Outdoor Fall Tablescape: Create a Stunning Harvest-Inspired Table
Looking for outdoor fall tablescape ideas to transform your autumn gatherings? Creating a beautiful outdoor fall tablescape is easier than you think when you embrace the rich, warm colors of the harvest season. I’m showing you how I created an outdoor fall tablescape so you can design one, too.
From golden yellows and burnt oranges to deep burgundies and rustic browns, fall offers a natural palette that makes outdoor entertaining truly special.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to design a stunning outdoor fall tablescape using seasonal elements like pumpkins, foliage, and warm-toned linens that will impress your guests and celebrate the beauty of autumn.
Whether you’re hosting a fall gathering, a casual weekend brunch, or Thanksgiving dinner al fresco, these ideas will help you create an inviting atmosphere that captures the essence of fall.
Between now and Thanksgiving, everything is about creating a feeling of warmth and coziness.
Entertaining increases during the last few months of the year. How do you increase the pleasure of hosting friends and family during this time?
Setting a pretty, seasonal table is my choice – it’s my favorite way to gather friends. My first seasonal tablescape endeavor is an outdoor fall tablescape with harvest colors.
Steps to Designing an Outdoor Fall Tablescape
The Vision for this Outdoor Fall Tablescape
I think before you start any project, you have a vision and a plan to carry it out. Here was my vision:
- Even though it is still warm here in Texas, I knew that I would set this tablescape in our backyard. As soon as the sun, the air turns cooler, and it’s delightful outside.
- Use items that I already have. In fact, the only things I bought were two bunches of sunflowers at Trader Joe’s and four votive candles at Hobby Lobby.
- I planned to use a set of dishes that I have never used before in a tablescape. These dishes have the color and design that would be perfect for an early fall tablescape.
- Focus on harvest colors: shades of green, golden yellow, burnt orange, a hint of soft blue, and metallic copper.
- Natural materials would also play a role: woven jute, metal, ceramic dishes, and fabric.
Ingredients for the Outdoor Place Settings
I picked all these ingredients with fall colors and textures in mind. The day before I set the table, I gathered all the items I would need for the outdoor fall tablescape on our breakfast room table.
- Round woven placemats/chargers – I’ve had these for a while. They have a rustic texture that speaks of fall.
- Here are the dinner and salad plates – Sweet Shark and I bought eight place settings, including bowls at Neiman’s not long after we married. Although I love the colors and patterns, I don’t use them often. I should. There are four different patterns and color combinations.
- Fall-colored napkins in green, burnt orange and gold. Another item that I’ve had for years from Crate and Barrel.
- My Dollar Tree wine glasses with the fall leaf motif would be the perfect complement to the dishes.
- Fall-colored votive candles – I picked these up at Hobby Lobby. I will take the plastic wrappers off.
Place Setting Embellishments
Sunflowers are iconic fall flowers. I wanted to use them to “garnish” each place setting. Small vintage pots – a flea market find – provided the right size, color, and natural material.
I picked two green and two terra cotta pots. Since they have holes, I found votive candle holders to hold the flowers and filled them with water.
I cut four sunflowers to fit the holders and then stuffed Spanish moss around them.
Setting the Fall Tablescape Outdoors
With all my ingredients gathered, it’s time to set the outdoor tablescape.
When did I set the fall table? About thirty minutes before our guests arrived, as the sun was just starting to set. That way, the flowers wouldn’t wilt and the dishes would stay clean. It was slightly cooler, and there was a nice breeze.
Since I had everything ready to go, setting the table took me about ten minutes.
- For the centerpiece, I brought in the perfect fall metallic – copper. I bought this copper pitcher at a local antique mall.
- The hydrangeas are the last of this year’s crop. I finally cut about 6 blooms that had turned to the limelight colors. They are in water now, but soon I’ll allow them to dry for future use.
- I added the placemats and dinner plates.
Here is a fall outdoor tablescape from a couple of years ago using the copper pitcher.
Here you can see some of the different designs on the dishes.
- To save space, I folded the napkins and placed them on the dinner plates.
- Next came the salad plates.
- The next addition to the fall place setting were the leaf wine glasses.
- Now, I could add the sunflower pot to the plate stack.
- The final element was silverware. I found these white-handled forks and knives in a picnic backpack that we have had for years.
Was I done with this outdoor fall tablescape with harvest colors?
No. I realized I still had six more sunflowers that needed to be used. I added them to the hydrangea centerpiece.
In the evening, as the sun started to go down, we turned on all our outdoor lighting. Finally, I lit the candles.
We had invited Sweet Shark’s sister and brother-in-law for dinner to enjoy our dining with our outdoor fall tablescape. We served grilled hamburgers, baked beans, coleslaw, and ice cream.
I took more pictures before we sat down to dinner.
I love how the candlelight reflects in the copper pitcher.
Need some more fall tablescape ideas? Here are 5 of my favorite fall tablescapes.
I hope this outdoor fall tablescape inspires you and gives you ideas for your own outdoor table setting in the coming weeks.
Check out and follow these Pinterest Boards for more ideas: Fall Tablesapes and Outdoor Spaces,
Carol, your table is perfect for fall!! I love the sunflowers tucked in with the hydrangeas and all of your plates and napkins just say Hello Fall! I featured your post at last week’s Share Your Style #318 for you but I failed to get back over to let you know. Hope all is well with you.
Happy fall hugs to you,
Barb 🙂
Thank you so much, Barb. I appreciate your featuring my tablescape.
