(BPT) - Saying goodbye to summer doesn’t have to be a sentimental ending when you consider it’s also a beginning – the kick off to autumn and the holiday season. The promise of fall is in the air. It’s a great time to dress up your home for fall entertaining; whether that means friends gathered around the television rooting for your favorite team or the ultimate traditional Thanksgiving feast.

“Decorating trends for this fall are really fun and functional,” says visual merchandiser John Griffith. “Colors that evoke a sense of nostalgia and family are a really big part of the visual design message for autumn 2013. Reds, golds and oranges are trending this fall. These hues are not only warm and comforting; they’re reflective of the season.”

Griffith and teammate Julie Robbins add their own unique spin on the latest trends to create seasonal design vignettes for Replacements, Ltd., the world’s largest retailer of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles. Whether you are planning a casual family gathering or an elegant dinner party, Robbins suggests easy ways to mix in great fall colors. This can be as simple as adding a charger plate or colorful serving pieces.

“Using colored glass is fantastic way of infusing autumn colors to create a seasonal feel,” says Robbins. “Amber colored glass is really popular this fall because the rich, warm color goes with so many patterns and designs. I’m big on the pressed vintage patterns; depression glass, coin glass and sandwich glass are all very lovely and nostalgic. We’re actually mixing and matching patterns from historic American glassmakers including Federal, Indiana Glass and Fostoria on our tables. It looks great to mix designs which share the same colors or combine an array of colors within a place setting.”

Metal serveware is another popular trend this fall.

“We’re incorporating metal serveware into many of our displays because you can do so much with it from a design standpoint,” says Griffith. “These are great accent pieces you can dress up or down, plus it is family- and football-season friendly. Metal serveware is also very functional. Once heated, the alloy retains warmth to keep food warmer longer or cooler if you chill these pieces. Plus it is easy to clean and doesn’t have to be polished. We’re using a lot of fun shapes, like leaf-shaped pieces and turkey platters.”

Fall’s bountiful harvest translates into the home this season. Robbins is using natural elements in her table designs that evoke a sense of the first Thanksgiving.

“I suggest filling vases, glasses or serving bowls with dried beans, acorns or even kernels of dried deer corn. Not only does this look pretty, you can also mix in candles or flowers and use these natural elements to hold those items in place.”

Robbins adds apples, gourds, pumpkins and green pears are among fruits and vegetables you can use on your table or anywhere in your home to create a brilliant splash of color. She says you can find more decorating ideas at Replacements’ YouTube channel and Facebook page.