For festive fall entertaining, you need a spectacular table centerpiece. Crafted from colorful autumnal materials, a table centerpiece brings a welcoming feeling to an entryway or becomes a feature on a coffee table. A well-constructed centerpiece is the single most impressive thing you can do to decorate your home for fall.
The very presence of a centerpiece conveys a celebratory mood. It anchors a dining experience and unifies stemware, dishes, and candles with the colors, textures, and notes of the season. It is a feast for the eyes, a salute to the harvest, and a way to embrace bounty and give thanks for all that is natural and abundant.
In that spirit, we’ve created these stunning but simple centerpieces from easy-to-find food, flowers, and foliage gathered from the grocery, a local farm stand, and even your yard. For a container, look through your vase collection or upcycle an object from a flea market. The possibilities for a stellar centerpiece that commands attention and takes center stage are truly endless.
On the Sideboard
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Give a spicy scent to a room with a glass compote piled high with citrus fruits; whole spices; and Styrofoam balls rolled in craft glue and dredged in fragrant ground spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. Add cinnamon sticks and kumquats and surround with votive glasses filled with allspice berries and tea lights.
On a Farm Table
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Pile orchard apples in a range of colors in a wooden compote. Tuck in fall leaves and handfuls of fresh cranberries. Place your centerpiece on the table and add additional flourishes of cut foliage.
In a Foyer
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Repurpose a cupcake stand with a mix of fruit and flowers. Tiered stands are all the rage and have great presence in a large space. Place white hydrangeas and seeded eucalyptus leaves in votive glasses and add a mix of whole fruits like pears, apples, and pomegranates. Use miniature fairy lights or tea lights in glass cups. Your guests will be greeted with an abundant show of botanical color.
On a Buffet
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Create an edible arrangement with layers of wood, marble, and a glass compote filled with grapes. Top a cutting board with a marble platter and add a dish of fruit and a swath of linen. Use fresh-picked apples and a mix of walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds. Leave a nutcracker close by to encourage guests to nibble at the arrangement.
On a Long Table
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Top a round wooden cutting board with a mix of variegated gourds and mini heirloom pumpkins. Tuck in ruffled kale leaves and top with bunches of red grapes. To finish, add in whole walnuts and place atop a linen runner.
On a Side Table
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Use a wire ivy topiary form to create a tree that celebrates the unity of family and friends. Place a plate inside the form and stack it with fresh pears. Tuck in fragrant evergreens and a mix of miniature nuts and pinecones. Place your creation atop a wooden serving plate and perch on a side table to create a distinctive conversation piece.
In a Kitchen
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Invite guests for a simple candlelight evening around your kitchen island. Light candles and create an engaging centerpiece with sharp and fruity cheeses, rustic crackers, and wines with autumnal notes. Toss in a mix of nuts in their shells and add a peasant tea cloth for color. Dim the lights and enjoy the conversation.
On a Round Table
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You don’t need a vessel to contain your creation. Group a mix of colorful gourds, pumpkins, and squashes in the center of your table and intersperse with reindeer moss in shades of green. Add a mix of fall leaves to heighten the color experience or use votive glasses with tea lights for celebratory sparkle.
