nice way to honor and celebrate family members who are no longer with us and they can also serve as a memorable party favor (if you're willing to part with them/ made extra copies!). Or, use a polaroid camera to make new memories with your guests. It's a particularly fitting idea for Thanksgiving but would really elevate any fall table.

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halloween table decor

Sara Liggoria Tramp

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Elevate Halloween Hangs

Get your coffee table decked out for Halloween with just a few simple upgrades a la Emily Henderson: black painted branches, black candles, and a couple of festive pieces like a faux spider or pumpkin. Don't forget the cheeseboard and coasters!

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table set for fall

MIKE GARTEN

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Accessorize With Found Objects

Accessorize with found objects, but spruce them up first to add character and polish. For example, use metallic gold paint to transform an average old pebble into a glitzy place card and pomegranates into a centerpiece. We also love how this table features a vintage rug as a tablecloth.

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winter and fall table decor

Sara Liggoria Tramp

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Get Ready for Winter

For a late fall/ early winter tablescape, take note of this breakfast decorated by Emily Henderson. The mini fir trees and figurines set the scene and are neutral enough to represent the transition time between seasons.

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Amy Neunsinger

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Play With Pattern

Granted, all this pattern would be overkill if the tablecloth, napkins, and plates were different colors, but if you keep everything in the same color family, it can actually work beautifully. Plus, opposites attract, so the orange and blue contrast is color theory perfection.

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Abigail Bobo

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Have a Picnic

Thanksgiving at a table? Not even close to groundbreaking. Switch it up this year and have a picnic, with a soft and romantic tablescape. Or, if you want to keep your holiday tradition, well, traditional, then try the picnic look at the table for a more casual fall dinner party.

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Courtesy of Sugar and Charm

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Classic Decor + Unconventional Colors=Perfection

Transitioning your table from summer to fall is literally as easy as adding in a few mini pumpkins. If you want it to feel more elegant, go for white instead of orange. And try an unconventional pop of color, like light pink. See more of this pretty tablescape at Sugar and Charm.

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fall table decor

Allisonn Gootee

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Try Feathers

Layer on all the patterns but keep things classic and sophisticated with timeless designs, like harvest motif plates, metallic accents, an orange paisley-print tablecloth, and gingham napkins. Then, for the centerpiece, create an elaborate fall-hued floral arrangement. In this one styled by Robert Rufino, the feathers enhance its dramatic beauty even further.

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fall table with gold pumpkin decor

Sara Ligorria Tramp

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Use Metallic Pumpkins

Bring some high-shine fun to your Thanksgiving table with metallic pumpkin centerpieces, as Emily Henderson did here. The inky black candlestick holders bring in an unexpectedly moody touch—perfect for the cooler months.

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Dana Gallagher

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Go Farmhouse Chic

Here's proof that simple can be just as stunning as over-the-top. Keep your table rustic and pared-down, then add in pops of color with purple placemats and orange napkins. And let the food double as decor (figs are always a good call).

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Ingalls Photography

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Have Fun in the Field

This pretty outdoor setup is in the Woodstock, Vermont, garden of Zoe and James Zilian, the ceramicists behind Farmhouse Pottery. The earthy textures and tones of their ceramic pieces blend in beautifully with the surroundings, and those potted plants on the table are actually edible. So if you're looking for fall centerpiece ideas that'll beautify the table while also adding some functional flavor (literally), take note. We think it's a fall table Joanna Gaines would totally approve of.

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Nicole Franzen

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Make Citrus Modern

Roses paired with citrus and wispy branches make for a dramatic and colorful centerpiece, no matter the season. Surrounded by black candles, this tablescape is the perfect blend of edgy and whimsical.

Table, Pink, Room, Wool, Textile, Furniture, Food, Interior design,

Ryan Liebe

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Add Colorful Succulents

Throw a fall party complete with colorful textiles, tiny cacti, and a geometric runner. Cute little succulents will liven up any spread and they're also a lot easier to take care of than florals. And why not throw in some pom poms?

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Nicole Franzen

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Go Green

With a bowl of apples in the center of the table and a green leafy bunch casually arranged in a pitcher, this table from Leanne Ford Interiors is effortlessly chic. It is apple season, after all, so why not let the little stone fruit steal the spotlight?

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Manuel Rodriquez

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Go for Flower Power

Florals in rich, deep colors will anchor a more whimsical country chic tableware set and tablecloth. With dainty painty flowers, these John Derian plates are channeling cheer and reflecting the floral theme throughout. The rattan chairs keep things casual and comfortable, too. Perfect for a fall table that doesn't feel overly thematic or seasonally specific.

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Cheetah Is the New Black

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Make Your Dessert Decor

A muted red tablecloth grounds this table by Alicia Lund while the wooden serveware sticks to the rustic, easy-going atmosphere. Keep it simple with a few pomegranates lining the center of the table.

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Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Add Cheerful Florals

Photographer/author Ngoc Minh Ngo collaborated with floral designer Nicolette Owen to design this cheerful table, complete with flowers in small containers of varying heights and styles. Mix in plenty of whites and opt for lighter shades of orange and yellow.

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Cheetah Is the New Black

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Give it a Southwestern Twist

A bright lilac linen table runner that compliments the pink salad plates is a nice, cheerful surprise and contrasts against the darker plates and wooden table. To keep your floral centerpieces interesting and laidback, simply lay the stems on the table as is. Then offset the flowers with decorative objects, like painted antlers, petrified wooden objects, tea light candles, and crystals, as Alicia Lund did here.

magnolia runner

Erika LaPresto

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Keep It Natural

Skip linens altogether and position magnolia leaves down the middle of your holiday table. The thick foliage creates a natural runner. Then fill a bowl with decorative corn, pomegranates, and pumpkins.

Green, Tablecloth, Table, Furniture, Garden, Botany, Backyard, Linens, Tree, Textile,

Paul Costello

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Mix Green and Brown

Start with a brown base in your tablecloth, then incorporate pops of green in your plates. Use tiny topiaries as your centerpiece for a nature-inspired tablescape. Of course, it looks beautiful outdoors, but you can also do it in your dining room as a way to bring the outdoors in.

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Cheetah Is the New Black

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Incorporate Fall Scents

Though it's best to use fragrance-free tea light votives on the dinner table, set the pre-meal scene with seasonally festive candles. And don't forget to put your floral arrangements on the mantle, console, and other surfaces throughout the space.