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Apple Harvest Tablescape

Decor, Entertaining, How-Tos

With apple season in full swing and Autumn just days away, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the season with a beautiful and rustic apple harvest tablescape. 

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Apple harvest tablescape on a picnic table by a pond. There is a floral arrangement, apple centerpiece, and apple votive candle holders at each place setting.

The Beauty of Apples in Early Autumn

When thinking of Autumn, the first things that come to mind are typically pumpkins and leaves. Although they are certainly beautiful and popular representations of the season, there is another often overlooked treasure of early Autumn… Apples. 

Of course, we all know that apples are a healthy and delicious snack. They are also wonderful to bake and cook with, but have you ever considered decorating with apples in early Autumn? Apples are a beautiful way to celebrate the season inside and outside your home. 

Today, I am sharing a few ways to use apples in the design of a tablescape which includes apple votive candle holders, an apple floral arrangement, and an apple centerpiece for the table. This apple-themed table is a fun, easy, and wonderful way to welcome Autumn.

How to Make Apple Votive Candle Holders for Your Apple Harvest Tablescape 

Apples cored out with votive candles on top. In the background are orchard baskets filled with apples.

Making apple votive candle holders is so easy. They create a fun, unique, and beautiful ambiance to your tablescape. There are two methods you can use to make them, both methods are easy. If you have a drill and a 1 1/2 inch spade bit, making these votive candle holders is not only easy but very quick.

No drill? No problem. If you don’t have a drill and a spade bit, you can use a paring knife. Although this is a very easy way to make apple votive candle holders, it does take a little more time to make them. Whichever method you use, this is a great way to decorate with apples for the season.

Orchard baskets filled with apples in the background. In the foreground is everything needed to make apple votives including apples, votive candles, a paring knife, spoon, Sharpie, and a drill with a spade bit on it.

Materials:

  • Apples (I used 6 Gala apples.)
  • Votive candles (I used white candles in clear vessels.)
  • Sharpie pen (I used a thin tip pen.)
  • Paring knife
  •  Spoon
  • Drill with a 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 inch spade bit (Optional)

Instructions:

If using a drill and spade drill bit:

  1. Center the spade drill bit where the apple stem is. Lightly squeeze the drill so that the spade drill bit slowly begins to drill a hole in the apple the diameter and approximate depth of a votive candle.
  2. Use a spoon to scoop out the apple skin and fruit remaining in the hole.
  3. If you need to make the hole a little wider in order to fit the candle in the apple, use a paring knife. 
  4. Place the votive candle in the hole in the apple, light it, and enjoy!

If using a paring knife:

  1. Place the votive candle on top of the apple where the stem is located. Trace around it with a Sharpie pen creating a circle the same diameter as the votive candle. 
  2. Using a paring knife, carefully cut around the traced circle. With a spoon, scoop out any apple skin or fruit remaining in the hole. 
  3. Once the hole in the apple is deep and wide enough for the votive to fit, place the votive in the apple, light it, and enjoy!

 

How to Make a Beautiful Floral Arrangement for Your Apple Harvest Tablescape

 

With the apple votive candle holders made, it’s time to make the floral arrangement. The beauty of floral arranging is that you can let your creativity run wild. Trader Joe’s is my “go-to” for fresh flowers. After my weekly trip there, I picked up some burgundy and burnt orange Mums, white Alstroemeria, a whimsical small off-white flower, and some Eucalyptus. I arranged the flowers in a vintage glass pickle jar that I picked up at an antique market. Finally, I added some apples to the arrangment.

Apple floral arrangement surrounded by bushel baskets filled with apples.

How did I add the apples, you ask? Thank you for asking. It was easy! Three words: bamboo skewer sticks. I stuck the pointed end of the skewer stick into the bottom of five apples and, voila! I stuck the apples into the arrangement creating an apple floral arrangement that is perfect for the tablescape. 

 

Setting Up an Apple Harvest Tablescape

The apple votive candle holders are made and the apple floral arrangement is finished. Now, it’s time to set the table.

Lay down the tablecloth or runner.

My favorite outdoor tablecloth or table runner is a canvas drop cloth. Not only does it come in many sizes, but it is also incredibly inexpensive and very durable. It’s perfect for the outdoors! I drape the canvas drop cloth across the length of the table to create a runner. 

Design the centerpiece for the tablescape.

To create the centerpiece I put the floral arrangement in the center of the table on the canvas runner. On either side of the flowers, I placed orchard bushel baskets. My goal is to make the baskets look like they are spilling over with apples, so I tip the baskets over on their side. Next, I add lots of apples to the baskets and all around the base of the floral centerpiece. 

Place setting with an antique copper charger and white dishes on top. There is a linen napkin folded in thirds between the dinner and salad plate and an apple votive holder and a rosemary sprig are on the salad plate..

Set the place settings.

I use my everyday white dinner and salad plates and place them on top of antique copper chargers. Between the dinner and salad plate, I lay a linen napkin folded in thirds so it drapes down over the bottom of the plates, charger, and tabletop. 

Add the finishing touches.

With the centerpiece designed and the place settings set, finishing touches are in order. I take a stroll around the farm with my clippers in hand and gather branches with color-changing leaves on them, pinecones, and lush greenery. Adding natural elements from our farm to a tablescape is my favorite. Natural elements add dimension, interest, color, and texture to the table. They also add a personal touch because while dining outside you recognize nature all around and on the table. 

Apple harvest tablescape on a picnic table by a pond. There is a floral arrangement, apple centerpiece, and apple votive candle holders at each place setting.

Candles are also essential when I design a tablescape. They create a beautiful, romantic, elegant, welcoming, and cozy feeling around the table. Recently, I have fallen in love with using flameless candles outside. Not only are they are safer than candles with a flame, but you also don’t have to worry about them blowing out when there is a breeze. There is nothing worse than trying to create a beautiful ambiance with candles outside only to have to keep relighting them throughout your time spent out there. 

Time to Celebrate the Season with an Apple Harvest Tablescape

The apple harvest tablescape is complete and now it’s time to gather around with family and friends to celebrate the season. Enjoy good company and conversation, delicious food, and lots of laughter. 

Apple harvest tablescape on a picnic table by a pond. There is a floral arrangement, apple centerpiece, and apple votive candle holders at each place setting.

Sending your guests home with small bushel baskets of apples and a printout of this Apple Pie Pizza recipe is the perfect way to thank them for joining you.

Apple harvest tablescape on a picnic table by a pond at night with white twinkle lights hanging from the trees. There is a floral arrangement, apple centerpiece, and apple votive candle holders at each place setting.

I hope you were inspired to create an apple harvest tablescape of your own. If you are looking for more tablescaping ideas, you may enjoy these posts too:

Falling for Fall Tablescape

Autumn Home Tour: Fall Tablescapes

Beautiful Blue and White Tablescape

As always, thank you for joining me here. Join me on Instagram and Pinterest for more seasonal inspiration. Happy almost Fall, y’all! 

Apple harvest tablescape on a picnic table by a pond. There is a floral arrangement, apple centerpiece, and apple votive candle holders at each place setting.

  1. I love your apple decor. 🍎

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