A Copper and Black Tablescape: Beautiful Fall Style
Welcome to the second table in our Linen and Copper series, a Copper and Black Tablescape! And we get the added bonus of being part of the Thanksgiving Tablescape Blog Hop hosted by the very creative and talented Rita from Panoply! At the end of this post are links to the other stylists’ Thanksgiving tablescapes, so be sure to check in there.
This copper and black tablescape has such a dramatic combination of colors. They make me think of pheasants – and turkeys! As well as being perfect for any fall dinner party, this table would be wonderful for a Thanksgiving tablescape!
Tablescape Inspiration
One of the things I love about looking at tablescapes for inspiration, is thinking about how I could use that same concept for my own tables.
For instance, you could scroll down to the Boutique section and order everything there to make your table an exact replica of mine. But probably, you’ll only want to get one or two things, and for the rest use pieces you already have – make it in your own style. And that’s what makes it so fun!
Maybe you have some napkin rings of a similar color but a completely different style. That might send your design off in a different direction where you end up with something you hadn’t planned on, but that you totally love! That happens to me all the time. You don’t have to have the exact same things – these pictures are a starting place for your own style and imagination!
It might be the linen, copper, and black color scheme that draws your eye. Or maybe the round table/round centerpiece idea. Or maybe simply the combination of light tablecloth, shiny chargers, and dark plates. There’s inspiration all around us! And you can adapt it to almost any occasion.
Copper and Black for a Thanksgiving Tablescape
For instance this table, as I mentioned, would be lovely for Thanksgiving!
Imagine how striking these colors would look on a long table with a couple more centerpieces down the middle. And maybe some candles! Since you might have more room, you could put out some place cards. More glasses, a gravy boat, serving pieces, or etc. So many options!
Beautiful Linens
Our copper and black tablescape starts with the beautiful natural linen tablecloth. I went off about it in our first installment of the Linen and Copper series, but I love it so much that I don’t mind going off about it again. Besides being such a beautiful natural flax color, it’s really good quality. The drape is lovely. AND it can go right into the washer and dryer – you just can’t beat that combination!
I like to use rectangular tablecloths on round tables (especially if I really want that color and don’t have a round one!) But that aside, you get a lot of lovely drape this way. If you need to put an actual chair where the drape is, you can sweep the tablecloth to the side so there’s room for your guest to sit!
Matching napkins really add to the cohesiveness of this table. Especially with everthing else being on the dark side, the light linens are a lovely contrast.
The Copper Part of the Copper and Black Tablescape
The place setting itself is where the magic happens though! The combination of the shimmery copper and the dark plates is really different and striking – very unexpected, at least at my house!
I love copper in any season, but it seems to really come into its own in the fall. It feels cozy and shimmery, and gives such style to the table. These hammered chargers are particularly shimmery – I love how they catch the light. And the copper flatware is perfect with them. I didn’t have any copper flatware for years and years, and I always wished I did when I had other copper on the table.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with having different metals on a table. In fact, that can look really cool. But sometimes I want to make the metal the star of the show, and in that case, matching chargers and flatware really do the job.
The Black Part of the Copper and Black Tablescape
If you’ve been around a while, you know that these blackish plates were made by my dear departed mother many years ago. Which makes me love them even more than just for their interesting beauty.
My guests love them too – I get comments on the unique color every single time I use them.
I did find a pattern out there that’s almost exactly the same. It’s Pewter by Juliska. Mom’s plates are starting to show some chips and wear, and will need replacing soon. So, I’ll be heading right over to Juliska in the near future. (Just for the record, I’ll still keep a couple of Mom’s pieces – for sentimental reasons. I just won’t serve food on them anymore.)
Napkin Rings & Glassware
These wooden napkin rings are just the right tone to mesh with the copper on this table. Plus, the different texture and material makes them eye catching. They’re the only wood on the table, but they make a dramatic impression next to the dark plates and light linens. They give a subtle woodsy natural vibe too, which is fun and seasonal.
I and my guests always love a napkin ring that’s fun to play with as we’re all still sitting at the table finishing off our wine and/or dessert and coffee. These are definitely fun – sturdy and solid, and it’s a challenge to get them to stack on top of each other!
For the glasses, I used these lovely Riedel Bordeaux shaped ones. These are in our regular rotation and I can’t say enough about them. They’re beautiful, go in the dishwasher, and really enhance the aroma and flavor of your Bordeaux wines.
