Fast fall tablescape idea
September 18, 2012
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Well, since we decided to change up the dining room (and make it a library), we no longer have a dining room table. ;) I do kind of miss decorating one, just a little. It was fun to decorate…at least I could do that even if we never ate at it. ;)
Here’s one of my fall-inspired settings from a couple years ago:
Now, I dream of a long farmhouse-type table in our kitchen. Which is not happening unless we knock out a wall or two. Hmmmm…
Anyway, I thought I’d share one of my favorite decorative pieces and how I worked it for fall. It would be perfect down the middle of a kitchen or dining room table!
I showed you how I made the “trough” under the TV in the family room here. It was SO easy to make, and super cheap! (Free for me since I used scrap wood.) It was a tad thin, so I’ve had a plan to make one that’s just slightly wider so I can cram more decorative stuff inside.
So I did. :) I grabbed $10 worth of wood and put it together like I showed you in the link above. It only took me about 30 minutes from start to finish, it really is so simple (especially if you have a miter saw).
This one is the same length, but about three inches wider. For more STUFF. Whooo! For this fall-themed piece, I started with my standards – the beady stuff:
And a bag of pumpkins I got for $1 each at Walmart last year:
I was going to spray paint them for another project but they were the perfect size for the trough. I filled it with the beady stuff and then laid the pumpkins in here and there:
I still needed to fill a few spots, so I added a few pine cones:
All it needed now was some ambiance. So I grabbed some of my tea light holders
and stuffed them in any empty spots:
Obviously you DON’T want to use real candles! I use the little LED votives from the Dollar Tree – three for a buck and I love their warm light:
I use them for everything now, have for years. With the kiddo and cats that climb all over anything, I just don’t feel comfortable with real candles anymore. At least in a spot like this. :)
And the fake ones flicker like a real candle. Love them.
The new trough holds way more, which is important for fall and Christmas! That filler isn’t wimpy:
The thinner one sits perfectly in one of our longer window sills, so it will stay out. :)
This is our first touch of fall this year, and I love it so much I think I’ll keep the “candles” lit all day!:
Wouldn’t something like that be lovely on a table? I had all of my filler, but you need some, I find the beady stuff and fall items at Hobby Lobby. It’s on sale constantly this time of year.
What do you use for the middle of your table? It’s such a simple thing but can be so hard to decorate, at least I think.
I love it! It is very similar to the tablescape I posted today. Great minds think alike! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the soft glow of the candles...too funny about the disclaimer, but I guess there are totally people out there who would stick a flame in there. ;) Looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThat looks great! I would love to make one wider and lower for my dining room table. I think I even have spare wood to do it! Yay!
ReplyDeleteYou give me so much ideas! Makes an Apt feel more cozy and like a home. A must for me to do this fall. :)
ReplyDeleteSo simple, so beautiful. That's what I like. Great photos, as usual. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I too dream of a long farm table...some day!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Jo-Anna
very pretty. i love its simplicity. if it were on a kitchen table, it wouldn't get in the way of real life. that's what i love about it. it works for every day living.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so pretty, I would love a trough like that.
ReplyDeletePerfection in simplicity!
ReplyDeleteI also stuffed my tool box with pumpkins and (beady things ) , bitter sweet garland. Never thought to add my led votives. That is a wonderful idea. Will be adding them as soon as I finish this message. . Luv your under the tv.. so hard to come up with something not intrusive there. Mine is over the mantle and it inhibits my mantle scaping...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing..
Cheers, Gee
Hi Sara!
ReplyDeleteLove the fall display, but was curious about the lamps. I LOVE that green color. Did you do them yourself or did you purchase somewhere. Thanks!
I LOVE this. I am new to your site and love all your craft projects. My husband and I are going to make one this weekend and if they turn out, maybe make a couple for gifts.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. I wonder if my kids would tear it apart. Oh, wait...
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE it! I'm going to try it out myself. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love that idea! I just finished my fall mantle this weekend. I didn't want any orange yet 'cause my living room is all greens/ browns/teals. I laid my gold magnolia leaf garland across the top and interspersed my green & silver pears in the leaves. Then I added a few tall wooden candle holders. When hubby came home, he loved it!
ReplyDeletei love this..it is simple and fast. sometimes we need that! I am sure the library gets much more use;)
ReplyDeletexo
Love it! I'm definitely going to keep this in mind when I stock up on out of season fall stuff this winter :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! I have a wood box, tealight holders and a bunch of those walmart pumpkins. I can't wait to make one of these. Any excuse to make a trip to Michaels...just need to pick up some fall foliage and the led tealights, and anything else that just "happens" to make it into my cart, haha!
ReplyDeleteHoney you need to be careful about having your cable box, dvd, and amp under the dresser. I used to have a glass tv stand with a shelf at the bottom that rested about 2 inches from the ground and my cable box ended up going out because of the obscene amount of dust the vents on the side of it collected from being so close to the ground....now I only caution you because yours are literally on the ground. Just proceed with caution honey because you could be damaging your electronics without even knowing it. I would either line them on top and put the beautiful trough on top of them or cut out a rectangle in the middle drawer, put in a piece of plexi glass, and put your electronics inside there so they still work with the remote. Would look gorgeous. Best wishes to you, I love your site and visit everyday. Love, Eloise.
ReplyDeleteEloise, you are too sweet! Thanks so much for that comment. I was worried about that too, but when the electricians came to move everything to that wall last year I asked them specifically about putting those underneath. I was worried about the dust too. They actually laughed and said the dust down there isn't as bad as when they are put into cubbies in an open TV cabinet. They really do stay remarkably dust free! Thank you for your concern though, you are so sweet.
ReplyDeleteAmber, HA! I got those from Target over the summer and last I looked they are still there! :)
ReplyDeleteLOve the idea of spray painting mini pumpklins! adorable.
ReplyDeletexo,
Jamie
http://www.candystilettos.com
This is one of my favorite blogs.Waht a talent you are! I love the beady things. Where did you get them. I have some but I like the colors in your better!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, and would love to give it a try. I love how you made it so long! It has such a wonderful feel to it and it's unique because it's not the short stout centerpieces we usually see this time of the year! I think there are hundreds of ways to personalize this a bit too. It would also look great in a long low wicker tray or basket too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Shirley
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ABowForMama
Love it all! I especially love the berry beaded garland! So many things you can do with it and wrap it around! Wonderful display for fall!
ReplyDeleteLove it! It's so simple, yet fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWow Sarah! great job! I love it! I have a question about the wood you used. It looks so nice, like it's reclaimed barn wood. Where did you buy it and what kind of wood is it? Maybe you say so in the link tutorial. I'll check it out, but if not, please do let us know. Everything came out PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteI'm seriously thinking about asking my husband to make me one of these. I've been wanting a dough bowl forever and a day, but they are too pricey. This is a great alternative.
ReplyDeleteHappy Fall. Like the look of that wooden box with the pumpkins.
ReplyDeletefollowing you.
Patricia http://topiaryrose.blogspot.com
Love this and your pumpkin wreath. Definitely screams fall and is so easy.
ReplyDeleteWith all the DIY decorating of candles/votives/holders, it makes me nervous that people really don't realize that all that decor is FLAMMABLE! I hope everyone's using the LEDs!
Sarah, where did you buy your scalloped edge white plates? I found two somewhere either at TJ Maxx or Goodwill and I would love to get a whole set. Everything is beautiful! 4littlepilgrims@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your trough! Thank you so much for sharing... I'm definitely inspired to make one!
ReplyDelete