Fall Table Decor Ideas That Will Be the Hit of Your Party

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Composing the Scene

Fall Tablescape with like-toned vessels, dahlias, zinnias, and pampas grass — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: Kathleen Varner; Location and Props: Courtesy Black Sheep Antiques

Here's an assortment of simple, like-toned vessels, with pops of vibrant color from dahlias and zinnias create the drama. Painted maroon pampas grass along with some wild grasses cut from the yard give this display a bit of height and just a touch of playfulness. When combining various flower types, keep them within the same color family for a cohesive look.

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Branching Out

Fall Foliage Leaf Centerpiece — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: Kathleen Varner; Location and Props: Courtesy Black Sheep Antiques

Foliage is the star of this bouquet that mostly skips the flowers in favor of cut stems. Pick a primary branch to begin the composition, clipping back twigs as needed to let the shape shine. Draw the eye to the center of the arrangement by clustering textural items, such as berries, dried hydrangeas, and wispy ferns.

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Sharing Abundance

Basket Cornucopia Centerpiece with Gourds — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: Kathleen Varner; Location and Props: Courtesy Black Sheep Antiques

Begin by placing the large ornamental gourd, the anchor of this arrangement, and use magnolia foliage as a frame. Alternate displaying the fronts and backs of the leaves for added interest and texture. Then, pile in artichokes, smaller gourds, pears, bittersweet berries, foxtail millet grass, and feathers.

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The Surprisingly Easy Centerpiece

Fall Pumpkin Centerpiece — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Fill an oval container with potting soil. Plant a variety of succulents in the middle of the container. Tuck in tiny pumpkins, seasonal veggies like kale, radishes, and fresh herbs. Scatter additional tiny pumpkins and votives on the table.

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Floating Miniature Pumpkins

Pumpkin Votive Float — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

To make the votive, use a craft knife to trace circles slightly larger than the bottom of a tea light in the miniature pumpkins. Carve them out and tuck the candle inside.

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Fall Greenery

Line a linear basket with foil, soak blocks of florist foam in water, and add them on top of the foil. Arrange fall flowers like mums around the perimeter of the basket. Line one edge with stones and rocks from a craft store and the other with various moss and lichens. Break florist picks in half, sticking half in the bottom of each apple and secure it in the florist foam. Arrange berzilia and pods around the apples.

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Pumpkin Party

Pumpkin parties are classic! Impress your guests with rich pumpkin soup, delicious pumpkin dump cake, and delightful pumpkin martinis.

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Good as Gold

Golden arrangement — Robbie Caponetto; Produced and styled by Kathleen Varner

This year, skip the mums in seasonal displays, and instead rely on timely produce, such as pumpkins and squash. Floral designer and stylist Kathleen Varner recommends this styling to show off classic yellows and oranges. She filled an antique iron urn with a variety of gourds in different shapes and sizes and then tucked in sunflowers and bittersweet vines so the arrangement didn't seem too heavy. Add a monarch butterfly from your local crafts store for a whimsical final touch.

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Rustic Fall Display

If you don't have a few extra antlers to spare, you can create this arrangement without them. Tuck in pinecones and assorted nuts, but make sure the pumpkins are the real star.

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Pretty Pumpkins

Use cut mums and a soft-skinned pumpkin. Make cuts with an awl (pointed tool). Keep the floral pumpkins in your refrigerator until party time to help extend their shelf life.

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Pumpkin Place Card

All you need to do is put a name tag on a miniature pumpkin. We love how simply this table is dressed. Elegant white china, white linen napkins, mismatched glassware, and a few cut branches bursting with fall color.

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Outdoor Centerpiece

Don't forget your outdoor spaces when decorating for a party. Even if most of the entertaining will take place indoors, the outside still matters.

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Pumpkin Vase

Skip the glass vase and use a pumpkin instead! Carve a hole in the pumpkin and fill with your favorite fall flowers. Tip: Use a piece of floral foam for a more arranged look.

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Tiny Planter

This petite planter should last about a week if you keep it watered.

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Asymmetrical Elegance

To re-create this gorgeous centerpiece, you'll need scarlet dahlias, blush-hued stocks, whimsical scabiosas, silver dollar eucalyptus, lysimachia, hypericum berries, plumosa ferns, and roses in pretty peach tones. Use florist foam to better arrange your flowers. Create an asymmetrical design by allowing the silver dollar eucalyptus and plumosa ferns to drape from one side.

