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Cooler fall evenings create the perfect setting for an intimate backyard gathering. What better way to enjoy the autumnal scenery than by dining alfresco with good food in front of you and great company beside you?

Creating a tablescape is easier than you may imagine, and our team is here to guide you every step of the way. We've compiled tips, tricks, and ideas for styling Pinterest-worthy fall tablescapes, so follow our lead to liven up your outdoor space.

Step 1: Pick the Right Dining Set

To properly design a tablescape, you first need a foundation. (If you already have your desired dining set, move on to Step 2.) When shopping for patio furniture, look for products that meet these goals:

  • Ample space: There's enough room to accommodate family, decor, and the prepared feast.
  • Appropriate size: We advise measuring your outdoor dining area first to know how much room you have to work with.
  • Durability: The furniture is built to withstand harsh weather and frequent entertaining.
  • Style: You're pleased with the colors and designs and how they complement your style.
A POLYWOOD 7 Piece Farmhouse Dining Set in Teak arranged on a light grey flagstone stone patio in front of a stone cottage covered in ivy.

Lakeside 7-Piece Farmhouse Dining Set in Teak

Step 2: Plan According to the Occasion

Hosting this year's holiday dinner, planning a themed birthday party for your child, or just feeling like dressing up your dining space? Follow these tips to ensure your tablescape design rises to the occasion.

  • Meal size: Large, lavish dinners will take up most of your tabletop, so use minimal decor.
  • Activities: Include interactive items in the table decor to keep guests occupied between courses: gourds and markers so kids can doodle, themed crossword puzzles for adults, etc.
  • Age-appropriate decor: If the attendees are young children, avoid open-flame candles, glass decor, and sharp objects.
  • Lighting: It gets dark early in the fall, so make sure your space is well-lit. Use strands of lights overhead, outdoor lamps along the room's perimeter, and flameless candles on the table to light up the night.
  • Weather: Depending on your climate, entertaining later in the season often means dealing with cooler temperatures. Keep guests warm and cozy by offering blankets, setting up outdoor heaters, and kindling a fire.

Step 3: Learn to Set a Table

When dining alfresco, you typically won’t need a formal table setting (unless you're hosting a backyard wedding). For a casual evening meal with family, setting the table is straightforward:

  • Set a dinner plate at each seat.
  • Position a folded cloth napkin to the left of the plate and put a dinner fork on top.
  • Place a dinner knife and a teaspoon to the right of the plate. The knife goes between the plate and spoon, with its blade facing left.
  • Set a water glass in front of the plate and a wine glass slightly to the upper right.

Even a meal that’s slightly more elevated only requires a few more pieces of dinnerware. Follow the method above for the casual setup, then add these extras:

  • Place a salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
  • Add a salad fork to the left of the dinner fork.
  • Position a soup spoon between the dinner knife and teaspoon.

14 Fall Tablescape Ideas

Now that you have a solid foundation for your fall tablescape, it's time to let your creative side take over. Let these decorating ideas lead you to your perfect autumnal alfresco setup.

1. Farmhouse Fall Tablescape

Celebrate a happy harvest with plaid placemats, colorful gourds, and a rustic basket filled with rosy fresh-picked apples.

2. Contrasting Table Decor

Go monochrome with a black tablecloth and glasses, white plates, and Baby Boo pumpkins. Add subtle touches of autumn colors with red vases, gold cutlery, and other accents.

3. Woodsy Tablescape

Create a rustic and cozy table setting using large wood slice chargers, and top a gauzy sage green table runner with pinecones, leaves, and a manzanita branch centerpiece.

A deep brown POLYWOOD Traditional Garden 7 Piece Farmhouse Dining Set with Trestle Legs features woven placemats, blue dinner plates, patterned cloth napkins with brown napkin rings, and wine glasses. In the middle of the table, a black lantern, decorative gourds, pine cones, and herbs form an autumnal centerpiece. A stone wall and green lawn are in the background.

Traditional Garden 7-Piece Farmhouse Dining Set With Trestle Legs in Mahogany

4. Metallic Meal Setting

Choose one or two metal accent colors to liven up your tablescape. Copper mugs, brass chargers, or silver vases are all great choices; just make sure not to go overboard with metallics. A little goes a long way.

A POLYWOOD Traditional Garden 5 Piece Round Farmhouse Dining Set in Teak, set for a meal, sits in a grassy area. Trees with vibrant orange and yellow autumn leaves create a colorful backdrop.

Traditional Garden 5-Piece Round Farmhouse Dining Set in Teak

5. Spooky Season Tablescape

Your time has come, Halloween lovers. Grab that black lace tablecloth, carve up some jack-o'-lanterns, and place a pair of moody candelabras at the center of your spine-chilling setup.