I didn’t used to believe that the shape of the glass could really affect the way the wine smelled and tasted. But then my wine-loving husband gave me a taste/smell wine glass comparison, and now I’m sold! We have a few different shapes for the kinds of wine we drink most often.
A Fall Black Centerpiece
This centerpiece was a real departure for me – I’ve never done anything with black flowers before. But I love this! It would be so perfect at Thanksgiving, especially with the fall leaves.
Obviously, the flowers are faux. But that’s one of the joys of artificial flowers – you can get pretty much any color you want!
The vase is a bowl that Mom also made to match the plates.
I told her I loved this finish, so she made me all kinds of pieces with it. Like the tray I used in this post for serving appetizers.
Faux Flower Strategy
I’ll tell you about a little faux flower strategy I use. Instead of buying the large single stem flowers in the regular faux flower section at Michael’s, I buy the smaller, less expensive bouquet-style flowers that they often put out in their seasonal area. The quality is almost always just as good, and their smaller size lends itself better to the tabletop-sized arrangements I usually make.
So buying the bouquet ones not only saves money, but it saves having to cut the long ones. (Which is sometimes sort of painfully hard work. Maybe I need a new pair of clippers .. ) I still like working with one flower at a time though, so I do cut the bouquet apart and use each stem separately. The smaller stems aren’t anywhere near as hard to cut as the big ones!
A Copper and Black Tablescape for Other Occasions
As I was setting this table, I was thinking of how it might look set for just two! So I tried that too. Another good example of how you can make one idea work for lots of different occasions or settings. This color combination would be especially great for Father’s Day! Or a birthday for someone who likes the outdoors. Or of course, Thanksgiving!
Usually, we have a lot of people over for Thanksgiving. But every once in a while, it’s just the two of us. If that’s the case, we could have a table like this one below.
You can see there’s more room with the other two place settings removed, so I can add some romantic candles, and an extra glass for an intimate champagne toast!
Thanks so much for sharing this copper and black tablescape with me. I hope you’ve gotten some ideas for your fall dinner parties, Thanksgiving, or any time! Remember to visit the links below for even more Thanksgiving inspiration!
All Your Holiday Planning
If you’re ready to start planning for the holidays, check out my course, The Art of Holiday Planning! It’s my super easy way of having wonderful holidays during the whole season!
Barbara’s Boutique Selections
Click on the pictures of the pieces I used in this post. If the exact item isn’t available any more, I chose a similar option.
* This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and buy anything from that site during your visit, I get a small commission and there’s no extra charge for you! It really helps toward the cost of publishing Mantel and Table, and I seriously appreciate it. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
Pin the Copper and Black Tablescape for Later
And Now On With The Hop!
Click on any of the links below to see what my table stylist friends have created for Thanksgiving inspiration!
- Panoply – Thanksgiving 2025: Every Day’s A Gift
- Home is Where the Boat Is – Thanksgiving Greetings
- Hyacinths for the Soul – Turkey Trot Time
- Everyday Living – A Thanksgiving of Memories
- Life and Linda – A Silver and Gold Thanksgiving
- Pandora’s Box – A Thanksgiving Breakfast
- Me and My Captain – Gathering Together Celebrating Thanksgiving 2025
- My Thrift Store Addiction – Copper and Velvet Vintage Thanksgiving Table
- The Cat’s Whiskerz – A Warm Thanksgiving Tablescape
- Olla-Podrida – Over the River and Through the Woods: A Magical Thanksgiving Table
- Corner of Plaid and Paisley – Thankful for You Tablescape
- Dinner at Eight – A Casually Elegant Thanksgiving Table
- Red Cottage Cottage Chronicles – Elegant Thanksgiving Table
- Mantel and Table – A Copper and Black Tablescape: Beautiful Fall Style – YOU ARE HERE!
Shared with
Barbara, your tables are always dressed to impress, and this one is no exception! I love the copper and black combination. It is so warm and inviting. I have never thought of using a rectangular tablecloth for a round table, but you have sold me on the idea! The colour of the plates are definitely unique. At first glance I thought black for sure, then I thought maybe pewter, either way they looking stunning on the copper chargers with the hammered edges! Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Hi Maureen! The color started out really dark pewter, and as they get older, they’re starting to burnish a bit. Depending on the light they can be deep black, or almost brown – it’s kind of fun to see what you’re going to get each time! Let me know what you think of the rectangluar tablecloths on round tables in real life. 😊 Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. I’m looking forward to ours in a couple weeks. Thanks so much for stopping over – see you soon!