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Foiled Floating Candleholders

How sweet is this DIY arrangement? With just a few dollar-store buys, your dinner party gets a cute but sophisticated upgrade. Rose gold foil tape and turquoise leather lace add the perfect festive touch to clear candle vases.

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Add Height to Your Pumpkin Display

Arrange branches, dried grasses, moss, squash, and small pumpkins in a vase. Then, choose a single pumpkin with an interesting shape or a twisted stem to showcase. Place it on a smaller table or stool to help set it apart from the rest.

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Wax Seal Place Cards

Blue and White Table Setting with Wax Seal Place Card — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Rachael Burrow

A wax seal feels dressy and glamorous, but it's relaxed when paired with cardstock and a handwritten place card. "There's nothing better than getting an invitation with a wax seal in the mail," says Rachael Burrow. She re-created that excitement on a table inspired by blue-and-white ginger jars.

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Monochrome Mums

You don't need a lot of fuss to create a beautiful centerpiece or side table arrangement, as this simple setup proves. Add as many containers as you'd like for it to fit your space.

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Fall Wreath with Dried Flowers and Herbs

Who said wreaths were reserved for the front door? Guests will be blown away by this beautiful DIY project. Watch the tutorial video and get the written instructions here.

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Succulent Pumpkin

You can still have a pretty, natural centerpiece without a green thumb. A succulent pumpkin will last through multiple fall parties. Add a bit of damp florist foam to the top of the pumpkin and arrange your succulents.

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Place Cards with Natural Textures

These simple DIY place cards are casual but show extra hostess effort. Perfect for a laidback fall dinner party or easy Thanksgiving, these place cards will blend with any autumnal color scheme you choose. Make sure to use a sturdy, textural material.

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New Cornucopia

This reimagined classic is a fun departure from pumpkins and mums. The deconstructed design celebrates the abundance of the holiday with silver dollar eucalyptus, a cabbage sourced from the grocery store, plumosa ferns, turnips, pears, miniature pumpkins, bright green Brussels sprouts, pomegranates, thistles, and green hydrangea blossoms.

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Cozy Tablescape

Here's a unique idea we love. Antique books add height and interest under a few of the planters and votives. Keep some of the pumpkins and votives on the table so all of your elements are at varying heights.

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Autumn-Inspired Bar

This cozy bar offers guests plenty of room to fix a drink and grab a snack. Use pumpkins as risers to elevate appetizer plates. Create a simple look by piling pumpkins in a Champagne bucket and weaving branches of berries around the rim. Then, add a cut-flower bouquet arranged in a pitcher.

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Fun Fall Kids' Table

Kids Table Place Setting with Place Card — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Rachael Burrow

Dress up the kids' table with non-breakable dinnerware and room to doodle. Cover the table in white paper and draw "place mats" and "place cards" directly on it. Add an orange paper runner and yellow plates to brighten it up.

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Golden Gourds

Spray paint gourds, pumpkins, pears, and any other produce your heart desires. Arrange with wheat sheaves wrapped in satin ribbon for an elegant, natural touch. Pro tip: Use fake produce and you can store it for next year too.

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Create a Topiary

Tabletop White Pumpkin Topiary — Laurey W. Glenn

Whether as a centerpiece, an entryway table accent, or a kitchen counter decoration, a lush, colorful topiary is so beautiful. We love the way white pumpkins pop against lush, natural elements. This one uses three bowls of graduated sizes with wet florist foam and florist picks to secure the pumpkins and artichokes.

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Pile On The Pumpkins

Don't have a knack for intricate floral arrangements? You can still have adorable fall decorations. With this quick and easy idea, group and stack different sizes and colors of pumpkins on a side table or as a centerpiece for a laidback look.

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Fall Harvest Centerpiece

Mix fresh fall flowers and colorful produce for a cheerful and easy arrangement. Set out bud vases with blooms you incorporated for cohesive party decorations, and do not shy away from using the bounty of the fall harvest. Here we have included radishes and Brussells sprouts to show off some of our favorite fall vegtables.

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Crepe-Paper Pumpkins

These DIY pumpkins cost so much less than similar store-bought looks. As a plus, you can keep them for years. Fall guests won't believe how professionally made they look.

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Nature-Inspired Place Cards

Green and Earthy Thanksgiving Table — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Rachael Burrow

A cool, natural color palette is a relaxed but gorgeous way to host this fall. A nature-inspired color palette and mix of textures pulls this look together.

