You have four lights in a line coming down from the ceiling. You don’t want a centrepiece that is also 4 or 5 of something in a line. Think round, or oval. Preferably with a textured, organic feel. To counteract the harder lines from the table, chandelier, and chairs. Good luck!

Also, I’m never a fan of candles that look like they will never actually be lit. I find that type of decor contrived. But maybe that’s just me...

I like the idea of something low in your case. Any chance you have a container that's shallow, narrow and long? I could see something in wood filled with small pumpkins and gourds.

You might want to consider five hurricanes or five candlesticks down the center of the table. or a gathering of a seasonal floral and two vases.

I like the idea of something low and oval... I just am not sure what material to use for the bowl? Would wood be weird against the grey wood table?

I think wood should be fine. What I was picturing is one of those wood 'dough' bowls that's shallow and long-ish. The same shape/size in clear glass would also be good. Even a basket...

Try an online search for "wood dough bowl centerpiece" to see what I mean....at least in shape.

Something like I’ve currently got on my dining table would probably work nicely in your room

It’s just an earthy sort of bowl filled with gourds. Oval would be better though (for me too!)

Use a fruit bowl on a low pedestal. Spindles and tapers and a visible bulb fixture are all too much together.

Fresh flowers on a pretty tray always brighten a table.

Or perhaps an attractive arrangement of succulents and candles?

Terrariums can also be be fun. If you ever share your table with children, you could talk about what sorts of fairies live there!

Have a few ideas at the ready so you can switch it up at a whim

haha the only people I share my table with believe in fairies, children or otherwise ;)

You have great taste in companions, ElleN!

Perfect examples from grover. I like the first one, too.

I too immediately thought of something oval or round. I love the dough bowls and agree with a previous post that you wouldn't want to overfill it.

In my book, fresh flowers always wins but they can be difficult to sustain with everyone's busy schedule.

Some inspiration from Ethan Allen

celerygirl that was actually my inspiration picture for my downstairs!

celerygirl, I usually love your suggestions, but in my opinion that inspiration room has just too many black lines. Chairs, settee, chandelier, frames, and even the trim of the rug. Way too much of a good thing

IMO a bowl of fruit or fresh flowers are always nice. You can eat the fruit and enjoy the flowers and change them when ever you like. Flowers are so cheap at the super market they are always my choice.

Celerygirl's photo above is a nice look, but not at all practical. That's not a centerpiece you'd be able to use while dining with others, but a decorative space filler. I agree with using a simple long, oval bowl on the table.

Tray loaded with real autumn fruit.

Just a candle comment - we use candles every night while dining so its not an issue for us on our dining room table, but even when I have candles on a display, I light them and burn them down a bit just to make them look like they are really and truly used (even if I'm faking it). Just a "thing" I started doing years and years ago.

I like the idea of a round object or objects as a counterpoint to the lines and angles of your light and chairs. Maybe a couple pumpkins and some scattered tea lights? For the holidays you could switch to reindeer, or trees. Keep it low and simple, and you won't have to fuss with moving it each time you sit for a meal.

Thanks for all the ideas! Does this bowl work ok? I was originally looking for something elongated but I liked the charred exterior. I was thinking of filling it with white pumpkins instead of the pinecones?

I think the runner is unnecessary and the bowl a bit small. Try putting something colorful in the bowl, seasonal gourds for example, and see what it looks like without the runner. Or, try three or four smaller orchid plants in a rectangular container.

It looks small to me, too. I also agree you don't need the runner. Mini white pumpkins could work but look for a more elongated bowl...like grover's first photo.

Argh I suspected the bowl was too small but our table is small so I thought it might be ok.
Is the runner *bad* or just not necessary? It's hard to see the color in pictures but I like that it brings color to the room.

I like your runner and like the color too. If you keep the bowl, add a tray with some greenery or something "organic". By itself, the bowl is too small.

The pine cones + charred bowl + runner is really pretty and practical for everyday — especially if there are six of you eating there for most meals. We are a family of six, and small centerpieces are most practical for us these days because the food takes up so much space on the table. That being said, what about something like this — three containers full of fruit or mini pumpkins or pine cones:

Another idea would be a wide, shallow platter-type bowl filled with fruit like this:

A suggestion having zip to do with table decor. Try switching the dining chairs and the bench positions. The vertical lines of the the three doors and the long horizontal lines of the light fixture and bench are doing something to the look that’s a bit jarring with the photo angle. Also, the framed picture between the doors is too high and a bit washed out.

This blog post has lots of fall tablescape ideas! https://boxwoodavenue.com/blog/fall-decorating-ideas-easy-fall-centerpieces-table-decorations