Barbara, your black and copper are such a striking combination!! The outdoor setting is so beautiful. I love that photo of the wine glass with the reflection, so pretty!! I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving 🧡🦃
Thanks Ann – I’m so happy you like it! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving too – it’s always so fun to hop with you!
What a dramatically beautiful setting for a Thanksgiving dinner! I love how it’s set on the green grass, it adds another layer to the drama. Your mother’s plates are simply outstanding, real treasures, and the black florals with the leaves punctuate it perfectly, leading the eye to copper charges and flatware. I really like this Barbara. I hope your weather is perfect for this alfresco setting. Happy Thanksgiving to you, with much appreciation for your participation in this blog hop.
Thanks so much Rita – I’m so happy to be able to participate! Our weather was lovely, and we got to have a wonderful dinner outside. Those days are probably done for us now, but I can always move the concept inside next time I want a bit of drama! Thanks so much for hosting the hop – it’s so much fun to get all this inspiration! Happy Thanksgiving!
oooh, super dramatic! I love the combo of black with copper tones. I’m still a little skeptical about black flowers LOL, but I love the addition of the leaves to the centerpiecem and the wood napkin rings and linen textiles add just the right texture. Another tabletop triumph, Barbara!
Thanks so much Janet! Ha – I know – I wasn’t sure about those black flowers either, but I kind of liked them once I got going! Hope you’re having a lovely fall over there! Happy Upcoming Thanksgiving!
What a unique combination and so dramatic for Thanksgiving Barbara! I would have never thought to use black flowers beyond Halloween and they’re perfectly paired with your mom’s dishes. Your hammered copper chargers are so striking. I prefer to use rectangular tablecloths on round tables to and I love the drape on yours. As always, it’s a treat to join you at the table and hop with you. Wishing you a Happy November and Thanksgiving!🍂🧡
Hi Mary! Yes, I love those chargers – copper always seems fall-ish to me! I’m so happy to be able to hop with you all. Thanks for stopping over. Happy Thanksgiving to you too, and see you again next time!
Barbara, this is quite dramatic and sophisticated! An unusual approach for a traditional holiday, but one that will be memorable long after the last guest leaves. I love that you used your mother’s plates and that you accented them so wonderfully with copper touches in the chargers, flatware and the maple (?) leaves. Thanks for your creative interpretation, my friend!
Hi Sandra! Yes, they’re maple leaves. We have several trees between our house and our neighbors’ and they have so many leaves that I can steal a few without compromising the view! I always love sharing a hop with you – I’m inspired every time! Take care and Happy Thanksgiving!
Barbara, I never in a million years would have thought of black with copper but you absolutely nailed this! Brilliant my friend, just brilliant. And using the dishes made by your mom is so sweet and sentimental, and they are just beautiful. I totally get it why your guests always comment on them. The simple wine glasses are so elegant and I love love the pop of wood from the napkin rings. The flowers are perfect – I just love Michaels for their faux flowers and these ones look fabulous, especially with the touch of greeny-coppery leaves that you added. Plus, you can use the black flowers for Halloween – your favorite event of the year lol. Seriously though, I love that your mom made extra pieces to match the dishes because the vase is lovely too. Love love your second in your linen and copper series. It’s always so great to hop with you and wishing you a most glorious Thanksgiving!!
Haha – yes I’ll have to use the black flowers next year, since I ran out of time this Halloween. That’s so funny that you remember I’m not crazy about that particular event! But I do have an idea to make it prettier, anyway! I might not have pulled this color combination out of thin air, but I was trying to find different ways to use the linen and copper, and Mom’s plates always spark something interesting. It’s so fun to share it with you all – I’m so grateful I got to meet you! Take care up there, and see you next time my friend!
Hi Barbara, I love the drama of your copper and black table! The hammered copper chargers are perfect paired with the contemporary copper flatware. Oh how special to have those black plates that your mother made for you, what a wonderful treasure! The centerpiece is elegant, I would have never thought to use black flowers. The linens strike a beautiful balance to your table and I love the wooden napkin ring and its shape. Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving season!
