So, it’s Wednesday afternoon, the middle of September, and about 90 degrees outside. :)
But, it’s Fall Y’all!!
Well, at least that’s what everybody keeps saying. 
We’ve lived on the Caribbean island of Curacao for nearly 3 years now. And I can’t say that I really miss the seasons. I don’t miss bitter cold, dark winter mornings. Darkness at 4pm. Frigid windy, rainy days. Slippery, icy roads. Scraping off the car after a snowstorm.
I really don’t miss any of that.
But man, I have always loved those first few days of fall. The days with cool, crisp air. When you are finally perfectly comfortable in your favorite sweater and jeans … and wool socks with Birkenstocks. Ahhhhhh! The memories. :)
But I saw a tree today, and this tree just made me feel like fall.
And I found myself doing this … creating a little tablescape with 5 fall centerpiece ideas. Here’s what I think are great elements to consider when thinking of fall centerpiece ideas.
1. Lentils – They’re inexpensive, the perfect fall color and oh so versatile. Line the bottom of a tray with them to display tea lights. Or fill votives to various heights to group candles. I think corn kernels would work, too.
2. Beglittered Tea Lights – This would even work with the LED tea lights. Brush on some glue or mod podge and add some bling to your centerpiece. I had silver, but think gold or copper would be a fun glitter color for this idea. (Full disclosure – My very creative cousin, Deanna, gave me this idea last Christmas when I declared that “glitter makes everything better“.)
3. Leaves – Branches from that tree that reminded me of fall found their way into two cute vintage glasses. And random leaves are the perfect addition of a little colorful, textural element.
Side note – I saw these leaves on one of our regular evening walks around the neighborhood. Grabbed a few handfuls not knowing what I was going to do with them. So when the girls and I had a little encounter with another neighborhood dog, and I didn’t have my hands free to reel the dogs in … it seems like a good idea to try to grab the leash with my arm. Say hello to my fancy leash burn.
Ouch! It didn’t even occur to me to drop the leaves. #smartypants
4. Add a local touch – For me, that means sea urchins or coral or shells … something coastal. Maybe you have pine cones or river rocks or rusty old farm tools. Whatever you have that brings in a bit of your location will give your tablescape character and charm.
5. A little somethin’ DIY – Maybe it’s something your kids have made or just a little bit of ‘you’ to give your centerpiece a personal touch. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or fancy. It could be a palm frond pumpkin or coral name card holders.
Here are the full tutorials for the palm frond pumpkin (which could probably be made with raffia or any other long leaf option) and the coral name card holders (I also use them as a casual photo display piece).
And let me know what your centerpiece tips are. Do you like all of the natural elements, or prefer something a little different? Do you have go to items that just always seem to work? Or do you just eat at the coffee table?
I just might share this at Tip Junkie, BNOTP, DIY Show Off, Positively Splendid, Home Stories A to Z, House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue and Savvy Southern Style.
Wow that is some tablescaping Karah, I am so impressed and love the lentil idea
Those are great ideas; thanks for sharing. The lentils are definitely my favorite idea!
Never thought of using lentils and I really like their soft color and they work so well with the nature feel I think a fall table works best. And I would have never thought that I’d find the combo of glitter tea lights + lentils so appealing, but I sure do! Epsom salts or large chunk sea salt is a good alternative for a “crystal look” if you don’t have glitter.
Ouch!! Hope your arm heals fast! Love your pretty decor, right up my alley!
yup, plates in our laps in front of the tv! great tips that I will use when we do use the table.
I absolutely adore your pumpkin, and it’s even more gorgeous on your table! I may have to hop down for Thanksgiving!
i adore the glittered tea lights! so cute!
Love it! The glitter, the pumpkin, the beachy items! It’s perfect for a Caribbean autumn!
I think the lentil idea is genius (I’m going to steal it!), and I love the local touches you added to your pretty table. Very nice!
Love the neutral color pallatte and all the beautiful textures…not to mention all the blingy candles. Gorgeous!
Ouch!!! That’s a mean leash burn
But, wowzers on your palm frond pumpkin! Love that!!!
Oh wow, I love everything here!!! That is such a beautiful table!! The lentil idea is awesome – so easy and so smart!!
Great ideas! Love the lentils- great color and texture! Love all the earthy elements!
Too bad about the dogs and the leash! That looks like it hurts!
Beautiful!! I still love your DIY pumpkin!
Great ideas, Karah — I love to use lentils! Coffee beans rock, too, and they smell sooooo good. And you even “took one for the team” with your centerpiece gathering battle wound.
xo Heidi
Your centerpieces are wonderful, very festive and the best part is inexpensive! Love the natural look of the beans.
Great tips! That pumpkin is SO COOL.
Hello Karah. Your newest follower here.
I know.. everyone has seen the pumpkin before… except me. But I got a good giggle when I did. Why? I too spent time in the Caribbean and had to ‘make do’ with what was on hand. Knew what it was made from and giggled for a bit. Too cute!!! Luv it … Beautiful table scape.
