1. Leaf Motif
Watercolor paintings reproduced on earthenware appetizer plates display the season’s vibrant colors, and liven up the tablescape. A boxed set of four Autumn Foliage plates is $36.95 at Crate & Barrel in Spring Valley in D.C. (202-364-6100; www.crateandbarrel.com).
2. Go With the Glow
Enhance the warmth of candlelight with handcrafted hurricanes made of frosted glass with swirling, amber-toned patterns. Use them individually, grouped or as part of a centerpiece. The Vera marbleized hurricane is priced at $79 at Pottery Barn in Bethesda (301-654-1598; www.potterybarn.com).
3. Proper Copper
A shiny copper water pitcher is a classic, and the perfect color for fall. The hammered-copper model from Old Dutch International has a brass handle, is eight inches tall and retails for $98.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond in Rockville (301-770-4330; www.bedbathandbeyond.com).
4. Sweet and Sassy
Whether you prefer apple or pumpkin, nothing says autumn dessert like homemade pie. This cute and durable French dish goes from the oven to the table. Available in six colors, including rouge, pictured, the Emile Henry Modern Classics Pie Dish is $44.95 at Sur La Table in Chevy Chase (202-237-0375; www.surlatable.com).
5. Center of Attention
Forgo the flowers or cornucopia this year in favor of an unconventional centerpiece. Tall pheasant feathers look chic in a modern glass vase or a vintage ironstone or pewter pitcher. You can find brown pheasant feathers, sold two-to-a-package, for $2.19 at Michaels in Rockville (301-881-8100; www.michaels.com).
6. Lovely Linens
Spice up the festivities with a bit of global flair. Handmade in India by artisans using a traditional block-print process, these 18-inch-square napkins sell for $6 each at Ten Thousand Villages in Bethesda (301-718-3465; www.tenthousandvillages.com).
7. Bold in Gold
This fashion-forward flatware is like little pieces of jewelry for the dining table. Made of coated stainless steel with horn inlay handles, a five-piece setting sells for $98 at Anthropologie in Chevy Chase (301-654-1481; www.anthropologie.com).
Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design.
