Cozy Fall Tablescape

After last year, which was full of over-buying and over-spending, I promised myself that this year I would use as much of what I already had as possible. In fact, my previous blog post was dedicated to this subject – click here to read more about my change in spending habits and perspective.

Now, there is something you should understand about my tablescapes: They are for fun only. They never get used. We have exactly one table in our house, plus a 3-year-old and a 19-month-old. Tablescapes don’t work for meals – ha! But I enjoy creating them nonetheless, and my husband sweetly hung out with the kids and gave me some time last weekend to create and photograph one.

Last year I went very neutral for Fall, but this year I wanted something warmer and cozier. I decided on a woodland theme. I found a roll of 14″ wide burlap I had on hand and cut it to length to make a runner for our table.

My next step after placing a runner or tablecloth on the table is always to put out the place settings. After all, if people were really going to eat here they should have plenty of room to enjoy their food without knocking over the candles or centerpiece!

We have a few different types of plates in our house, but I decided to go with our everyday white plates for a simple base. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers use lovely gold flatware for Fall and Winter. While that would be beautiful and definitely add to the cozy vibe, we don’t have any gold flatware and I wasn’t about to run out and buy some. We have one set of flatware and we use it for everything. It’s a great versatile set which we received as a wedding gift, and I love it!

The water goblets were also a wedding gift – I hope to actually use them more in the future, but for now they get pulled out only for tablescapes!

I actually bought the green plaid napkins during an after-Christmas sale last year at Hobby Lobby! They may have been labeled as Christmas, but I think they totally work for a cozy woodland Fall theme as well! I can’t find them anywhere online, but these or these would also be super cute. Never stick to seasonal labels – items are much more versatile than stores want you to believe!

I’ve had those tan burlap pumpkins for years – they were a Target dollar spot find. They are no longer available and I couldn’t find a single similar thing to link for you, but I’m sure Target has something in the dollar spot again this year. Or you could snag some real pumpkins and gourds from the grocery store or produce stand. Or you could use something entirely different that you already have!

The dried branches and stems in the center of the table are from a disassembled Homegoods bouquet. I never used it, so I gently pulled it apart and used just the sticks, dried flowers, and curly things (that’s the official term, you know!).

You could go outside and scavenge for branches and stems – free decor! We don’t really have much like that in our yard, and if you don’t either, something like this would work well too. Or change it up – use twigs, pinecones, anything you can find! That’s the real point of this – using what you have and what you can find.

When I first saw these vintage brass candlesticks at the thrift store, they immediately struck me as Fall / Winter. I love their warmth and character.

You may be able to find some at a local thrift store or antique store. I see them around frequently. If you’re looking to buy new, these are really pretty!

My favorite part about this tablescape has to be these little guys…

Who wouldn’t smile with these little critters grinning up at them? They are decorations that were leftover from a woodland-themed baby shower that was thrown for me several years ago when I was expecting my son. They may have been purchased at Joann Fabric or Hobby Lobby. These are a similar concept or this little set of bristle animals is absolutely adorable!

Just for fun, here’s a view of my sideboard for Fall. I changed out a few things from my Spring decor, which was still up until a week ago. Yes, it’s true… Priorities.

I took away the little stool I had previously used as a prop, and replaced it with an antique ironstone pitcher I found on Facebook Marketplace, filled with Fall hydrangeas from our yard. The previous wreath got replaced with a pumpkin and pinecone one I’ve had for a few years.

The vintage butter dish full of little lambs and greenery got re-stuffed with dried moss and little burlap birds, and for good woodland-themed measure, I stuck a tree slice under my ironstone plates.

All topped off with a candle, a few vintage books, and a little white pumpkin.

I didn’t buy a single thing for this entire room, and yet it has never looked exactly like this before.

Always start by shopping your own home and yard.

Look past the seasonal labels that stores put on their products and use them anyway if they fit with your theme. No one will think twice about it, I promise!

Be flexible – if you don’t have what you need to create what you originally intended, go a different route – it will still be great! Don’t get hung up on one vision.

Most of all, cozy and pretty doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple!