This post contains affiliate links for which I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Please click here for more details. I truly appreciate your support!

1. Warms and whites are a beautiful combination.

Choose a warm and inviting tablecloth as your base like this one I recently got from Target! We’ve already used it so many times. I love it because it’s just so classic.

Adding in simple but elegant white plates, chargers, and napkins leaves room for the natural elements to make the impression. Into the napkins I tucked Fall floral picks of Autumn leaves, dried fruits, and pinecones.

(The chargers were from Hobby Lobby a few years ago, the plates thrifted but originally from Target, and the napkins also from Target a few years back.)

Get the Look

2. Warm and weighty metals will help anchor your Fall tablescape.

Try using brass candlesticks or gold silverware to add weight and warmth to your Fall table, or try something like a brass pumpkin centerpiece! I found these candlesticks at the thrift store last year and paired them with simple white candles to bring elegance and ambience to the table.

3. Seasonal floral arrangements are a classic and natural centerpiece for any table.

Put them in a vintage crock, an antique kettle, a big jar, or milk glass vase – the possibilities are endless! A well chosen arrangement will naturally pull the colors of Fall onto your table.

Remember to mix textures, colors, and bloom sizes in order to create depth and interest! Here I mixed hydrangeas (beginning to turn their Fall hues), eucalyptus, Fall berries, and some Fall wheat-like stems that I picked up from Trader Joe’s (sorry I don’t know the name of them).

4. Create depth in your Fall tablescape with layering.

Winding out from the center crock, I scattered mini pumpkins in white and orange layered atop a Fall garland of berries, acorns, and mini pinecones. Into that I tucked springs of fresh eucalyptus. Finally I placed a few larger pinecones around the table.

Mini pumpkins are the perfect size for getting creative, so prop them, stack them, and line them up!

5. Safety first

Whenever dealing with florals and fire, be sure to remember three things:

1. Check to see if a plant is poisonous before tucking it into someone’s napkin. The oil from eucalyptus, for example, can be dangerous if ingested, so don’t use that on a napkin and don’t place it where it could fall Into someone’s drink. Many flowers and plants you’d find in your garden are toxic, so do your research!
2. Always be sure to keep your candles far enough away from your floral arrangements and stable on the table!
3. Wash pumpkins and any natural items you plan to put on your table. You don’t know what they’ve been in contact with and at the very least they’re probably dirty.

I hope this has inspired you to create a natural Fall tablescape of your own this season! Tablescapes don’t have to be over the top to be lovely. I prefer to create tables that anyone can replicate with moderately low budget, time, and expertise.

It’s all about working with what’s available to you, enjoying the creative process, and not stressing over it. Enjoy the time you have with your family and friends!

Thanks so much for reading – feel free to say hi in the comments below!

Blessings,
Melissa

This post contains affiliate links for which I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Please click here for more details. I truly appreciate your support!

Recently I became a finalist in the Cottages & Bungalows Magazine tablescape contest!

I entered with my Spring tablescape, “In the Garden With Peter Rabbit.” (You can find that post here!) The contest is by popular vote and the winner will have their tablescape featured in an upcoming issue of Cottages & Bungalows!

If you have a moment to check out the contest and vote for me – if you like my tablescape, of course! – it would mean so much to me!

You can vote with this link here! – Just scroll down to “Melissa” with the watering can. I’m the only Melissa on there.

Voting goes until July 15, 2022 and you can place one vote per email address.

Thank you so much for your support and to everyone who has poured out so much support and well wishes already! I’ll keep you updated on how things go!

Blessings,
Melissa

Some friends and I have teamed up to share our Spring tablescapes this week!

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved Peter Rabbit…

…all Beatrix Potter, really. The stories are charming and of course I love the gardens, the English countryside, and Potter’s beautiful illustrations! We had the stories as audiobooks (on cassette tape! I’m dating myself…) and I listened to them all the time.

Back when I was expecting my first child, I decorated the nursery in a Beatrix Potter theme and registered for sets of her books, adorable little stuffed Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, and Jeremy Fisher dolls, a Peter Rabbit bank – all sorts of things! We still have them and I cherish them. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Peter Rabbit, you can read it here!

