centerpiece ideas for every budget and style

By Andrea Busche

Whilemany of us feel a bit of melancholy in saying farewell to summer, the fall season ushers in plenty of its own joys, including cooler “sweater weather”; the lovely fall colors; and the cozy flavors and aromas of pumpkin, cinnamon and apple in our favorite recipes.

Autumn is also a great time to add a dash of seasonal décor to your home. With just a few well-selected pieces — which can easily fit into any budget — your home and table can reflect the beauty and comfort of the fall season.

Floral arrangements

Maria Emanuel is the department head for Mount Royal Market’s floral and gift department, 1600 Woodland Ave., in Duluth. If you’re making a quick stop, this establishment offers many readymade options, including grab-and-go mixed bouquets, indoor blooming plants, green plants, succulents, and plenty of gifts, such as lip balm, candles, soaps and more. But Emanuel will also happily make a custom arrangement for your home or table.

When it comes to creating the perfect fall centerpiece, Emanuel offered plenty of tips.

“For your table, I’d suggest seasonal mums, sunflowers, Hypericum berries and long- stemmed orange roses,” she said.

For greenery to accompany your flowers, Emanuel favors seeded eucalyptus, baby eucalyptus and Italian ruscus. Additionally, for the autumn season, Emanuel likes to accessorize these florals with other natural items, such as gourds, wheat, cattails and birch branches.

There are also decisions to make about the container in which you choose to display your flowers.

“I use foam a lot, but I really like using vases — people will often remember to water their flowers when they can see the stems in water,” she said.

Art and décor

Lori and Joel Baird are the owners of Two Loons Art, Gifts, Apparel and Décor, 2025 W. Superior St., in Duluth. This sweet little shop offers a collection of art, gifts and home décor items. They specialize in locally made items, and work with 150 local artisans to sell their wares.

Lori Baird has several ideas for accessorizing your fall table with these types of pieces.

“I would add things like beautiful pottery; smaller, accent pottery; and fused glass pieces,” she said. “You can certainly add floral arrangements to this, and I would definitely put candles in the arrangement, too. I also like seasonal table runners and placemats. Items like stained-glass lamps are beautiful in an entryway, too.”

Many of Baird’s customers request pieces that represent our area, making local artisan Jean Kennedy one of her top sellers.

“Many of Jean’s pieces feature agates, Lake Superior, fish and other wildlife,” Baird said. Other popular items are those that feature birch bark; a serving platter highlighting Lake Superior; and items with a natural color scheme.

National trends

Many of us are familiar with HGTV, a cable television channel featuring programming related to home improvements and real estate. A few of the network’s top shows include “House Hunters,” “Fixer Upper,” and “Property Brothers.”

HGTV typically has its finger on the pulse of national home and décor trends, and they did not disappoint when it comes to fall décor and/or centerpiece ideas that won’t break the bank. A few of the ideas recommended by HGTV writer, Maria Conti, include:

• Faux aspen tree branches.

• Autumn-themed tea towels.

• Felt pumpkin garland — a fuzzy “pom garland” constructed of a string of pumpkins.

• White-striped fabric pumpkins — hand-sewn, stuffed pumpkins and gourds.

• Grass plume dried botanicals.

• Pumpkin “filler” — a fall filler set featuring five blue, orange and cream pumpkins, that can be artfully displayed in a decorative bowl.

• Mini-fall-stamped books — each stack of “books” (for decoration only; they are not actual books) is crafted from unbound books, bound with rustic twine, and then handstamped with an autumnal phrase.

• Hand-painted wooden fall signs.

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• Pumpkin and greenery garland.

• Eucalyptus pumpkin mini-wreath.

• Fall text blocks — hand-painted wooden signs, featuring a distressed cream backdrop and graphic black lettering.

• Cozy fall pillows, incorporating fall colors or phrases. Information on pricing, and links to purchase these items can be found at hgtv.com/shopping/news-and-trends/cheapfall-decorations.

Of course, many of these items can easily become “DIY,” and incorporated into your next craft project, too. Bonus points if you have some of the items at home already, or can purchase them second-hand.

Holiday season

If you’re ready to look all the way ahead to Christmas, our local sources provided a few ideas, too. Emanuel recommends sprigs of evergreen, cedar and wintergreen; lilies; pine cones; and outdoor twigs.

“The greenery makes it smell nice, and is very long-lasting,” she said.

Baird has a fondness for seasonal, scented candles. While it is hard to believe, autumn is here. We may as well embrace it. One simple way to make the transition is by adding a few seasonal pieces into our homes.

Whether your preferences include floral arrangements, artsy décor pieces, DIY/crafts, or your aesthetic falls somewhere in the middle, there are options for every style and budget. Decking out your home or table with a few special pieces is one simple, affordable way to relish the comfort and joy of this special time of year. D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.