Here’s to seeing more of your designs..
Cheers, Gee
Pop on by and visit me some time.
http://www.simplymedesignsbygee.blogspot.com
Thanks.
I love the Fall scape…but I don’t like the leash scrape…HA..There’s a rhyme for you Kara
Seriously thought the Fall Scape is beautiful and I love the lentil idea. Never thought of that!
As always…Love to the fuzzies
What a great idea with that pumpkin. I will copy when I will back from The Philippines.
Happy w/end.
/CC
I especially like how none of these things are, like, “use then store for the next 11 months.” Sometimes that’s how I feel a lot of stuff on the blogosphere is, and for me it’s a turnoff. But this is really really pretty…and practical. Gold star for you. And a gold bandaid for that there leash burn…
-Brittney
http://smartgirlstyle.blogspot.com
I totally hear you. I just don’t have room to store things for 11 months out of the year … or the desire to spend a ton of money on holiday decor. But now I really want a gold bandaid!
Your leafy pumpkin is so awesome. I like your simple decor and all the natural elements.
Love all of them, but especially the tea lights! They always look so ugly with their metal holders, and this is a great way to jazz ‘em up! Thanks for the tip, I’ve pinned it too
Debbie
Love your Pumpkin! I would never have thought to use lentils, but you are right, they are perfect for Fall!
Sorry about leash burn, I would have held on to the leaves too. A little pain just makes your character stronger
We live near a golf course. I will find some stray balls for my centerpiece this year, keeping it real.
so beautiful! we’ve pinned you to our happy hour linky party board…thank you for inspiring…hope your arm feels better soon…xo
Ouch….take care of that arm!…OK…so the trick is that I need a dog to walk to scour the area for great things to make such as the Palm Frond Pumpkin!….I had lived in Florida most of my life and never saw anyone do this…you are too darn creative…I am sending this to my sisters…they will love it!!! as I do!!….Yes, it is hard to imagine fall in paradise with warm balmy breezes and the green palm fronds blowing in the breeze and the sound of the surf crashing onto the beach…sigh, sigh…
Ouch that leash burn! Love the lentils. I’m having company on Thursday (some teacher friends who have never been here before–eeek, I am always so self-conscious of my house) and might have to put together a little fall centerpiece. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sweet Autumn Blessings to you!
Stopping by through bnotp tablescape party.
Enjoyed seeing your ideas on your blog.
God bless.
d
Great ideas as well.
Beautiful tablescape, Karah!
What a Beautiful, Beautiful Tablescape!
This is just beautiful! I love fall, it’s my fav time of year and this table setting just oozes Fall!
Pinned! Might i also compliment you on your use of bold and titles in the beginning? So impressed blog-buddy:)
Why thank you!
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Karah, those glitter candles are my fave! What a genius idea! Thanks for the great tips!
Thank you, Beth!
I love those glittered tea lights and your palm frond pumpkin! So creative
glitter really does make everything better!
Ouch. So sorry about your burn. Love your centerpiece ideas, and photos.
Thank you so much, Rosemary. The arm is much better!!
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Ouch! Sorry about the boo boo!
But that fall centerpiece is gorgeous! Beautiful DIY details, Karah! Wow!
Thank you so much, Roeshel!
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Ouch–that is some wallopin’ leash burn–hope that it heals quickly for you. I love your tips, and what pretty leaves and seeds?? fruits?? are attached to them. In all honesty, if we have company over, our table is so small that any centerpieces get moved out of the way so we and the food can all fit. If it’s just us, I like to use some kind of fabric or placemat that contrasts with the tablecloth, and I use that to form a little foundation for a vignette.
Yes, they are all attached, isn’t it a pretty plant? It’s a tree actually, with these beautiful branches of leaves and balls. I like your contrasting color idea!!
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Featuring your post today on my blog – thanks for linking it up to my Traditions Thanksgiving Linky Party!
http://www.settingforfour.com/2012/10/need-some-thanksgiving-holiday.html
Thank you so much!!
We just got back to NC from Curaçao Love it! Will def go back . You are so blessed to live there! Do you speak Dutch? We flew to Bonaire to dive and did not know what we were buying cause everything was in Dutch! Happy Fall Y’all!
I’m so glad you liked Curacao! I don’t speak Dutch, I find that everyone here speaks English for the most part. And I’ve learned most of the major pleasantries in Papiamentu, the local language. But my husband and I are thought of as Dutch often due to our light hair.
I hear the diving in Bonaire is the BEST! I hope you enjoyed it
Very lovely table decor….found you at the “Under the Table” party where I linked my fall table decor,too!
Thank you so much, JP!
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Your tablescape is awe inspiring! I love the sea urchins (and the glitter, too!) And that palm frond pumpkin is gorgeous.
Thanks for linking up to our party.
This is great inspiration! I love the use of natural elements whenever possible. Your palm frond pumpkin is to die for! Thank you for linking up to the Better Late Than Never Thanksgiving bloghop.
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