Set a festive fall table
October 27, 2009
Tara Dalla-Nora
SPECIAL TO YOURHOME.CA
In Toronto, fall is a brief season, but beautiful none the less. So seize the moment and bring some of the autumn colours and textures into the home and onto your table setting.
In this tough economic time, people are turning back to entertaining at home, and dinner parties are a great way to bring family and friends together. Adding seasonal accessories to existing dinnerware is an inexpensive way to dress the table in a festive and inviting manner for your guests.
Begin by collecting natural materials synonymous with fall. Gourds, chestnuts and wheat can be purchased at any local market.
Add items with colours reminiscent of the changing leaves, such as orange, rust and yellow.
Besides the inexpensive gourds and wheat, splurge on an accessory or two that can carry into the following seasons. I chose whimsical birds, pears and apples with an antique finish to complete this rustic look. These pieces can easily be combined with your preferred winter holiday colour to create a festive place setting or vignette once again.
Be sure to mix your organic items with man-made materials such as metal, glass, ceramic and textiles. Too much of one or the other may make the table appear dull and cluttered as opposed to neatly set. Place a white ceramic dish atop a woven placemat and pair it with natural and metal accessories to create a visually interesting and balanced table.
Create an eye catching central focal point on your table with your edible items. Randomly placing the gourds and fruit in the centre, surrounded by some wheat, is a new take on the centrepiece, which usually consists of a bowl or vase. The spontaneous placement of the centrepiece mimics the natural outdoor elements.
With a little imagination and seasonal flare, you can create an inexpensive and festive table for your next party.
Tara Dalla-Nora has a B.A. in interior design and is the owner and principal designer of Inner Luxe in Toronto's Bloor West Village.
Read more from Tara:
Stylish, hardworking kitchen a hub of family life
Creative hang-ups
Fall trends
10 ways to modernize a small city home
Choosing outdoor fabrics
Back to basics: Natural touches
Modernizing a heritage home
Decorating with antiques
Small space solutions
Breezy bedding updates
Choosing artwork
Decorating with fabric
Small kitchen design
Playroom decor
Romantic place settings
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