So beautiful and cozy. I am ready for Fall this year! Thanks for sharing your lovely table with us this week. #HomeMattersParty
Carol, I love everything about your sunflower table! Those dishes are perfect for the season, but I could also see how they would work for other seasons as well! I love your approach to styling your table and follow a similar process myself. I will definitely be “borrowing” the idea of the sunflowers in the tiny pots! I have tiny glass yogurt chairs that would tuck perfectly inside a clay pot. Such a pretty touch!! We really need better dollar stores here in Canada! Those leaf motif wine glasses are so pretty!! Very intrigued about the artificial turf and can’t wait to see more of your renovated yard!!
Carol I love all the sunflowers! Your color palette is lovely, and the rustic chargers and bright copper pitcher work really well together. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. Pinned! xo Kathleen
Sunflowers and hydrangeas in a copper vessel is the perfect intro to fall for me. The flowers speak of fall’s exuberance and the warmth of copper is always beautiful. The place settings and linens reflect all the colors of fall. The outdoor setting is wonderful, particularly in the photos taken at dusk with the candles lit. Can’t wait to see your backyard reno and the synthetic grass!
So beautiful Carol! The colors are gorgeous together and the sunflowers… I can’t get enough of them! I love fall dinners outside but it’s always hit or miss with the weather here! Thanks for the inspiration and have a wonderful fall season ahead!
Carol, I think this may be my favorite table of yours! I love it! The bold orange, green and yellow color scheme that you chose is so striking. The outdoor garden patio setting is lovely. I can’t wait to see your backyard makeover reveal! I can’t believe you’ve had those plates for so long and never used them in a tablescape. They’re so unique and fun! I regret that I didn’t pick up some of those DT leaf glasses when I saw them last. They are perfect for your table! Your photos look amazing, too 😉 It’s always a pleasure to hop with you. Pinned!
Carol, this is outstanding! I keep going back to those plates and bowls – LOVE those colors, shapes, and varied designs, wow! I have a friend who put a synthetic lawn in her backyard and it is truly wonderful. I love visiting with her in her yard, and I know you will have many good times to come in yours. Your tablescape is perfect to welcome fall. Your DT wine glasses reminded me of a pair I had with a neat wine caddy – forgot all about it until I saw your glasses. Your thought process and layout is a great addition to our blog hop. Thank you for participating!
Carol, such a cute, fun fall table!!! I love all the color. Your little sunflower pots are adorable and your centerpiece is gorgeous!! This looks like a great table for a bunch of girlfriends to enjoy an evening around a table!!🌻Wishing you a wonderful Autumn 🍂🧡
This is fabulous!
There are no more beautiful colours that Autumn ones….such an eye pleasant post!
Carol, Even tho I reside in Florida, I am still a ‘sunflower from the sunflower state’…so I really appreciate your sunflowers and your use of the copper vase as these are perfect together! I had to chuckle when I saw your first pic and the plastic coverings on your lovely Fall candles….I was sure you would remove them for further pics and you did as well as comment about the plastic. LOL (Yes, I am afraid I am ‘one of those’ who like to have my real candles lit and show that they are actually being used and not for ‘show’ ….although for years I have been using luminarias with life-like wicks. but are really run by batteries…much safer that way for me as I tend to go off with lit candles still in the room.
Your table is lovely and your plates unique. Clever girl. Always a pleasure to hop with you! 🙂
Kari @ Me and my Captain
I love the sunflowers. Pinned!
WOW! Great Fall tablescape!
Thank you!
Carol, those plates are so cute. Love the sunflower theme. The individual sunflower 🌻 pots are so fun. I love using copper and your centerpiece is lovely. The plate stack is so pretty. The leaf goblets are so fun and perfect to welcome autumn. Always a pleasure joining you on these fun blog hops.
Thank you, Linda. Everything just came together with those little pots.Great hop with so many pretty tables.
Carol, how wonderful you could photograph in the morning hours before it got so hot. I agree with Sarah, use the NM plates more often, the colors are fabulous. I love sunflowers and they are a perfect flower for the fall. It is always fun hopping with you. Happy Autumn!
Yes, Pam, I do need to use those plates more in tablescapes. We use them only occasionally, even though we both love them. Happy Hopping with you.
Carol, you need to use those plates more! They are so fun and whimsical and the colors are terrific. I love the edges! The rope charges are a nice touch as are the colorful napkins. Alfresco dining is the best, and your table setting is certainly welcoming. Happy Autumn!
I know, I know. We will do more outdoor dining as the weather cools off. The colors in the plates are perfect for fall. I’ll just have to remember!!
Carol,
Really enjoy learning someone’s thought process when designing a Tablescape. Perfect for outdoors.
Lynne, Thrifting Wonderland
Carol, your alfresco table glows with the feeling of fall. I love your use of patterns and colors in the plates, glasses and cute accessories like the potted sunflowers. I think I’m going to borrow that idea for a future fall table!
This is lovely Carol, beautiful outdoor setting and being a huge sunflower lover I was an instant fan! Love the pots you styled with the sunflower blooms for each place setting, so cute! The copper vessel for the centerpiece flowers is perfect and the candles at night add such a delightful ambience. Your plates are so unique, and the colors are perfect for this time of year. Beautiful!
This is so pretty, Carol! Looks like we are on the same page with copper and sunflowers for fall! I love your little sunflower pots–pinned! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Love the colors and the plates are fantastic! pinned
Carol, this is such a welcoming table, and you captured it at the perfect time of day! I am ready to sit down and join you for dinner! It is still WAY too hot to enjoy being outside here in Florida, but I do look forward to dining outdoors again soon! Your new dishes are beautiful and I can see you using them in so many different settings. The copper pitcher was the perfect centerpiece for this time of year!