Fall Centerpiece Craft

Fall offers a warm palette of colors and a variety of textures for decorating your table. Orange and yellow leaves, pumpkins, squash, corn and wheat are some options for setting a harvest-themed scene. Hollow out a pumpkin, insert a tea light and weave a garland of fall foliage around the base for a simple table transformation, or arrange dried wheat in a fan pattern in a short rectangular vase, using a warm-toned ribbon to secure the bouquet. Does this Spark an idea?

Function

A fall centerpiece will set the tone for your seasonal table, drawing in the sights of the season. The centerpiece is a starting point for coordinating the entire table, from linens to dishes.

Sources of Materials

Start your search for fall-themed materials at your local farmer's market. Fresh mums or dried corn are easy to find. Pumpkin patches usually offer other fall vegetables, such as squash and corn, to complement your centerpiece. Check an apple orchard's gift shop for apple-themed supplies.

Sizes

A fall centerpiece may be as small and simple as a bundle of dried corn secured with straw or as elaborate as a dried branch with orange-hued leaves sprawling toward the ceiling from a large fluted vase. Keep in mind the size of your table and the size of the room; don't crowd the space with a centerpiece that's too large. If you have many small tables in one room, consider something as simple as a small pumpkin hollowed out to make room for a pillar candle, with small sprigs of orange and red berries and leaves wrapped around the base of the candle.

Types

Because of the breadth of materials available for a fall-themed craft, there are many different types of centerpiece possibilities. Work from the inside of your centerpiece outward. The focal point of your arrangement may be a candle, a pumpkin, a basket or a vase with a flower arrangement. Decide on your focal point first, then choose complementary colors and materials. For instance, if you begin with a large pillar candle, you may choose to arrange artificial fall foliage or flowers at the base of the candle. If you start with a basket, you may wish to accent it with coordinating ribbon or simply put an arrangement of cut fall flowers, such as mums, inside the basket. A centerpiece with a flower bouquet as the focal point may be complemented with an assortment of real miniature pumpkins arranged around the base.

Considerations

Consider the occasion. A fall wedding centerpiece should be elegant and simple, while a Thanksgiving table might call for something showier. Consider the setting as well. For an outdoor table, think about whether wind will blow dainty artificial leaves away. Also keep in mind the guests at your event. Young children may be unable to resist the temptation of removing cut mum stems from a short, easily accessible vase.