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Neutral Ground

Neutral arrangement — Robbie Caponetto; Produced and styled by Kathleen Varner

Brown is pretty common in autumn, acknowledges floral designer and stylist Kathleen Varner. To make the ubiquitous hue feel special and interesting in her arrangement, she relied on a mix of textures. Smooth pears and pumpkins plus fluffy moss-covered sticks and bunny tail grass liven up the dried elements, like pinecones, corn husks, cinnamon sticks, and hydrangeas. A footed terra-cotta container underscores the casual nature of the centerpiece, which is designed to last for weeks. Plus, nothing in this styling needs water so it will last for a long time.

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Woodland Monochrome Centerpiece

This rustic arrangement is woodsy but vibrant. Make several in differing sizes for a major centerpiece moment. This arrangement uses a selection of botanical elements in complementary colors.

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Mix Colors and Sizes

Take advantage of all the gorgeous pumpkin colors out there and mix up your arrangement! Bright yellows and greens add a bold pop, but mellow blues and whites create a laidback look. An arrangement like this could work indoors or out.

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Modern Twist Mums

You only need two fall essentials—apples and mums—to complete this adorable arrangement. Set up these mini mum arrangements on the sideboard, as a centerpiece, or both! It's perfect for a casual dinner or shower.

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Cute-as-a-Button Place Settings

These too-cute napkin rings are easy and festive for fall. Use an autumn-inspired color palette to set the scene. Using a large wooden button and thick twine, simply tie the napkins together and surround with fall foliage and fruit, such as fake leaves and mini pears.

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Natural Elements Faux Pumpkin

If you're not into the orangey hues of fall, entertain with an earthy color palette and incorporate these DIY faux pumpkins. Mix up sizes and crafty add-ons for a rustic look. It's an unexpected twist on the traditional.

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The Perfect Southern Table

Welcome friends for a fall dinner party or Friendsgiving with the prettiest Southern table. Gather crisp linens, handwritten place cards, and as much silver as you can find. Bring them together for an elegant but colorful affair.

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Make Pomanders

Spice up any centerpiece, fill any empty vessel, or add color to any side table with festive and fun DIY pomanders. Not only will they look adorable, but they serve as a natural air freshener so your house will smell like autumn.

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Tabletop Garden

Place a potted oncidium orchid in a large, lined cachepot, and surround it with water-soaked florist foam. Insert cut fall foliage into the foam along with dried crepe myrtle pods and rose hips. Then add stems of orange dendrobiums in water-filled florist tubes.

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Sequin Style

If you like everything to have a little sparkle, there's no reason your pumpkins shouldn't! These faux pumpkins can be reused every fall for a glittery addition to your decorations. To create this effect, use different sizes of sequins to add texture and visual interest.

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Autumnal Place Cards

Personalized Place Cards — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Buffy Hargett Miller

Even if crafting isn't your expertise, you can put together these adorable DIY place cards. It's perfect that they're customizable to fit your color scheme. Gather your materials—wood rounds, feathers, and patterned paper—and get to gluing.

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Fall Bounty-Inspired Table

Use seasonal favorites like red apples and crisp fall leaves in your centerpiece for an outdoor table that feels one with nature. Add height with longer branches and mix and match plates for a relaxed feel. Scatter pewter and silver serving pieces the length of the table, filling some with heaps of apples and others with foliage and hydrangeas if you choose.

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Pumpkin Serving Pieces

Pumpkins can multi-task, too! These adorable pumpkin serving pieces are perfect for an appetizer spread or dessert table. Play with different pumpkin heights and colors to mix it up.

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Fall Foliage Place Cards

Gather fallen magnolia leaves from your yard. Dry the leaves and write your guests' names on them using permanent marker. Tie twine around the stems of the leaves for a crafty touch.

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Faux and Floral

Easy faux pumpkins meet gorgeous real flowers in this sweet arrangement. Reuse your faux pumpkins throughout the season and switch out the flowers to match your party decor. To recreate this look, use fiery orange zinnias, blue thistle, lush green solidago, and red hypericum berries.

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Use Humble Materials

Rustic meets classic with this look. Pair humble materials like a kraft paper placemat with pretty fall china, grain-sack napkins with handwritten place cards, and your fancy silver with a burlap table runner. A mix of laid-back and dressy is perfect for a cozy fall party.

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Teal Supper Soiree

teal tablescape — Robbie Caponetto; Styling by Buffy Hargett Miller

It's your turn to host, and you're ready to impress without passing into the realm of formal and stuffy. For the palette, try teal. Teal? For fall? Summer may stake a claim to the ocean hue, but strategic styling can make it an all-season star, says home goods store owner Emma Allen. She recommends pairing teal with darker tones and the right flowers. Finish off the look with a Southern statement piece. Every table needs a conversation starter, whether it's a set of plates with artisanal flair or your mama's butter dish.

