Not sure how to decorate a round kitchen table for fall or any other season? Trust me when I say, you’re not alone. I get a lot of requests to share round table setting options and small dining room ideas in general. As the saying goes, ask and you shall receive! You can always count on me to provide inspiration no matter if you’re setting a large rectangular dining table for a particular holiday or simply want to know how to decorate a round kitchen table for fall in general. I’m always happy to oblige special requests like these, so if you have something specific you’d like to see, please feel free to send me a direct message on my Instagram page.
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I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: one thing about me – I love a beautiful table setting. I dream of beautiful tables! There are a lot of reasons why I love it. The main reason is I always think of the dining room table as the center of the home. It’s where we make big family decisions, spend time with loved ones and make lifelong memories. The great thing about the table is that no matter the occasion, you can set it days ahead of time so you’re not stressing on the day of the party. While I tend to focus my time on rectangular dining tables (mine is 84 inches long) you may be wondering how to apply the same concept to a round dining room table. A round dining table or square dining table is great for small spaces and can be just as beautiful as you would see in a formal dining room.
HOW TO SET A TABLE 101
The first thing I always do when setting a table is start with one thing that inspires me or one particular item I want to be sure to use on the table. This varies based on the event, season, holiday, etc. For example, the table I set in this post is designed specifically with a fall color scheme in mind. When I think of fall colors, I think of brown, deep shades of orange, burgundy and olive. I also wanted this table to be appealing to those that love a more neutral color palette, so I tried to keep that balance in mind. After you decide on your theme or key items you want to use, you can move on to setting the table.
CENTERPIECE OPTIONS
First, decide if you want to add a table cloth or a runner down the center of your table. When setting my table, I will typically add a table runner as a part of my centerpiece, which is a great way to add visual interest and texture to the overall design. Runners in general work great with a rectangular table shape. If you have a round table shape or square table, you might choose to skip the runner completely or opt for a table cloth instead. You can never go wrong with a white round table cloth, especially if you’re using folding tables or tables that may be a little past their prime. However, if you have a nice wooden table or painted round white dining table, for example, you can totally choose to forego the table cloth as well. When it comes to table decor or tablescaping, there is no wrong answer – just personal preference and different styles.
I typically like to set the centerpiece first and work my way out. If you’re feeling stuck on the centerpiece, keep it simple and go with a nice vase or decorative bowl with a floral arrangement. The florals can be real or faux. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination and experiment to design creative centerpieces. You don’t need to set the entire meal on the table, either. My preference when hosting is typically to serve buffet style with a few food or drink items on the table, which you’ll notice from the photos in this post on centerpieces. Again, it comes down to personal preference on whether you want to set all the food on the table. Keep in mind, if you want to set all the food on the table, you might not have room for a centerpiece at all. Lastly, while it may be tempting to set a large centerpiece with an eye-catching design, you will want to keep general sightline in mind. When you sit down at the table, can you see your guests across from you over the center of the table? This might be worth testing before they arrive.
PLACE SETTINGS
Once the centerpiece or middle of the table is set, you can move on to place settings. While there are traditional place setting rules for setting a table, I prefer to use creativity when it comes to silverware and napkin placement, for example. You’re probably not setting a table for the Queen of England or for a fancy dinner at a country club. You’re likely setting a table for your friends and family who will (hopefully) simply appreciate all the effort you put into the gathering. That being said, the fork(s) goes on the left side of the plate with the largest fork closest to the plate. The knife and spoon go on the right side of the plate. The knife (blade facing toward the plate) should be closest to the plate with the spoon to the right of the knife.
With each place setting, you will typically want a placemat or charger (or both!). For a round kitchen table, I prefer to use round placemats or chargers. The reason for this is because there is just not as much dining space as you would have with a large dining table. I also prefer the appearance of a round placemat / charger on a round table as opposed to a square or rectangular shaped placemat. You will also need plates, napkins, silverware, and glasses (coffee / tea cups). You may also choose to add a napkin ring or a place card holder with place cards. If you want to really take your tablescape to the next level, you can add doodads, decorative items, baby’s breath, a small flower arrangement, or sprig of greenery to the napkin as you see here in the photos. These decorative elements help really make your table pop.
DINING CHAIRS
One of the questions I get asked A LOT is: “Where did you get your dining chairs?” While these chairs look lovely with large tables, they also work great for a round dining room table. They are the perfect mix of decorative pieces meet function. Here are a couple options from two of my favorite home stores: Amazon and Kirkland’s.
I hope this post on how to decorate a round kitchen table for fall was helpful and inspires you to set the table for your friends, family or even just one place setting for yourself. Everyone deserves to create special moments in their life. With a beautifully set table in your dining area, you better be prepared to handle all the “oohs” and “ahhs” about to come your way!
Be sure to shop this table so you can recreate this table setting in your own home! You can also shop all my favorite table setting essentials on my Amazon Storefront where I have a dedicated list to all my table setting favorites for the center of a table, place settings, specialty items and more!
Thank you for reading and see ya on the next post!
-The Chic(ish) Chick
Want to see more ideas like this post? Check out my Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest or YouTube pages! You may also enjoy this blog post on tablescapes, or this blog post on fall porch decor!