Thanks so much Pam! It did turn out a little more dramatic than I had originally planned! It’s always fun to see how our tables end up – sometimes very different than where we started. It IS so special to have Mom’s plates. I know you have some special pieces too that remind you of loved ones – that’s part of the joy of tablescaping, right? Thanks so much for stopping by – I always love hopping with you! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Barb at first I thought black and copper? But you have pulled it together beautifully. I love all your copper pieces…the flatware, the chargers and the black centerpiece is a “wow” piece to your table. Thank you for your inspirational table and for showing us that we can step out of our comfort zone and celebrate any color combination if we choose the right pieces. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Ha! Isn’t that the truth?! I didn’t think they’d go together well either, but I figured I’d give it a shot, and I ended up being happy with it! I love that about setting our tables – we can experiment as much as we want, at least until dinner time! Happy Thanksgiving to you and the Captain too – see you out and about my friend!
That’s a wonderful moody tablescape, Barbara!
Thanks Michele! I’m broadening my horizons with combinations I wouldn’t normally do – it’s kind of fun! So happy you stopped by, my friend! Hope things are going well over there, and that your Thanksgiving is wonderful!
Barbara, those copper chargers are gorgeous. What a statement piece with the black plates crafted by your mother. You are so fortunate to have those special plates. I like the striking pairing of the black with the copper, and your alfresco setting makes it all the more enticing for me. Beautiful details!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring. I’m grateful for your friendship and our shared interest in tablescaping.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m so grateful for you too Sarah! I remember when I first started blogging and realized there was a whole community out there who loved tablescapes as much as I did – it was a watershed moment for me, and it’s just gotten better over the years. Being part of your group has been so wonderful! I’m glad you like the dark with the copper, and yes Mom’s plates are very special. Isn’t that part of the appeal for us? The stories and memories around so many of our pieces, and sharing those with our family and friends around the table. Thanks so much for being one of them! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Hello Barbara, your copper and black table is dazzling. I love copper and you have some beautiful pieces. Your light linens are perfect with the black and copper. The wooden napkin ring is lovely. An unexpected look to celebrate the upcoming Thanksgiving.
Oh thanks Linda! I’m so glad you like it. It is a bit unexpected for Thanksgiving – I like to keep my family on their toes! I’m sure having fun with the linen and copper, finding different ways to style them. I know you can relate! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful too!
I love the chargers. Thus table is different and elegant. Job well done.
Visiting from Julie.
Cindy
Hi Cindy – lovely to see you! Isn’t Julie’s party fun? So much inspiration all in one place – I’m glad you popped over. And so glad you like the table. I’m having so much fun with the linen and copper, and with Rita’s blog hop. I’m grateful she organizes these, speaking of inspiration! Hope you’re doing well over there! Happy Thanksgiving!
Prior to seeing your table, I never could have imagined how beautiful and elegant black flowers would look as a centerpiece. You really pulled it off here. I love those hammered copper chargers! I have hammered copper wine glasses that would look perfect here on your table. This is nicely done. I love the drama and elegance.
Oooh copper wine glasses! If we’re ever in the same city, we should get our copper together for a table play date! I’m going to go back to your blog and see if I can find them. So glad you like the flowers. Black wasn’t even on my radar until I saw a Halloween table on Pinterest a while ago that sent me right down to Michael’s for black and coral. I never actually set that Halloween table, but there all these black flowers were… So fun what will suggest itself when it’s lying around on one’s desk for weeks! So nice to share a hop with you Pattie. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and see you next time!
This table is so unique and interesting – the black flowers are stunning and what really caught my eye is your flatware, how gorgeous. I wish you a happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Pattie! I’m so glad you like the flowers – and the flatware! I’ve been in love with it for years. That unique style never gets old. Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s always fun to share a hop with you! Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving too!
Hi Patti! I’m so glad you like the flowers – and the flatware! I’ve been in love with it for years. That unique style never gets old! Thanks so much for stopping over – it’s always so fun sharing a hop with you. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving too!
Barbara, I’m smitten with your pretty hammered copper chargers and flatware and the elegant black accents complement the table beautifully! I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving, Cecilia – My Thrift Store Addiction
Thanks so much Cecilia! I know we both share that love of copper! I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful too – it’s always so nice to share a hop with you!