Fall Peacock Table with Japanese Maple Leaves

Styling a table that reflects the natural colors and textures of the season is a way to create a festive and welcoming environment for autumn guests.  Here, olive and chartreuse green mixed with oranges and golden yellows offset with dusty teal bring the feeling of fall to the dining room. Japanese maple leaves and rich brass accents highlight the seasonality of the table and introduce an exotic element.

After creating a Foraged Fall Floral Arrangement sourced from leaves and flowers in the environment  for a centerpiece, I began selecting plates, vases and other pieces that fused with the colors found in nature.  The arrangement, which features variegated mums, dried hydrangeas and Japanese maple leaves inspired me to assemble a richly layered table with an Eastern flair.  Since peacocks are common in Japanese art, these plates seemed perfect.

A burnished gold satin runner provides a shimmery backdrop for the centerpiece and ceramic vases filled with additional Japanese maple leaves.  Silk ribbons in fall colors are strewn through the vases...

Moroccan tea glasses with small encased votive candles inside are also placed on the runner to add to the warmth and create a soft glow.  

Each place setting includes an ornamental peacock salad plate, a fluted olive green dinner plate and a gold charger.  Teal wine glasses, rosewood flatware and a floral printed napkin with a brass ring complete the ensemble.  The teal placemats are made from upholstery fabric cut into squares that I had from another project.  For a little more texture, the edges are left unfinished...

Salt and pepper shakers are displayed on a gold-edged plate with Japanese maple leaves which is placed on a piece of ribbon for color.  

More leaves in small ceramic vases showcase the feathery beauty of the Japanese maples.

If you plan to style a table like this one using cut Japanese maple leaves, be sure to keep the floral arrangement filled with water and in a cool place.  Although the leaves will last a few days if properly cared for, they are at their most beautiful the day they have been cut, so creating the centerpiece before you plan to use it is best.

Happy fall entertaining!