Let’s create a tablescape that says “welcome”, that feels cozy and charming and makes you wish you were invited to sit at the table. Do you know those kinds of tables that I’m talking about? A small gathering with a no fuss meal but with lots of laughter going around. Those are the gatherings I love to attend to and hopefully create as well.
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Now when I created this tablescape, simplicity was key; sometimes we put so much emphasis on a tablescape that we miss the purpose of creating it. A no fuss tablescape is just best because the guests feel relaxed, and in turn, so do you.
The use of mason jars as glasses here says it all, it’s an easy and relaxed atmosphere. Apples are spread out on the table that make you want to grab one and eat it before dinner, which, of course, you are welcomed to. This is not a formal dinner, but a casual dinner with family and friends.
Creating a welcoming dinning experience can be done with mostly items you might already have in your home. Bring your inside furniture out if you need to, a simple table, mismatched chairs, a bench, or a trunk as a seat, like I did here. Furniture does not need to all match, I actually prefer it not to match, because that way it feels more collected, welcoming, and relaxed.
Now for the tablescape, if you notice, I used a plain white tablecloth so the colorful fall napkins would pop on the table. I also mismatched the napkins on purpose for that relaxed feel I wanted for this tablescape.
I also used white dinner plates here so they would blend with the tablecloth and the only color popping would be the burnt orange of the napkins and the golden apples. And because this table is cozy small, less decor on the table is key.
Now for the flatware. You might feel that the use of the gold flatware here is a little fancy, but the truth was that they looked better at dinner time with the muted colors of dusk and it also brought the color of the golden bread to life. And yes, the placement of the flatware in this picture felt too formal to me, so I placed them on top of the plate instead as you seen on the previous picture.
Also on this top picture, you notice that the vase with the fresh eucalyptus is just placed in the middle of the table, but it felt like a little too cold, if you will, so I added this skinny bread board underneath it to warm it up.
Now that looked better, warmer and inviting.
All that was needed now was some candlelight, and the use of these votives was perfect, and so I placed them around the table.
My outdoors lights were also turned on and once the sun came down, the coziness it created was truly charming. I also provided a blanket or two for my guests, in case the night became chilly, and I turned my lanterns on to add a more cozy feel throughout.
Dinner was a simple minestrone soup with the rosemary bread you see on the table (from Trader Joe’s). Apple cider was available to drink from a pretty serving glass bottle. And a great cup of coffee and some apple crisp for dessert was served later.
Let’s just say that we linger and laugh more when I create a cozy atmosphere setup like this; and who doesn’t love spending a fun night like this with the people you love.
Like I said, a simple no fuss gathering is key for success. And making a pretty easy dinner works to your advantage so you get to enjoy the night as well and you don’t spend much time in the kitchen either.
Thank you for stopping by and I hope I have inspired you to create a similar cozy outdoor gathering with the people you love. Now I’m off to enjoy this cozy Fall tablescape with my friends.
Happy Gatherings,
Alicia
P.S. Create a similar look for your gatherings. Below are some sources for your convenience.