6. Abundant Table Design

Top a neutral-toned table with a vase filled with wheat, Indian corn, and pampas grass. Surround this grand centerpiece with simple place settings in warm autumnal shades to complete a tablescape to be thankful for.

A tan POLYWOOD Nautical Folding Highback Chair 7 Piece Dining Set sits on a dark brown deck overlooking a lake. The table is set with white plates, orange cloth napkins, and yellow glasses. Trees with vibrant orange and yellow autumn leaves create a colorful backdrop.

Nautical Folding Highback Chair 7-Piece Dining Set in Sand

7. Fall Flower Table Decor

Use autumn blooms to create a living focal point at the dinner table. Create pretty floral pumpkins using cut mums and soft-skinned gourds, or design a homemade wreath with dried sunflowers, dahlias, and goldenrods.

8. Kid-Friendly Tablescape

Transform your easy-to-clean POLYWOOD dining set into a pre-meal pumpkin painting station. Skip the tablecloth and enjoy the durable surface while the kids create. Set up with melamine dinnerware for each place setting, and provide paints, brushes, and plenty of pumpkins. Add a splash of color with orange or green paper runners and fill plastic cups with paint supplies for a fun, mess-free crafting experience.

A mom, dad, and three small children paint pumpkins around a black POLYWOOD EDGE 5 Piece Farmhouse Trestle Side Chair Dining Set. Partially painted orange and white pumpkins and paint supplies are on the table and a white sofa, shrubbery, and vibrant green lawn can be seen in the background.

EDGE 5-Piece Farmhouse Trestle Side Chair Dining Set in Black

9. Tablescape for Small Spaces

If a cozy table is your canvas, try adorably tiny decor. Bud vases holding mums, mini gourd topiaries, or slim hurricane jars filled with floating candles are all decor ideas that take up little room.

10. Fabric-Themed Table Decorations

If you're a proud DIYer, put your sewing skills to work and design a tablescape made (almost) entirely of varying textiles. Find materials in thrift shops or your closet to create vases of satin flowers, linen napkins, sweater pumpkins, and other handmade decor.

11. Think Outside the Table

Spread your creativity to every corner of your dining space to create a cohesive look that coordinates with your table decor. Place pots of mums, pumpkin topiaries, leaf garlands, and other autumnal additions around and above your dining set—excellent ways to avoid overcrowding your table while satisfying your desire to decorate.

12. Add Seasonal Scents to the Table Scene

Let the aroma of cinnamon, apples, cloves, or pears gently waft through your tablescape with candles or sachets of dried fruits and spices. Be careful not to use too much—just enough to give guests a subtle wink of fall.

Friends gather around a slate grey POLYWOOD Lakeside 7 Piece Farmhouse Dining Set, placed on a grey flagstone patio in front of a stone cottage covered in ivy.

Lakeside 7-Piece Farmhouse Dining Set in Slate Grey

13. Sparkling Tablescape

Because glitter makes everything better. Display shimmery faux pumpkins and flowers on a metal tray, or place clear glass votives on a table runner woven with glimmering metallic threads that catch the light.

14. Country-Meets-Chic Table Design

Mix rustic elements with upscale details to create an eclectic look. Crystal wine glasses and fine china on burlap placemats, gourd-filled wicker baskets sitting next to sterling silver candlesticks, and other mixed decor depict an elegant yet approachable setting.

FAQs

What makes a great tablescape?

Follow these tips to make a great tablescape:

  • Choose the right colors: Pick shades that fit the occasion and season.
  • Add greenery: A verdant flourish will liven up any tablescape.
  • Minimize clutter: A table overwhelmed with decor leaves little room for guests to enjoy their meals.
  • Mix textures: Blending a variety of patterns and textures can add depth to your aesthetic.
  • Try layering: Layering a lace runner over a linen tablecloth or stacking plates of different wood species adds depth and personality to a tablescape.

How do you make a pretty tablescape?

Planning ahead is the trick to creating an oh-so-pretty tablescape. Do a bit of research to learn about the pending celebration, the invitees, and the space. From there, determine the theme and color palette, then gather the appropriate materials. Try a test run to see if your tablescape design will work, and make adjustments as necessary.

What is the difference between table setting and tablescape?

A tablescape is a decorative arrangement of items on a table. It includes the centerpiece, place settings, linens, and other decor. A table setting is more technical, referring to the types of dishes and cutlery needed for a place setting and how to arrange them. Different dining occasions call for different table settings (e.g., a casual table setting needs only one fork, whereas a formal table setting requires different forks for the salad, dinner, and dessert courses).