8 Creative Accents to Set Your Holiday Table Apart

This article originally appeared on Houzz.com.

It’s that time of year again, when dried leaves crunch under the soles of your boots, the evening air is crisp and it’s time to gather with family and friends for food and drink.

I recently asked some experts — including a stylist, a florist and a chef — to share their insights and tips for hosting this season. Their simple, low-cost projects can brighten any holiday get-together and add a personal, fresh touch to your fall table.

Gina Sims, a photo stylist (among many other creative titles), offers the following advice for styling your holiday table: “First comes the theme, the vibe and the colors,” she says. “Then the items that will make the biggest impact.”

I chose a neutral palette to fit with a rustic theme and added a few splashes of bold colors through the plates and florals. Name tags add a personal touch. “I like to label everything,” Sims says. “It makes your table look thought-out and special.”

Project: Name Tags

Create name tags with some string and card stock. Look outside or in your kitchen for alternative place card holders. I tested a few different options before choosing simple string tied around a cloth napkin.

 

Project: Chalkboard Tray

Coat a metal tray with chalkboard spray paint and write your personalized message on top. This project can be used year-round.

Note: Avoid placing food directly on the surface; the tray works best for displaying wineglasses, jars or candles.

Related: Set the Right Mood With Better Dining Room Lighting

Sims suggests adding layers and height to your table to direct the gaze upward. “Using the entire wall makes the setting really interesting. I almost always hang something from the ceiling or from trees if we’re outdoors, whether it be a garland, banner, lights, pom-poms or lanterns,” she says.

To add height to my display, I suspended a window and dressed it with a colorful garland.

Project: Paper Garland

Create a simple, colorful garland by cutting paper with vintage floral prints into triangles and threading them onto a string. Old art books or textbooks with thick pages can offer decorative options for your garland as well.

Project: Outdoor Bar

A simple table made from hay bales works perfectly for a temporary outdoor bar. Whether you are hosting dinner outside or gathering around a fire, it’s an easy way to keep drinks close at hand. I created my bar by stacking a couple of hay bales together and adding a vintage wooden sign on top. I also turned a wooden crate into a cooler by stapling a clear plastic bag to its interior.

These colorful projects and a hay bale or two can easily transform your table, backyard or patio into an unforgettable setting for fall entertaining.

“For a fabulous fall table, step outside,” Sims says. “I love using leaves, nuts — au naturel or spray painted a great metallic shade.” Copper is especially effective in the fall, she says. “I send my kids outside to hunt for acorns with tops still on,” she adds. “You can’t go wrong with nature.”

“I like large-scale items like vases or cloches, and use varying heights to add more interest,” Sims says. I took Sims’ advice and raised some of the accessories and flowers to vary the elevation. Long sticks from our yard are gathered in a simple, large vase, which adds texture and height to the display.

Related: Small Space? Try a Bar Table Instead 

Project: Illustrated Clipboards

Clipboards are an inexpensive and easy way to update a blank space on your wall. Begin by prepping your space and outlining your letters in pencil. Add paint and you’re done! If you want to reuse the clipboards later, try using colorful Japanese washi tape to spell out something instead.