Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart. As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
Last week was the first week that felt like fall and it was glorious. I mourn that the pool has become a polar bear swimming experience, but that is about all I’ll miss about summer. I love it when cooler weather comes in and I can don my hoodies and slippers. I also love decorating during fall and winter perhaps more than any other season. I don’t do a ton of specific holiday decorating, but I love seasonal decorating with elements that speak to that season as well as natural items.
I did a bit of shopping on Walmart to find some new items to mix into vintage and antique finds as well as some natural seasonal elements. I usually show finished tables, but I thought it would be fun to walk through how I put one together. I started with this tablecloth…
It’s maybe a smidge too small for my table with the leaf in, but I decided to use it with the leaves anyway. It covers the table but doesn’t have a generous overhang. With cats, that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
I added some seasonal elements and greenery with a mix of faux branches and a live heirloom pumpkin. The idea here is to create a focal point, some height, and to establish a feeling, theme, and/or color palette for the table. The branches are faux olive branches (THESE for just over $3/each) and ficus branches. I didn’t mix in live greenery because everything is thoroughly wet from the rain, but mixing live greenery in with faux is a great way to create a more convincingly real look. Both of these branches look pretty nice, though! I put them in an antique ironstone pitcher, but THIS is a new one that is similar.
I added a small white pedestal with fresh seasonal fruit to round out the centerpiece and set the table with vintage plates and water goblets. Most of my water goblets broke in the move, so I needed to pick up some new ones to have enough for holiday meals.
Doesn’t it look so pretty already? This is the point where I step back and see how everything is working together. I might tweak the items in the center until it looks balanced, pretty, and pleasing to my eye. Once I’m happy with the foundation, I’ll add all of the fillers and fun stuff to bring the table to life. I’ll just play, adding layers until it feels finished. I always love this part of the process because I usually get an idea of something I have in my stash that will make the table unique.
In the case of this table, I used some checked ribbon I purchased a few years ago to add over the plates and loosely weave around the centerpiece.
A fun element I added for a wow factor on this table was these fluted taper candles. The green is a slightly different shade than what I normally pick, but I like how they add an eclectic feel.
The flatware, plates, and napkins are all vintage, but, I also added mini Staub cocottes I’ve had for a few years. For serving a fall dinner, I would use these to serve up some soup as a starter or perhaps bake mini casseroles in them.
I loved this set of three candle holders that can be used to hold tapers or flipped over to hold tealights. They remind me of Victorian ink wells! I put a few on small vintage transferware and silver plates to add another layer and to catch any wax drips.
Here are a few more photos of the table because it was fun to photograph…
| blue checked ribbon | mini ceramic cocotte
And here is the table coming together. The kitties are always a big help.
Just for fun, I curated another fall tablescape look from Walmart. I picture using the ginger jars to hold branches and maybe some seasonal flowers.
It looks beautiful. You are fortunate to have a great selection of tableware to mix and match. I’m looking forward to seeing your home for the Christmas holidays. You have a great eye. My only hope is that the items you blog about are still available. I missed out on the items I tried to order last year because they sold out fast. My decorations are on their last legs so I’m trying to replace some.
I just love how the cats have to inspect everything! And the table looks lovely! I will have to check out those tapers.
Can’t wait to hear about the lovely dining room table and perfect chairs. It looks like the chairs have a similar tone to your beautiful cabinet. I hope this isn’t just a “holder”.
Very cozy table setting. You have the touch!
Glad to see it’s okay to use rectangle tablecloths on oval tables. Getting impossible to find oval cloths and am sick of cutting and hemming rectangles into oval. Lol. Love the color palette for fall. Cannot abide Orange in my house.
I love the way you mix vintage and new to make a unique and lovely tablescape. Walmart has such a great selection of items to choose from. You sure know how to make things cozy and “feel like home.”
So pretty. I love the mix of vintage and new.
Beautiful table setting. I really love the warm wood tones of the chairs and cabinet behind the table, and the pears and nuts pick up those colors on the table. Love it.
Marian! The new dining room looks gorgeous! I love your new table and chairs. The green velvet seats look so rich. Your tablescape is lovely and reminds me of an old oil painting of a fall game dinner. You are a great inspiration! Thanks for reminding me to check out Walmart, I don’t always think of them for my seasonal decorations.
My eye was drawn to those gorgeous candles! The color and the shape of them!
Also, when you do a tablescape like this, do you actually invite some people over for dinner afterwards?
It’s just beautiful! Do your cats not knock all the nuts into the floor? I tried having some out last Christmas and it didn’t go so well… 😂
I, too, love the tapered candles! It makes the table pop… Lovely centerpiece, as always, and with the kitty approval, it must be to their liking! Thank you for always sharing the links too! Oh!! And the green fabric on the chairs is just beautiful!! Makes me want to change the fabric on my breakfast room chairs.
I see my grand cats are in the program!!
It looks beautiful (of course!). Curious about how many stems you used in the pitcher? Just for reference. Thanks Marian!
Wondering why you do not. You polish your silver ?
I do polish my silver. These just weren’t polished recently and I didn’t mind.
I could stare at those photos for hours! Love the colours, details, antique mixed with new….it’s all just beautiful! Every time I see photos of your dining room with the vintage silverware and linens, I can always picture a family from the 1800’s dining for Sunday dinner. Lovely as always…
Everything is just beautiful. But I have to say I have a little problem with the cat walking around on the table…sorry!
Me, too!
It absolutely made my heart flutter to see through into the kitchen. I was already gasping over the lovely green chairs, the table setting, the gorgeous and unique cabinet and then to peer into the kitchen. Chef’s kiss.
I love the copper hanging from the ceiling and then echoed on the wall.
I loved your kitchen in Minnesota. (I’ve loved them all really.) You managed to take what appeared to be a builder grade kitchen up a thousand notches. I thought Minnesota was just perfect for storage and space and then this one happened!
The interesting thing is, everything you do makes me think you’re honoring the house, and it must have been cozy for the former occupants, that it was a beloved home for family before; and now it will be cozy for your family for years to come.
Very nice but I can’t imagine having a cat on my table. I do love the blue candles & blue accents.
Your kitty goes perfectly with the colors for the table..
This room is looking so good. Love the new chairs and green velvet seat cushions. I have followed you for years however I’m constantly having trouble lately with your posts crashing. I assume due to all the ads. I thought I should let you know that it’s to the point of being to much trouble to try to view which is so disappointing as I love your posts.