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Spice Up the Patio

Stack a Pumpkin Trio Centerpiece — Hector Manuel Sanchez

If you're entertaining outdoors this fall, turn your patio into an autumnal paradise with bountiful mums, a pumpkin topiary, and a corn tapestry. Use the warm, inviting, Fall colors like oranges and yellows to make the space bright and inviting even on cooler days.

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Unexpected Hues

Fall decorating doesn't have to be in warm hues of orange and yellow. The season's favorite flowers, mums, get a moody upgrade in this fuchsia and purple centerpiece.

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Fall Pumpkin Tableau

This fun arrangement proves even the most unassuming side tables could use a little fall cheer. Varying heights and colors lend dimension to this setup. Begin with a striking focal point (we filled a glass vase with branches of fall leaves), and build out the display from there.

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Pear Place Cards

Simple, sweet, and seasonal, these pear place cards might be the easiest DIY of all time. You can use either artificial or fresh pears to re-create this look. Cut a thin slice in the top of your pear with a knife, and slide in a place card with the name of a guest.

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Make Custom Candleholders

How cute are these candleholders? Whether entertaining indoors or out, tea candles are an affordable way to up the ambiance of a party. Simply cut a one-inch circle into each pumpkin, scooping out the centers with a tablespoon, and insert votive candles.

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Festive Fall Arrangement

Festive Arranging — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Buffy Hargett Miller

Blend woodsy birch sticks with modern fuchsia mums for a centerpiece that pops. You only need a cheap cylinder vase, a hot glue gun, and birch sticks from the craft store to make this happen. Fill with fresh, bright flowers, like these yellow roses and fuchsia spider mums.

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In the Red

Red arrangement — Robbie Caponetto; Produced and styled by Kathleen Varner

For party-ready decor rooted in deep shades of purple and red, floral designer and stylist Kathleen Varner filled a brass urn with pomegranates, grapes, purple cabbages, and apples. She then added dahlias, zinnias, coneflowers, and foraged leaves for lightness and height. The unexpected star here is the purple onion, secured on top using a wooden pick. Don't feel compelled to follow this list of elements to a T, says Varner. As long as the items are in the same color family, the finished product will have this impressive effect.

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Patterns on Patters

Mixed pattern tablescape — Robbie Caponetto; Styling by Buffy Hargett Miller

Gather your crew for some casual yet elevated noshing. Soft tones of red and green are a great starting point. Pair them with autumnal browns in the tortoiseshell glasses and plaid tablecloth to take the look totally out of holiday territory. From there, it's all in the prints. Recreate old-school combinations that you grandma probably went for like floral china with a checkered tablecloth. Don't be afraid to mix and match—it's much more fun this way.

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Tack Pumpkins

Add a little whimsy to your pumpkin arrangement with upholstery tacks! Rustic and warm, these pumpkins maintain a grown-up look.

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Place Cards in the Shades of the Season

A cluster of dried yarrow brings color and texture to this pretty place card. Cut pieces of scrapbook paper into squares, and fold them in half. On the front of the card, write your guest's name in calligraphy, and paste the cluster of yarrow next to it.

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Rustic Centerpiece

This cozy fall centerpiece doesn't involve complicated arranging. Simply line up pumpkins of different sizes and colors and place natural elements like antlers, pine cones, and whole nutmeg around the pumpkins. This is a beautiful way to setup a laidback Thanksgiving table at the hunting camp or lake.

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Glitter-Dipped Metals

These easy DIY pumpkins will add instant glamour to your fall decorations. Using faux pumpkins ensures you can use them again and again. They provide decor with plenty of sparkle and shine.

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Warm and Natural Centerpiece

Warm orange hues and natural elements come together for an inviting centerpiece that's Pinterest-worthy. Wrap a plain glass vase with strips of burlap for a rustic touch.

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Layered Details

Down-to-Earth Table Setting by Gena Knox — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

This earthy setting still seems sophisticated, thanks to rustic elements layered with streamlined details. Recreate the look by choosing a 3-color scheme and choosing a mixture of modern and natural details.

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Textured Faux Pumpkin

It's easy to leave out texture when it comes to decorating, but elements like this DIY project add major dimension to a fall table display. Plus, these would be adorable stacked up in different sizes in a large bowl or on a large tray on a coffee table.