While this tablescape is not overtly Peter Rabbit, meaning that it doesn’t use the well-known illustrated character in any way, it is a nod to him and incorporates some key elements from the story in a creative way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Let’s start with the centerpiece: A Watering Can!

“And [he] rushed into the toolshed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not had so much water in it.” – from The Tale of Peter Rabbit

This particular watering can, by Hearth & Hand from Target, was a nice neutral base for filling with some bright, colorful Spring flowers, like these daffodils I found at my local grocery store. I wanted to add some height and additional texture, so I stacked it atop two slices of wood I had from our old tree. You can certainly purchase wood slices if you don’t have any laying around. I then tucked in two little bunnies just hanging out on the wood slices – perhaps resting like Peter! I got mine years ago and don’t even remember where, but these are really cute and whimsical!

Next, the Place Settings

“…he might have got away altogether if he had not…got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new.” – from The Tale of Peter Rabbit

If you’ve been around here awhile you may have gathered that I love all things blue and white! As a nod to Peter’s poor lost jacket, I used blue and white plates topped with blue and white stuffed gingham carrots. The tablecloth also has a bluish tint to it, but is actually mostly gray. I was going to use my favorite blue and white striped tablecloth, but mine is unfortunately too small for our table with the leaf in.

The vintage J&G Meakin “Dresden Blue” Ironstone plates were a thrift store find, and the carrots were from an Easter garland I purchased at Homegoods last year on clearance. The garland was too long to hang anywhere in my house, so I pulled the carrots off and used some on the table and some in my entryway decor. These are similar and super cute. These are also a cute alternative.

The distressed white chargers were from Hobby Lobby several years ago at Christmastime, and the white cloth napkins are by Hearth & Hand from Target. I just tied it all together with some simple natural kitchen twine. The utensils are our everyday ones, and the crystal glasses were a wedding gift I only pull out for photoshoots! Ha!

The “Place Cards”

“Mr. McGregor was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the toolshed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot.” – from The Tale of Peter Rabbit

For a simple but cute place marker, I wrote names on popsicle sticks using a fine tip sharpie and stuck them in tiny flower pots filled with potting soil – one for each place. Not difficult at all, but fitting with the theme! It would be cute to have a little plant growing in there, but I didn’t have any that tiny available at the time I put this tablescape together.

Spring Garden Accents

“First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes…[Mr. McGregor] tried to put his foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants.” – from The Tale of Peter Rabbit

I thought it would be super fun to get some carrots with the greenery still attached and use them as decor! To get them to stay upright I tied them with a little bow of twine and placed them in glass jars on either side of the watering can. We cooked them up and ate them with dinner that night, haha! I love it when things serve dual purpose.

Since Peter ate some radishes from Mr. McGregor’s garden, I definitely had to incorporate some of those bright cheerful veggies in this tablescape! I thought it would be extra fun to have them “spilling” out of a pot – just like the plants Peter tipped as he scampered out the window!

Unglazed terra cotta pots are typically safe for food and don’t contain lead, however to be safe I lined each of these pots with trimmed-down ziplock bags before placing the veggies inside. You can also thoroughly wash and dry the pots before use. Don’t use pots that have been previously used for chemicals, fertilizers, etc, as those compounds can soak into the terra cotta. Please note that glazed pots may contain lead depending on the manufacturer.

Do this at your own discretion. I felt comfortable lining the pots and using them, but it is up to you to judge for yourself if this is safe or not. This is simply a fun decor idea based on my own experience and research.

(Also pictured: the reason I rarely paint my nails…because I seldom have the discipline to remove the chipping polish!)

Had to include some blackberries in there, too!

“But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.” – from The Tale of Peter Rabbit

This is in addition to the fact my son has been asking if I’d buy him blackberries. Dual purpose for the win again!

I layered some fresh eucalyptus stems from Trader Joe’s underneath for added depth and to tie the individual pieces together (connect them, if you will).

There you have it – a Spring Tablescape inspired by Peter Rabbit’s adventures in Mr. McGregor’s garden!

