How to: Set a fall-inspired table

Without a doubt, fall kicks off the busiest entertaining season of the year with the arrival of Thanksgiving. It’s a wonderful time of year to seek warmth indoors, particularly around a table of food, friends and family. But what’s the secret to a beautifully set table around which to entertain guests? Jackie Morra, an interior decorator and owner of Home Decor Solutions, a full-service interior decorating company serving the Greater Toronto Area, weighs in with her tips for creating a striking tabletop that’s on trend, too!

Q: What kinds of trends are we seeing when it comes to fall tabletop decor?
A: With the coming Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, there is a trend towards Canadiana. The idea of ‘back to nature’ is also top of mind and globalizing your home by adding motifs and styles from around the world.

Q: What colour palettes / colour combinations are hot this year, that can be used when setting your fall table?
A: Fall hues of olive, plum and peacock blues with grey as a neutral is the main colour story this season.  Bright oranges, deep reds, muted greens and browns are also great colour choices, influenced by Canada’s classic maple leaf. More neutral tones layered with white dishes create a rustic or traditional feeling table.  For a more urban or formal look, choose deep jewel tones of red, blue and purple used with grey as the neutral.

Q: Are there any new trends in serving ware?
A: In serving ware, the trend is toward the use of bright white dishes in interesting shapes and sizes, with elegant straight lines. For example, consider serving dessert on a long rectangular tray or dinner on a large square plate.  From kitchen to table, stylish and practical ovenware, dinnerware and serve ware is being used for everyday and entertaining. There is a trend toward mini-servings in smaller dishes, for example, serving three mini-desserts on a long narrow dish or a milkshake in shot glasses.

Q: How can people keep their entertaining environmentally friendly?
A: Be natural with accents such as using things from your fall garden, use your old dishes but add a few new accents to complement the colour, use soy candles instead of paraffin as it is a renewable resource and it burns cleaner and use cloth napkins instead of paper.

Q: What flowers/flower combinations look beautiful on a fall table?
A: Dried hydrangeas that have changed colours, dried leaves, grasses with mums or kale.