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Fall Foliage Arrangement

Fill a large vessel in the foyer for a seasonal welcome and incorporate smaller arrangements throughout the house. The key to arranging leaves is to group them by size and color. Fiery red maple makes a beautiful focal point when countered with the feathery foliage of dawn redwood laden with globes of gray-green fruit on the fringes.

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DIY Place Cards with Unconventional Materials

Choose pieces of scrapbooking paper in seasonal patterns and write your guests' names on the squares in permanent marker. Paste a small stem of dried wheat to the paper. Fold the paper in half and set it on your table to charm your guests.

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The Great Outdoors

In many parts of the South, fall is extremely mild, which makes it a beautiful time of year to host outdoors! This natural tablescape features rustic elements. Combine a burlap placemats and pumpkin floral arrangements with upscale details like matching taper candles and sterling silver cups.

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Glorious Greens

Green floral arrangement — Robbie Caponetto; Produced and styled by Kathleen Varner

Although spring may be the season most associated with this lively hue, it hardly has a monopoly. Celebrate fall's wide range of greens with an assortment of pears, artichokes, variegated gourds, leafy kales, feathery moss, and a coneflower. Anchor the produce with sturdy wooden picks to avoid runaways. A vintage silver container elevates the centerpiece, and there's no need to polish it first, says floral designer and stylist Kathleen Varner. A little tarnish keeps it from feeling too fussy or precious. Place this smaller arrangement on a bookshelf, or set it on the coffee table for a burst of color.

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Cute No-Carve Pumpkins

No mess here! Make adorable no-carve pumpkins with just a few materials and place them all over the house for a cohesive look. For this elegant display, we used metallic washi tape on white pumpkins.

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Compact Centerpieces

Fall decor is often associated with rustic vibes, but you can easily bring a little mod to your party, while still keeping the colors and feel autumnal. Add in dried hydrangeas, mini calla lilies, kale, poppy buds, and deep red peonies to recreate this look. Invite each of your guests to take an arrangement home with them at the end of the meal.

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Rustic Touches

Fill any empty vase or vessel with these DIY fall moss balls for a no-fuss, natural centerpiece. Grab a few green moss balls at the craft store, buy (or gather!) acorns and mini pinecones, and warm up the glue gun.

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Super Simple Pumpkin Centerpiece

Take a simple vase, urn, or container and fill with florist foam or regular Styrofoam as this requires no water. Cover the foam and gaps near the edge of the container with dried moss. Place your pumpkin on top and wrap a small length of trailing ivy or another narrow vine around the bottom.

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Party-Perfect Sideboard

Equal parts functional and beautiful, this sideboard will steal the show at your fall dinner party or Thanksgiving gathering. Colorful bouquets of orange dahlias, red and yellow roses, and calla lilies offset festive plates and dressy silverware.

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Let There Be Light

full fall table setting — Hector Manuel Sanchez

"Do you remember in the movie Clueless when Cher had to 'design a lighting concept' for her date with Christian? She was wrong about the guy but 100% right about lighting—it's the best way to create the perfect ambience," Mary Hollis Huddleston of Mrs. Southern Social and Please Be Seated, the elevated event-rental company, said. "Everyone looks better when the candles are glowing, and there's something about tall, elegant tapers that just makes a table so pretty."

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Forage For Foliage

tablesetting for party on the porch — Hector Manuel Sanchez

"Use natural materials to beautify your table by gathering leaves, berries, hydrangeas, and more from your backyard," Mary Hollis Huddleston of Mrs. Southern Social and Please Be Seated, the elevated event-rental company, said. "In the South, we're lucky that we still have plants blooming in the fall. I love combining these things with more seasonal items, like colorful autumn leaves."'

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Raise The Bar

party on the porch bar — Hector Manuel Sanchez

"Encourage your guests to grab their own drinks so you won't be playing bartender," Mary Hollis Huddleston of Mrs. Southern Social and Please Be Seated, the elevated event-rental company, advises. "This is especially important for larger parties so you don't spend the entire evening refilling people's cups. For my self-serve setups, I like to offer a big batch of a signature seasonal cocktail, like the Bourbon-Apple Cider-Thyme Punch from Southern Living."

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Arrange A Sweet Setup

party on the porch food — Hector Manuel Sanchez

"A dessert bar is an easy way to make dinner party guests feel like they're at a wedding or special event with a variety of delicious treats," explains Mary Hollis Huddleston of Mrs. Southern Social and Please Be Seated, the elevated event-rental company. "When offering a buffet, it's important to provide all the essentials—plenty of plates, napkins, and serving utensils. And be sure to decorate this area, too, so it feels cohesive and echoes your table design."