Thanks so much for reading – I hope it inspired you to create your own Spring tablescape!

If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to Pin it for later!

Be sure to check out my friends’ lovely Spring tablescapes!

Cynthia at Vintage and Grace Living

Danielle at Faith and Farmhouse

Amy at Three Daughters Home

Blessings,

Melissa

This post contains affiliate links for which I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Please click here for more details. I truly appreciate your support!

A beautiful Fall or Thanksgiving tablescape doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Here are 5 quick tips to help you create one!

1. Start with the basics.

When I set a table, I always start by laying out the essentials.

First the tablecloth or runner. My two favorite tablecloths of all time are this one and this one (which I used in this tablescape). I love that it’s wrinkle and stain resistant. Unfortunately it’s no longer available, but this black and white one is similar. This one is also super cute!

Next come plates, bowls, utensils, and drink ware. Placing these on the table first ensures there is plenty of room for the necessaries and I’m not trying to squeeze them in as an afterthought.

I prefer to stick with neutral plates, chargers, and drink ware. It is generally accepted that food looks most appealing on white plates (unless you’re serving a meal of all mashed potatoes and white rice I guess! Ha!). Plus, by using all neutral plates and drink ware they can be used for any occasion or season and all you have to do is change out the accents. That’s a real money and space saver! That being said, if you enjoy using seasonally themed plates and have a place to store them, by all means go for it – they’re a lot of fun.

Keep plenty of space around these items on your table.There should be enough room to easily maneuver one’s utensils without the risk of tipping a water glass. Aside from such practical issues, letting the space breathe lends itself to a peaceful atmosphere.

2. Keep it simple.

I like to keep tablescapes simple. An overly cluttered table can detract from the gathering and leave one feeling cramped while trying to eat and visit.

I like simple. Simple projects, uncluttered rooms, and simple recipes all make me happy. Don’t get me wrong – I’m willing to delve into complex projects (chair upholstery, anyone?) and I appreciate intricate details, but it’s refreshing for the soul when something in life is actually just simple.

Don’t let it fool you though – even with “simple” decor you can make a bold statement. Here are a few ideas:

3. Incorporate natural elements.

Adding greenery and nature to just about any decorative setting can make it feel complete!

I’m so thankful to have a Trader Joe’s nearby that offers a large variety of beautiful fresh flowers and foliage at very affordable prices! One bunch of mums is typically $3.99 and filler greenery is $2.99. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s perhaps you have a farmers’ market, a produce or flower stand, or even your own backyard.It’s all about being creative and working with what you have available to you!

Mixing a variety of colors and textures in your flowers and greenery adds interest and can make your arrangement feel more upscale. For my main centerpiece I like to arrange the flowers themselves first in the container, focusing on shaping the arrangement, then stick in filler (greenery) where I feel it fits and complements the flowers.

Get creative with your centerpiece container – here I used an antique crock, but the possibilities are endless!

You can then carry that greenery down onto your table in a freeform fashion. Here I used seeded eucalyptus and scattered fresh pumpkins on top. Keep your accents in odd numbered groupings (3 pumpkins on each side) and mix the sizes and colors for added interest.

Important note! Try to avoid flowers that have extra strong scents that could detract from the smell of the food or aggravate your dining companions’ allergies! Also, some greenery and flowers are not suitable for use in certain situations. For instance, the oils from eucalyptus should not be ingested (can cause seizures), so I would never place the eucalyptus directly on the napkins or have it placed where a stray leaf could fall into someone’s bowl.

Instead, for the napkin accents, I chose to use fresh sage from our garden.

This way the greenery that comes into contact with the napkins is something perfectly safe and edible! If you choose to use something like real pumpkins, like I did, be sure to wash them with some soap and water before placing them on your guests’ napkins. (These white cloth napkins were from Target last year.)

4. Add candlelight for ambiance.

Adding a few candles can easily transition a tablescape from daytime to cozy evening mode.

Big candles aren’t even necessary – keeping them small and scattered about helps keep the focus on your centerpiece, out of your guests’ way, and spreads the warmth around the whole table.

