Freshen Your Autumn Centerpiece

With fall in the air, many of us are looking for ways to bring autumn vibes into our home decor. I’ve mentioned before how a tablescape can create a warm and inviting atmosphere in our home. And what better time of year to feel warm and welcomed than fall? The warm colors, the spices, and the traditional warm meals are just some of the ways our homes become places that make our family feel cozy and loved. Now you will easily find every fall decor imaginable in stores, but I feel like that takes some of the authenticity out of the season. After all, it is harvest time and decorating with the things we find in nature or the seasonal finds in markets and stores, can really bring that authentic autumn feeling into the heart of your home. Besides, using what we have locally or seasonally is as traditional as it gets.

I love working with seasonal fruits and vegetables. They are not only affordable but edible. Who doesn’t love an edible centerpiece? This is my way of killing two birds with one stone. Having seasonal fruits as part of my centerpiece also makes it look real, after all, they are real. The same goes for pumpkins, leaves, pine cones, branches, and even some of the pieces you use in your home. So many of these items are sold in stores and are fake, what is the advantage? They last many years. But how many of us still go to a pumpkin patch to buy some pumpkins, buy some seasonal produce because we can’t find it any other time of year, or have the kids bring all the fall foliage they can find inside from the yard? Instead of buying fake stuff this year, try something new.

Take from the things you are already going to do and save some money. Take the pumpkins you and your kids picked out at the local pumpkin patch. Not only did you create lasting memories with them and take adorable photos, but now your kids were a part of picking out the show stopper for the tablescape. Make a new family tradition and go pick some pine cones in the woods, or maybe it’s the park. This is always a blast for children and is so simple yet such a wonderful way to spend quality time as a family. Making a game of it too is easy, competing to see who can find the biggest, or funniest looking pinecone is sure to make the whole family laugh.

The secret is to find what nature has to offer around you and make a memory of it with the family. Before you know it your centerpiece now holds a deeper meaning for each member of the house. This year I enjoyed shopping for seasonal fruit. Grapes are in season right now and while you normally find them all year round, this time of year brings a larger variety of colors. I especially enjoyed the black grapes because they added a deep autumn color to the table and they were absolutely delicious! It took a second bag to actually decorate because the first got eaten up before I even decorated. Our little pumpkins were very special this year since our daughter handpicked them herself. We had so much fun taking her to her first pumpkin patch and watching her sit and try to lift some pumpkins. Now each time I walk by the table I see her three little pumpkins and smile remembering the warm memories we made.

An added bonus to using seasonal fruits and nature's offerings is nothing goes to waste. Some of the pumpkins will be used for desserts or soups and the fruit is typically eaten quickly. One thing that is fun for me is getting to change some of the fruits weekly. Since fruit typically is eaten quickly, and can’t be left out as long as pumpkins, I get to be creative with my grocery store finds and tweak my tablescape each week. Another great thing to keep in mind, and I’ve said this before, use what you already have. Do you need to buy another wooden sign that says harvest, grateful, or blessed? Not necessarily. Find some of the pieces you already have in your home that can also help bring more of a personal touch to the tablescape. Our home decor should reflect our personal style after all. We sometimes think we need to buy more decor or items for our home for each occasion or festivity. However, reusing so much of what we already have is not just a great way to resourceful, but it is sure to show our unique and personal flare.

So this year for your autumn tablescape, try to focus on the seasonal gifts nature has to offer and be creative with your produce. Go shopping in your home first and look for old bottles, books, chinaware, and baskets that can help create that cozy fall centerpiece. You will see that your centerpiece will help unify that autumn feeling in your home while not necessarily being the same decor everyone else is doing. It will be a wonderful reflection of your home, your memories, your family, and yourself.