Hello Beautiful Friends! Today I’m sharing our casual fall dining room. It’s a little different this year. I usually decorate mantels symmetrically but you will see I stepped out of my comfort zone this time. The table centerpiece was simple so it all worked out.
Our Casual Fall Dining Room
Do you prefer mantels that are symmetrical? I do, so doing this one took about 30 minutes to think through. It all started with the word art I found at Pier 1. I thought it would be perfect for the dining room. At the store the piece looked large and in charge but when I got it home it looked minuscule! I’ve always preferred very large art work. Like old doors, screens, clocks, etc. The bigger the better. So you’d think I’d know what size to put up on the mantel. Nope. But since I really like the saying, I decided to make it work. Here’s where the asymmetrical comes in.
Hanging the wall art was worse because the empty wall space under the art work was large and very hard to fill. Therefore, I added an old chippy gate for height. It’s one of my favorites and you can find them at almost any antique/junk store.
Once that piece was added, the basket with wheat seemed like a logical choice for fall and I thought I’d add wheat to the opposite side of the mantel as well. To add more wheat on the other side I pulled out my trusty vintage bottles that you’ve seen a hundred times. They are so dang handy people. You should really get some. Since they are blue that wasn’t going to work so brown paper lunch sacks to the rescue.
Some of you might think I’m a boozer or that I really love wine because that’s what I thought at first. It looks like I just left the liquor store. LOL! But I promise, it’s my old vintage blue bottles.
The Easy Centerpiece
The centerpiece for the table was super easy. No container, just faux fall stems placed in opposite directions with four more floral picks added on each end and pumpkins sitting on top. It can’t get much easier than that for a fall centerpiece! If you prefer something a little more sparkly, interweave small votive candles with the stems. Or if you want it to stand out more, choose a large leaf stem with bolder color. You could always use a six foot garland. You know I’m a big fan of the garland.
The salad plates are from Hobby Lobby and to mix things up, I used four of the same plate on the sides of the table and the ends got a different style plate. I looked at the plates and could have gone with the same soft colors but chose deeper color for the napkins instead. I think it brings out more color in the plates and stems in the centerpiece.
Well that’s our casual fall dining room. What do you think? Do you like a fall table with color or do you prefer a neutral palette? Maybe you are an over-the-top show stopper table that everyone talks about for days or a table with simple elegance speaks more to your style. One thing’s for sure, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, this table will look different.
BTW, if you missed the outdoor tablescape from me and several of my blogger friends, click here to see that.
Your table and mantel look amazing. I love the paper bag idea. Everything looks great.
Thanks for sharing
Author
Thanks Judy. Paper bags come in handy for lots of decorating ideas. Hope you have a great week!
Cindy I really love what you did with your mantle. The piece of gate and the basket and wheat are perfect.
Your bottles look great too. Wrapping them in paper bags was a clever idea and works great for fall.
Love your dishes too.
Happy new week
Cindy
Author
Thanks Cindy. I have used that gate all around the house and still love it and it’s had a lot of different things hanging on it. I didn’t realize when I got it that it would be so handy. 🙂
Cindy you dining room is so pretty. Love all your Fall touches. Your table all the way to the mantel decor is so lovely. Love the tour. Have a wonderful Monday.
Author
Thank you Terrie. I love the new dining room paint color. Well it’s a year old now but goodness me, what a huge difference. I look forward to decorating it now. Before I didn’t want to step foot in it! Happy Monday!
Lovely ideas for your table! Happy day!
karianne
Author
Thanks KariAnne. Easy peasy pumpkin squeezy! 😉
Lovely! I also like the paper bag idea, great way to change up the bottles/jars you have, and so inexpensively! I think the color of brown paper bags/cardboard/craft paper is a great natural look, especially for fall. I recently wanted to frame some vintage sheet music that was smaller than my frames, so I filled in the background with torn pieces of brown craft paper using mod podge. I also have a chippy picket fence gate that was actually from our own backyard many years ago, we sold the rest of the fencing but kept a few sections that I use as decor inside and out. One gets used as a spring/summer fireplace screen. It’s a great memory from our first little house we bought as newly weds😊
Author
Wow Vicki, that’s awesome. I would have never thought to keep the gate. I bet it makes a great fireplace screen too! I may just have to try that. 😃 Thanks for the visit!
Great idea covering the bottles. I may have to try that with some I have that don’t match.
Author
Glad you found some inspiration today! Thanks for the visit. 😁
You inspired me to unwrap that same crystal. I was taking it to sell but I have now put it back in my buffet. I have 8 of the juice/wine, large water ( looks like a parfait glass) and the glasses as shown in your photo. Thank you for helping to change my mind!
Author
I have my set and LOVE them! So glad you are keeping yours! Soon I’m going to layer apple pie, cool whip and cheesecake in the parfait glasses! I’ll think of you when I do! 😁
Your sign was a must and is so true, especially when our children are grown. I love all your wheat, bottles, and old gate so cute. The table is perfect, the bounty of Fall, and love the colors.
Author
Thanks Marlene. That sign makes me smile and think of the kids. I’m dreading the day they are all spread around the U.S. and not close to home. Maybe they’ll stay but I’m bracing myself just in case. Happy Fall!
‘love the paper bags!
Author
Thanks Dina. That means a a lot. Happy Fall!
Lovely, as always, Cindy! You crack me up, too… boozer! I didn’t even think that until you said it! I was more thinking about my recent experience with dried wheat. I think I need to try again! 😉
Author
Thanks Julie, That is seriously the first thing I thought of when I wrapped the bottles up. My parents would have said I looked like a wino. LOL. 🙂
I have the same hobby lobby plates! It’s wonderful to see another blogger like, and use them in a tablescape.
Really cute table and that gate – love it.
Visiting from Yellow Brick Home and pinning!
Author
Thank you Rachelle! I love those plates. Glad you visited today and thanks for the pin too!