The Classy Halloween Table

For many years, we have resisted Halloween at Bowley & Jackson. Without sounding too old & curmudgeonly, I much prefer our homegrown tradition of burning Guy Fawkes, whilst scoffing soup and Jacket potatoes. That's not to say I dislike Halloween, and in recent years we've enjoyed having friends and neighbours here for supper ahead of the inevitable round of trick-or-treating; more often than not, this activity is conducted in a howling gale and torrential downpour.

So, how do we do Halloween in a way that doesn't involve a ton of plastic? Here are a few ideas for creating a versatile Autumn table. As always, my table decoration leans heavily on natural materials and foliage gathered from our surroundings. My garden is a great source of joy, and I love working with pieces I gather there, plus from the surrounding fields and woodland. Here are some of my favourite pieces for adding to an autumn- or Halloween-inspired table:

1. Pumpkins 

An obvious one to start with: choose larger specimens to carve or use as impromptu candleholders, or assemble multiple smaller ones to create a display.

2. Gourds

Our local greengrocers have wonderful displays of these throughout late September and into October; add these straight to the table, or fill large bowls or dishes to create a focal point at the centre of the table.

3. Pot Mums

These are everywhere in America at this time of year and are a wonderful plant to incorporate into traditional Halloween decor. These annual Chrysanthemums are to be found at your local garden centre or plant nursery. Planted in a terracotta pot and combined with Gourds and Pumpkins, these are a brilliant hack for creating instant colour, with minimal effort.

4. Hydrangea

This year's hot summer has resulted in hydrangeas drying earlier than usual. The dusky pinks are perfect for adding to autumn table displays.

5. Dill

Dill and its cousin Fennel offer beautiful delicate foliage for the table, long after everything else in the garden has died back. At this time of year, it still has the pretty mustard tones to the flower head, perfect for the autumn table.

6. Rosehips

Dog Rosehips are a wonderful deep orangey red at this time of year; take great care when picking as the thorns are vicious, but the hips look stunning added to a table display.

7. Dahlias

As I write this, we haven't yet experienced a frost, and my Dahlias are still flowering abundantly. I've grown lots of deep orange and rust-colored varieties this season, and they have worked beautifully with the autumn table.

Creating A Table For Halloween and Late Autumn

1. The Tablecloth

Of course, the tablecloth is the starting point for our Halloween Table. I love the rich orange of our Orange Coral tablecloth. All the tablecloths in our range are made from the same linen fabric, twice coated with acrylic. Skipping the science bit, this means the tablecloth looks like a traditional linen tablecloth but has the wipeable surface of a traditional PVC tablecloth. With a soft, elegant drape and a matte, low-sheen surface, the inevitable spills wipe away, yet the tablecloth offers a discerning alternative to traditional plastic cloth. The orange coral is a perfect choice for Autumn & Halloween, creating a wonderful warm table. My other picks for this time of year included our Gingham cloths or the natural Flaxton Linen.

2. Adding Place Settings.

I'm a bit obsessed with placemats; we started stocking these jute and cotton tablemats earlier this year. They work so well with the tablecloth and style the table perfectly, without making it look stuffy. Naturally, I've added the Orange placemat here to coordinate with the orange coral print. But an ivory or natural grass placemat will also work beautifully. 

3. Can we talk about Napkins?

I have tried for some time and ultimately failed to find really good-quality napkins that don't cost a week's wages!

And it was my good friend & neighbour, Gilly of The Cook's Place, who suggested a brilliant hack! Pointing out to me that our excellent tea towels, made from heavy cotton and available in a range of colours are better than any napkin. Generous in size, of excellent quality, these "napkins" wash brilliantly. 

On this table, I've used the Stone colour, but the Brick colour also works beautifully with this table setting.

4. A Halloween Table Centrepiece

I've once again used the Brick Mould as the basis for our Halloween table centrepiece. These Indian wooden boxes originated in Jaipur, India, where they were used for creating bricks. The proportions of the brick mould sit beautifully in the center of the table, and these boxes can be used in a myriad of ways (click here for a Christmas design) to create an eye-catching Autumn centerpiece. This table styling is a little more laid-back and involves a quick visit to Payley's, the amazing green grocer, located just across from our store in Malton Market Square. Mr Payley is very good at sourcing seasonal produce, and this year he has an amazing array of pumpkins and gourds. I've also purchased some brilliant "Turks Hats" for the shop window display. Local farm shops are also a good source for pumpkins and gourds. For the table center, I've focused on smaller gourds in a variety of colors. This display is quick and easy to assemble, beginning with a large 200-hour altar candle from our range of church candles. I've used a single large candle, but you can also arrange a selection. Three of differing heights also work well. 

Then add the gourds, building around the candle and using the sides of the box to secure them. I've added a small wooden board to either side of the brick mould, placing larger pumpkins on top of the boards. The overall look is relaxed and not too formal, so play around with them to achieve a pleasing look.

Several years ago, I visited the wonderful Saturday Market in Tebury, Glos, and picked up a selection of wonderful jars for decorating. This haul included these retro vintage Marmite Jars. Now sadly made from plastic, the original Marmite jar was of this iconic shape and in rich brown glass-perfect for this autumn table. Small posies of rust- and orange-colored pompom dahlias complement the gourds and add wonderful jewel tones to the overall table. I like small vases of flowers; they are easy to create and don't overcrowd the table.

5. Candle holders

For this table, I've incorporated the brilliant Danish rust candle converter...these are an ingenious invention. The converter sits on the neck of a bottle, but you can use it for a dinner or taper candle, depending on which side you use. This nifty candle converter instantly turns a bottle into a candle holder. You may choose to further enhance the bottle, filling it with dried orange peel, for example. Here, I paired the converter with our classic School vase and added a burnt orange dinner candle from our Danish dinner candle range. The candle holder's dark brown, paired with the rich orange, is perfect for this autumn-filled table.

6. Glasses

I've used our largest Mathilde wine glass here; the embossed detailing pairs well with the table's rich jewel tones.

If you're going for full-on Halloween, you may wish to add a few cobwebs and spiders to the look. You could also add carved Jack-o'-lanterns to the center of the table. Our brilliant dinner candles come in a range of colors, and they are perfect for pushing into the top of a pumpkin for an alternative candle display. This idea is popular for Thanksgiving tables in America; effective and easy.

Happy Halloween

Alex x