Setting the Table for Fall.

A stunning tablescape from West Elm; plus seven tips for setting a beautiful table of your own!

Today’s letter is in partnership with West Elm!

I love to set a beautiful table for dinner. Even if it’s only my family coming over for pizza, I like to make an effort and make things feel special. It brings me a lot of joy, and I really take pride in it!

Until more recently, putting together a pretty table felt intimidating. Now, after living in my house for just about two years, it has become second nature. Today, I’m sharing the dreamiest fall table, but I also wanted to share a few of my tips for setting a table (and entertaining in general!).

Links to everything featured: table runners, large vases, faux Queen Annes Lace branches, green dinner plates, marble salad plates, gold flatware, water glasses, napkins, napkin rings, gold table lamps!

I went a little moodier than usual here, and I absolutely love the result!

1. Use layers (and natural textures) to your advantage. In the tablescape I put together this summer, I layered placemats over a tablecloth. I loved the result. It was bright and vibrant; perfect for summer (in that case, I loved the mixed patterns). In this case, since I wanted my fall table to feel a little more moody, I let some of the natural wood of my table shine through. I considered doing just placemats, but when I saw these runners, I was inspired to use them as long placemats. The result was subtle stripe of wood. Traditionally, a runner is used in the middle of the table, but I adored how using two looked!

the napkin ring is key here! It makes the napkin look a little less rustic + cohesively ties into the water glass.

2. Invest in a great set of flatware. It’s like jewelry for your table; the most important accessory! I am lucky to have a few different collections of flatware, but this gold set from West Elm is far and away my favorite and most used. I love the more artistic shapes of the utensils—those spoons!

3. Lighting matters. Whenever I have friends over, the lights get dimmed, and the table lamps come out—that or loads of candles, depending on the mood. These little lamps (part of a collaboration with chef Marcus Samuelsson) from West Elm are so chic and cool. They charge using a USB port—super convenient!

4. Build a collection of vessels and non-perishable flowers/foliage. I love fresh flowers, but I don’t always have time to run out to grab them. These Queen Anne’s Lace branches are perfect for a last-minute centerpiece. West Elm has an amazing collection of vases (I love these and have a few different sizes!), I have several. You will laugh; I live in a small home with limited storage so I keep most of my vessels under my attic stairs. We have to get creative. I always like to have more vases than I think I’ll need. They make a great last-minute gift as well.

5. Have an anchor color that ties in with the rest of the room. Mine is green. I try to always incorporate green into my tables, even if it’s just a small detail. This isn’t mandatory but it keeps things cohesive, especially since the room’s trim is painted green. These green plates were the perfect anchor.

I love that these green plates tie in so well with the paint trim.

5. This might be a reflection of my maximalist tendencies, but I like to have at least two (complementary) patterns per tablescape. In my summer tablescape, I had four (!!!) but the West Elm/Rhode collab was all about layered textiles and patterns. These (incredibly chic) marbled plates are amazing and pair unexpectedly well with the more rustic napkins. Two is perfect. It’s creative but not chaotic.

7. This probably isn’t doable for everyone, but I like to set the table a night before I have people over. It’s one less thing I have to do the day of the party (plus, knowing me, I’m always making last-minute tweaks!).

PS - My dress!

Photography by Abby Pullicin.