For this tablescape I used little glass baby food jars (I knew I saved those for a reason!) filled with sugar (just plain old granulated sugar), and white candle stubs I had leftover from previous occasions. I tucked in three jars among the pumpkins and eucalyptus on either side of the crock. (Remember, odd numbers work well!) Didn’t cost me a thing – so thrifty!

5. Start with what you already have.

Forcing yourself to use what you already have encourages creativity and resourcefulness, saves money, and reduces clutter.

Obviously for this tablescape I purchased fresh flowers and pumpkins, but they were very affordable and I will not have to store them long term. You could just as easily use faux pumpkins and faux flowers that you could reuse from year to year. Everything else I already had and have used many times before. That’s actually just our everyday silverware as I refuse to have more than one set – ha!

It’s remarkable how different a tablescape can look just by switching things around and incorporating different accents, though – even when you’re reusing some of the same elements each time!

I hope you found these tips inspiring as you create your own Fall or Thanksgiving tablescapes!

Do you enjoy decorating your table for the seasons? Which holiday or season is your favorite? Drop a comment below and let me know!

Found this helpful? Pin it for later or share with a friend!

Blessings,
Melissa

This post contains affiliate links for which I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Please click here for more details. I truly appreciate your support!

No matter what Thanksgiving Day may look like for you this year, I invite you to first remember why we have this day: To give thanks to our Creator and Provider for the blessings He daily and richly provides, and most of all for the salvation He has granted to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

Regardless of your dinner plans, I hope this meaning-filled Thanksgiving table may provide you with inspiration as you read the captions and hymn meditations below.

Candlelight

There is nothing quite like candlelight to bring a sense of coziness, warmth, and peace to a space.

“Light of Light, O Sole-Begotten
Radiance of the Father’s face,
Word made flesh, who lived among us
Full of truth and full of grace,
Shine upon our human darkness;
Pierce the night that shrouds our race.”
– Stephen P. Starke

“Give Thanks Pumpkins”

These easy DIY pumpkins are covered in old hymn pages and adorned with “thankful” hymn titles. The tutorial video can be found in the story highlight “Give Thanks Pumpkins” on my Instagram page.

“Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms
Has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.”
– Martin Rinkart; tr. Catherine Winkworth

Fresh Rosemary & Pinecones

What better elements to add to a Thanksgiving table than items found naturally in creation? Gathered pinecones and rosemary trimmings add visual freshness and a lovely scent to the table. The napkins are tied with simple white kitchen twine.

“For the beauty of the earth, 
For the glory of the skies, 
For the love which from our birth 
Over and around us lies.
Christ, our Lord, to Thee we raise 
This, our hymn of grateful praise.”
– Folliott Sandford Pierpoint

Thrifted Plates & Ribbon

The large plates (by Hearth & Hand), the small ironstone plates, and the lace ribbon were all found at thrift shops. I love to buy second-hand pieces – not only does it save my family some money, but it can help to reduce waste and support the charities that run the shops.

“Father, providing
Food for Your children,
By your wise guiding
Teach us to share
One with another,
So that, rejoicing
With us, all others
May know Your care.”
– Albert F. Bayly

Gifted Items

The crystal water goblets and silver flatware were wedding gifts to my husband and me. The ceramic cake stand was given to me by my mother-in-law one Christmas. I enjoy using these generously gifted pieces not only because I like how they look, but because they bring fond memories and thankfulness for our family and friends.

“For the joy of human love, 
Brother, sister, parent, child, 
Friends on earth, and friends above, 
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Christ, our Lord, to Thee we raise 
This, our hymn of grateful praise.”
– Folliott Sandford Pierpoint

Whatever Thanksgiving Day may look like for you this year, I pray it is a day filled with reflection upon all that has been given to us and thanks to the Provider of all good things.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17

“Even so, Lord, quickly come,
Bring Thy final harvest home; 
Gather thou thy people in, 
Free from sorrow, free from sin, 
There, forever purified, 
In Thy presence to abide; 
Come, with all Thine angels, come, 
Raise the glorious harvest home.”
– Henry Alford

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!