15 Stylish Must-Haves For Seasonal Entertaining

As late autumn settles in, it’s time to get cosy and put on a fire, but also to play host and entertain. If you’re feeling the pressure to create showstopping dinner events to be remembered, keep calm – we’ve got your table covered. From timeless linens to gorgeous garlands and decadent drinkware, see our list of entertaining essentials in the rich hues of the season, and take your dinner party from meh to marvellous.

Pretty Placemats

There are a few reasons why we love these luxurious gold-toned, criss-cross patterned placemats: not only do they add a subtle touch of glam to the table, but they can also be used long after autumn ends, and for all kinds of special occasions. Or, for crisp and tidy entertaining, try a rattan charger instead, to create a warm and natural vibe.

Charming Cheese Boards

If your spread involves cheese, this gourd-geous cheese board promises to be the talking point of your soirée, sporting a seasonally inspired shape as well as a hardwood and brass trim aesthetic. It’s perfect for small, intimate settings and can generously serve large gatherings when used in pairs at opposite ends of the table.

Natty Napkins

These richly hued burnt-orange napkins in cotton weave will fit right in with a tablecloth in a suitably seasonal pattern or a complementary colour. Fold them creatively and dress them up with bundles of dried botanicals, wispy ferns and preserved blooms for a unique harvest-esque touch. For a spare and largely neutral table, printed floral designs are a wonderful way to add visual contrast.

Fancy Foliage

Of course, what good would table linens be without sophisticated napkin rings to adorn them? These foliage-inspired brass napkin rings from Nkuku are just as pretty as they are useful. Pair them with solid-coloured napkins in dark autumnal hues to make them pop.

Gorgeous Gateaux

Turn any dessert spread into a stunner by displaying it in this hand-painted and -glazed stoneware stand. The elevated design with embossed floral motifs can raise the simplest of recipes to a whole new level. Stack it on a large plate or serving dish to make room for more. Prefer something more understated? Try glass with a touch of gold.

Cute Casseroles

Evoking the spirit of the harvest season, this stoneware pumpkin casserole in a vibrant orange shade is perfect for cooking and serving hearty soups, seasonal dishes and delicious desserts – and comes lidded for a ta-da! reveal, promising to make even the most mundane meal taste that much better. Another not-to-miss feature are the loop handles that enable ease of serving and handling.

Stylish Salads

If a fresh salad is on the menu – and why shouldn’t it be? – then it goes without saying that you’ll need something beautiful to toss and serve it in. This mango wood salad bowl embraces the natural autumn landscape in an unexpected colour palette. It’s striking, stylish and modern – not the typical kind you’ll find at your neighbourhood department store.

Timeless Tablecloths

Don’t overlook the tablecloth – it’s the base on which the entire tablescape rests. For your festive feast, may we suggest an organic linen one in a warm, deep tobacco colour? It’s high-quality, sustainable, great for stain release, and guaranteed to impress. Pair with soft lighting, and you’re all set. Prefer patterned? Try an all-over pumpkin and gourd print.

Elegant Accents

A table runner doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make a statement. Just run a rustic cheesecloth in a rich terracotta shade down the table, and it’ll pack a decorative punch – with a little dressing up from a centrepiece. If the rest of your table is pared-back, opt for a runner in a harvest and leaf print to play up the fall aesthetic.

Pleasing Plates

We have a bias toward all-white dinnerware – it looks exquisite, pairs well with anything, and can be used throughout the year, occasion or not! Bring the outside in, with this embossed leaf dinner set by Michael Aram, inspired by the fallen forest leaves of autumn. For a subtle touch of colour, try Wedgewood’s Vera Wang Jardin collection in a gold foil botanical pattern – it’s fall at its finest.

Gilded Gifts

Grab these cute bauble name card holders with gold foliage detailing to spruce up your table and make it feel fancier, and more importantly, to direct guests to their designated places. When the party draws to a close, use them as favours or little take-home gifts to mark the memorable evening.

Festive Finery

Centrepieces have a way of making everything feel festive and special. For the pièce de résistance of your tablescape, consider this showstopping garland made up of faux pumpkins, pinecones, berries and maple leaves. You can even take it up a notch by suspending a pretty autumn wreath above your dinner table to reflect the season’s abundance.

Scarlet Sips

With rusts, crimsons and burgundies so ubiquitous this season, why not opt for drinkware in a complementary colour to achieve a cohesive look? Our personal favourite are these hand-finished Rialto Oxblood glasses that come in four distinct shapes and are perfect for sipping all kinds of drinks, from whisky to Champagne and wine; or even sorbet, if you run out of bowls.

Cosy Candles

Tiny flames do wonders to introduce warmth and intimacy to a gathering, whether in the form of lanterns, seasonally scented ctwisted tapers sitting pretty in tall candleholders. Another alternative is to randomly place candles in between and around your foliage centrepiece, or arrange pine cone tea lights, ceramic acorn-shaped holders and pumpkin-shaped candles in an eye-catching display for a truly festive feel. Light up and enjoy!

Seasonal Sweets

Whether you’re an anxious beginner or baking pro, no need to fret about what dessert to serve your guests at your next party. This cute autumn-inspired cake and treats pan from Nordic Ware will transform even the most basic recipe into a piece of art. The American brand is also well-regarded in baking circles for its high-quality and durable bakeware that’ll last you for years on end.