When we think about fall colors, our minds tend to go straight to the brooding bunch: deep rusts, mossy olives, rich burgundies and every shade of brown in between. They’re beautiful, certainly, but after months of summer’s bright, in-your-face hues, the traditional autumn palette can feel like someone dimmed the lights a little too soon. Suddenly, everything is very serious. Very sophisticated. Very “I have a bowl of decorative gourds and big feelings.”
But who says fall has to be so moody? There’s plenty of room for a lighter, more playful take on the season, especially when it comes to entertaining. Think autumnal florals in softer, cheerier shades that nod to falling leaves and crisp evenings without making your table look like it’s preparing for hibernation.
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Crofton Harvest Two Tiered Tray – Autumn Floral, $14.99 at Aldi
Aldi
That’s why Aldi’s new two-tier server swoops in like a breath of fresh air. With its pretty floral design and distinctly autumnal feel, it embraces the season without getting bogged down in all those heavy hues. It’s a little bit fall, a little bit flower garden and a whole lot more fun—proving that seasonal decorating can have a sunnier side, too.
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A tiered server may sound like something that comes out only when company’s coming, but this one has plenty of uses beyond piling it with snacks. Load it up with crackers, cheese, nuts and caramel corn for a casual fall happy hour, or make it the star of dessert with cookies, brownies, mini pies or other seasonal treats. It could also pull double duty at breakfast, holding muffins and fruit, or on a coffee or cocoa bar with mugs on one tier and marshmallows, cinnamon sticks and other mix-ins on the other.
But don’t feel like you have to serve anything on it at all. The autumn floral design makes it cute enough to use as seasonal decor on a kitchen counter, dining table or entryway. Fill it with mini pumpkins, gourds or faux flowers, or use it as a pretty little catchall for everyday odds and ends. Basically, it’s part serving piece, part fall decoration and one more excuse to make your countertops look a little more festive without covering every available surface in pumpkins (though there’s no shame if you go that route).
Aldi’s Crofton Two-Tier Server is $14.99 and will hit the store’s “Finds” aisle on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
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