Inside:  This modern fall tablescape is cozy, simple, and only looks expensive. Get the look by mixing a few DIYs and new purchases, and what you have on hand.

Two things are super important to me when deciding how to decorate my dining table for a holiday. One, it can’t be too fussy and two, it can’t be too expensive.

To keep both these things in check I like to mix in a few simple DIY projects with some inexpensive store bought items. Today I’m sharing exactly how I pulled together this modern yet cozy Fall Tablescape, including sources.

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You may remember a peek at my dining room decorated for fall during my fall home tour and most of the comments I received were about the centerpiece. Ain’t it pretty?

The Centerpiece:

I love this centerpiece because well, it looks pretty, but did you know it prompted me to learn how to make posole? Sure did!

How does a centerpiece prompt a new favorite recipe you ask?

Well I was determined to find a big ass tin can and that one right there in the middle was filled with hominy for only 2 bucks! So let’s just say I had some hominy on hand and couldn’t just waste it! I ended up finding an amazing recipe for posole that I made in the crockpot (which usually I don’t get along with at.all.) and it was fantastic!

Ok. Back to the easy “how-to” fall centerpiece.

I gathered up some tin cans (the big one was hominy, the tall ones were baked beans, and the others were regular size. 🙂  I removed the labels, used goo-gone to get the sticky stuff off, and gave them a nice coat of gold spray paint. Done!

To keep it simple but add some nature, I filled the cans with baby’s breath and added some cheap mini pumpkins that I painted white last year.

I then added my go-to orange table runner to bring that pop of color to the center and to anchor the cans.

The Place Settings:

For each table setting I picked up some inexpensive placemats with great texture from HomeGoods  (about $5 for a 4 pack). I thought about painting them, but decided that I really like the natural element they added to the table. (Finally listening to the voice in my head telling me that I don’t have to paint everything 🙂 )

I bought these adorable soup bowls from Cost Plus World Market. The ikat napkins are also from World Market  and one of only two new purchases for this year’s fall tablescape.  Pretty good huh?

I used my everyday plain white dishes (that I’ve had for years) and silverware and placed a DIY concrete place card holder at each spot.

These DIY concrete place card holders were my first attempt at working with concrete and it was so much easier than I thought. I love the industrial modern look that they add, especially with the gold accent.

Some readers have asked questions about the place cards themselves.

I simply cut rectangles from white card stock, wrote the names with a fine tip Sharpie, and put a stroke of orange paint down the side with a small brush from my little lady’s art bin. I just needed a pop of orange and this was the result. A very happy accident!

I love the way the orange bowls look against the dark black table!

Since our dining room is finally complete I plan to have friends and family over for some fall dinners. Posole anyone??

That’s it! I managed to pull together a really nice fall table without spending a fortune.

Sticking to a few inexpensive purchases each year, getting creative with what you already have, and making a few things is the way to go. I’m huge fan of shopping for decor in my own home. Sorta crazy how using something in a new way or a different room can make it exciting all over again!

Do you “shop” your own home?