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How to Create a French Country Fall Centerpiece

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

Every year at this time I have the same dilemma: fall decorating when you don’t love orange! I so enjoy the change of seasons and even the beautiful fall foliage, but when it comes to my home, I really prefer to stay in my own color palette, which tends to focus on creamy whites, pinks and greens. So this year I started with a pretty French Country fall centerpiece that works more closely with my personal style.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

I tend to ease into the seasons anyway, so I like to start out with just a few touches, rather than changing over the entire house from top to bottom. Just little hints here and there of the coming season, to freshen things up and get me in the mood for what’s to come. The weather is still lovely here in the northeast and I’m not quite ready to let go of summer. It’s just the right time for a pretty little floral by the window, or a lovely centerpiece on the dining table.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

I began, as always, with a concept, which was to encircle a pumpkin with pretty flowers that were true to my signature color palette; then tuck in a few vegetables for a suggestion of the harvest and call it a day.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

Of course, the most important element in my fall centerpiece was the pumpkin, so I needed to find one that would work with both my color story and the feeling of my French style. I found this fabulous bronze mosaic pumpkin which adds a touch of the glimmer I always enjoy, while lending a bit of autumn imagery to my home.

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French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

My next stop was the flower market, but I also love to decorate with food, so I headed to the grocery for a little bit of both. I was fascinated by these tomatillos, which while actually related to tomatoes, looked a whole lot like little green pumpkins to me. There I stood in the grocery picking out a few strange looking items, working out a little portable still life.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

I selected pink roses for the main flower and green sedum for the base. I also wanted some bits of creamy white added to my arrangement and cauliflower florets were just the thing.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

Once I got it all home I chose my container and started snipping away. I started with a bed of the sedum to rest the pumpkin on and then began tucking in my roses. I filled in with the vegetables being sure to maintain variety in placement so it looked more random and natural.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

I finished up with greenery from the roses, added to give movement to the piece. I scattered the food bits beneath the footed bowl for a spillover effect. I’ve had this bowl for years but you can find something similar HERE or HERE.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

This fall centerpiece works with my French Country style and coordinates with my many rosy pink accessories. I do tend to get a little more into fall colors as the season progresses and you can see how I’ve used those colors in this simple but elegant fall mantel and this romantic autumn table setting for two.

French Country Fall Centerpiece with pink and green flowers

I plan to let the flowers dry from this arrangement, as roses dry so well. The cauliflower will be removed and the bits below added in their place. Please tell me in the comments below how you like to decorate for fall…

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Comments

  1. Lory, your floral arrangement is beautiful! I went through my Fall decor and all I wanted to use were the muted colors. Everything else just felt overwhelming to me. It’s so nice to have other options for Fall decor.

    Reply

  6. Lory, I was really into the “use produce in the arrangement” idea. I thought the greenery was broccoli and since I don’t know what sedum looks like I guess ignorance is bliss! Broccoli will however not last too long without wilting.
    I’m not fond of orange either and have none in my home decor (or closet) but being a retired preschool teacher whose classroom was full of typical Fall colors I have to include oranges, maroons, and yellows for awhile or it just doesn’t seem like I’m welcoming the season. I really love your idea of including the white of cauliflower to tone down the brilliance of the orange. Always love your ideas. Cindy G

    Reply

    • Thanks, Cindy! I didn’t know it was called sedum either – I had to read the tag… lol. But the sedum was able to dry well, so I could keep it in the arrangement for a full week, whereas the cauliflower had to come out after a day. I use produce in table settings a lot, because they don’t have to last more than for the day of the meal.

      As for fall colors in decor, I find there’s still a nice way to use the actual colors of the season, as long as you don’t use them all together. I often get more into those colors later in the season. For instance with mums, I’ll go with burgundy, the dusty orange and cream, and it will still look pretty, as long as I don’t mix in the yellow or bright orange or the purple-y color.

      Thanks for reading!

      Reply

  8. I love the mixture of vegetables and the roses in this arrangement. I usually use grapes but I’m looking for something else that will hang down. I like to stick fresh flowers ini with something still blooming in my yard…always end up buying some fresh flowers and purple status is a favorite because it lasts so long. I’ve never used cauliflower! Tomatillos are nice and last too. I like to use old wooden cheese board or something rustic as my container. Always enjoy seeing your beautiful arrangements. XOXO

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  9. This is so fun Lory! I especially like the spillover concept – I’m going to try that next time. Plus, if you’re sitting there with your tea and a book, and you feel a little snackish, you’ve got some cauliflower right handy! 🙂 Thanks as always for the beautiful inspiration!

    Reply

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