Dan's Papers - October 6, 2006 - The Center Of Attention

They can be found in almost every room in your home; they may have four legs, three legs, or even one. They can be made of oak, stainless steel, glass or chrome. They can vary from a standard, rectangular or square shape, to round, diamond-shaped and many others. What are they, you ask? They are tables, arguably one of the most important pieces of furniture to consider in your fall decorating adventures. Tables are a staple in every room, from your bedroom to your kitchen, and they all allow for stylish display space.

The presence of fall is all around us here on the East End. The pumpkins are out in the fields, adjacent to decorative scarecrows, flower arrangements, berries and corn. It is incredibly easy to transform your home by paying homage to the fall with elegant, simple centerpieces.

My family and I have always traveled to upstate New York during the fall season, not only to watch the leaves change and glow with color, but to pick up gourds as well. Gourds are the dried fruit of a large number of plants from the Cucurbitaceae family, and they come in many bright colors, shapes and sizes. My mother would arrange them casually in a glass bowl and garnish them with a few berries or leaves; since they are rarely ever used for consumption, they are perfect for table decoration.

With a little creativity and an eye for color, it is not very difficult to create your own centerpieces using items that are easy to find and cost much less than a professionally purchased arrangement. You can even create some that become edible when the season ends.

What is most exciting about table decorations and centerpieces for the fall are the numerous choices of rich colors and unique shapes available to enhance the atmosphere of any room. Typically, arrangements come in the form of pinecones, pumpkins, flowers, fruit and candles for lighting. For your base, you have the choice of using glass or wooden bowls, trays or platters.

Just recently, I walked into my friend's house and was taken aback by the festive pumpkin arrangement that she had displayed on her dining room table. She had purchased one medium-sized pumpkin, cut out the inside, and placed a thin layer of Styrofoam at the bottom. She then proceeded to arrange fresh Spider mums, sunflowers and burgundy roses in the pumpkin. Surrounding the main centerpiece were small pumpkins, which she hollowed out and to use as candleholders for tea lights. The main pumpkin stood atop a raised cake holder and the whole arrangement was very welcoming. Not only did this take her but a few moments to create, but it was also an inexpensive and charming way to get my attention.

Now, coming from a family that displayed non-edible table decorations like gourds and flower arrangements, you can only imagine how excited I became when I walked into a local restaurant the other day to find an edible fall centerpiece before me. A simple design, this arrangement of apples, cranberries, olives and nuts was displayed on a glass cake platter with twine and pinecone decorations for a rustic look. This arrangement not only smelled delicious, it also made a rich decorative statement.

With any arrangement or centerpiece, it is important to not only consider the types of tables you have in your home for display, but to also incorporate a sense of balance in your choices. For example, a centerpiece consisting of burgundy roses set on a table with elegant, gold-trimmed tableware can be matched with autumn-inspired tablecloths in colors such as gold or bronze. Also, if you choose not to arrange something that is edible, you can still stimulate the senses by placing fragrant, apple-cider sticks, green and terra-cotta eucalyptus stalks or scented candles around the table.

When it comes to fall decoration, you must not overlook the stylistic power of tables. Tables are a place where people gather to sit, talk, and eat. And an easy way to welcome guests and family is by simply taking time to spruce up your four-legged, three-legged and one-standed friends. It is also a great time to show off all of those ornate glass bowls and platters you collected over the summer. So, get inspired by the beautiful changes of fall and the season's bounty, and you'll likely conclude that nature has come up with some wonderful decorating ideas.