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Crisp, cool air and tree foliage seem to always accompany a nostalgic feeling and memories of gathering. Whether it’s circling a fire to roast marshmallows, bundling up inside with friends to escape the cold, or joining around the table with family, the fall and winter seasons seem to slow our days and bring us all a little closer together. However, as I age and settle deeper into my long-term relationship, my role in these gatherings is shifting. I am finding that events and dinners that used to transpire at my parents’ home are now being hosted within the walls of my own dining room.
As we head into a season that brings one gathering after the other, I realized that my dinnerware from college and lack of table decor had me feeling unsettled. After all, I have big shoes to fill with my (hopefully) future in-laws being the ultimate dinner party hosts. Thankfully, I found a few brands that have made it easy to elevate my space for these moments of gathering without breaking the bank. Below, I’m breaking down my top picks for each layer that contribute to a perfect fall tablescape
Runners & Placemats
Chilewich offers a range of placemats, table runners, and more. The brand is a great starting point to find a coordinating runner, coasters, and placemats. What sets Chilewich apart is its handwoven, beautiful, practical, and affordable products. Each is woven with environmentally safe materials (like a plasticizer made from soybeans) into designs ranging from neutral colors to seasonal statement pieces -- all for a price that won’t make you cringe ($16).
I was planning to go with a more elevated, natural look, so I chose these Bloom Round placemats to compliment my gold chargers and beige runner. I also picked up these easy-care bamboo placemats (offered in 19 colors btw) to sub in during more casual evenings.
Credit: Chilewich
Table Top & Dining Decor
Once you’ve adopted a theme for your table, dressing it up with serving decor can be a lot of fun! Bloomist offers an eclectic range of artisanal pieces that can elevate any dining room. The brand works with artisan partners around the world to incorporate natural pieces into your home design. While Bloomist has many items (ranging from botanicals to serving bowls to wooden desks), I kept with my theme and went with a few tabletop items that felt true to my style.
As someone that loves to add candles to any intimate gathering, I was instantly drawn to these large European Recycled Glass Jars ($98). I’ve loved having them for an evergreen centerpiece, but they also double as a great floral vase anywhere in the home. If your table does not seat six or more and you’d like to incorporate candles to your design, I’d recommend going for a smaller candle setting using these Modern Moroccan Candlesticks ($48).
I’d also recommend picking up a gathering charcuterie board ($98) and the complimentary hors d'oeuvres set ($68) made with wood from Guatemala’s Peten Jungle. These pieces are sure to impress -- plus, everyone loves a good cheese spread. They’re both already on my shopping list for next time!
Credit: Bloomist
Tableware, Flatware, & Serving Dishes
What might be the best part of creating a stand-out tablescape is finding the perfect ceramic dinnerware. Year & Day is a TQE editor-approved brand with accessible pricing, making it an easy choice. The brand offers elegant, quality tableware made with locally sourced clay from Portugal, using single-fire production to reduce emissions. The craftsmanship is clear in every piece. You can build your own complete set including a range of ceramic plates, bowls, and serving dishes, glasses, and flatware that complement each other flawlessly. Choose from four nature-inspired colors including a pale pink (daybreak), deep blue (midnight), or a more neutral cream (moon) or grey (fog). Thankfully, Year & Day makes it easy to mix & match when building a set, so I was able to pair a bold dinnerware set in Moon with softer, Moon colored serving dishes.
Linens & Napkins
While on the hunt for direct-to-consumer table linens, specifically napkins, I kept running into big box retailers, until I found Cultiver. The brand’s mission is to bring joy and beauty to all aspects of daily life, like gathering around the table. While I personally chose to opt-out of a base layer, Cultiver offers a variety of timeless linen tablecloths to pair with the linen napkins I was searching for. Each napkin is made with 100% Flax Linen, pre-washed for softness, and comes in a pack of 4 ($45). Offered in over 15 colors, there’s definitely a style for any table theme, but my favorites are fawn and cedar. If you’re looking for table linen inspiration, you can find it on Cultiver’s site.
Credit: Cultiver
Be Our Guest
I know first-hand how intimidating piecing together a fall tablescape can be, but I’m thankful that I’ve found trustworthy brands to make it simple. Before having a space worth being proud of, I dreaded being the host of dinner parties amongst our friends and family. Now, I feel like a character in Beauty and the Beast, begging everyone to “Be Our Guest.” I actually look forward to hosting dinner parties so I can show off our new dining accessories. Having a space to gather while knowing that the clean-up will be fuss-free (thank you, easy-clean placemats!) means I no longer have a good enough reason to not be the host.
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