Decorating For Fall

When it comes to home decorating, I fully and freely admit that in no way, shape or form am I an expert on any level. I have never taken a class, read up on the official “how-to’s” or watched tutorials. I usually start each decorating conversation by prefacing my lack of professional knowledge. Yet, with that being said, my goal in writing this particular blog is just to simply share what I have found to be helpful over the years when transforming the spring and summer look of my home into an autumn one.

One rule I have always chosen to live by when it comes to personal style and home décor is, “If you like it, then it’s beautiful!” By that I mean, we all have our own flair, opinions, tastes and preferences. There is no right or wrong, as long as when you kick your feet up after a long day, you love the feeling of being home. Choosing a style for home décor has to be personal to each individual. It should flow naturally from your heart – a simple reflection of what makes you feel happy, peaceful and content.

My personal style in home decoration is traditional, rustic décor. I love decorating with pieces that are casual, cozy, warm and inviting. When I got married, it was a lot of fun to discover my husband’s personal decorating style as well. I was pleasantly surprised to find that he did not simply “agree” and “approve” what I had already chosen – but rather, he enjoyed being a part of choosing what we would use to decorate our home. The man has excellent taste! I’m one lucky girl. And, as a matter of fact, he even picks things out that I never would choose on my own – and I always love it when a certain look comes together. He has great vision. We enjoy working together.

My husband and I have accumulated a lot over the years, as we have made it a seasonal tradition to shop for a few new pieces of fall décor (such as a wreath, pumpkin, signage, etc.) every year. I greatly look forward to this time with him as we comb the stores for new finds.

Out of all the seasonal decorating I love to do, the wonderful season of autumn is my favorite. I wanted to write down a few of my tips and tricks and explain my personal process of decorating for those who may be interested.

First, start with a theme.

Choose a theme to display throughout your home – a theme that will be the main focal point. For example, I love the traditional harvest theme. I prefer orange, gold and reddish colors. I use leaves, rustic pumpkins, creamy colored sunflowers, wheat and farmhouse signage.

Other theme options could include more Halloween type décor, modern décor (using the colors of teal, black and white) or a playful cartoon theme, such as Charlie Brown, etc.

Second, scatter leaves.

Who doesn’t love Hobby Lobby? They sure do make it easy to shop! You can buy a simple bag of leaves for $3.00 to $6.00 and scatter them throughout your home, transforming your normal table tops into a beautiful autumn landscape. One bag of leaves goes a long way. I like to place a leaf here or there under picture frames, pumpkins or candles. It is a cheap and easy way to add the autumn colors all throughout the house.

Third, tie a ribbon around it.

Adding ribbon around vases, pumpkin stems, or a towel display is another fun and simple way to add a festive fall look to items in your home.

My go-to ribbon for the last two years has been the black and white checkered ribbon. I also get twice the use out of this because I keep the same ribbon out for Christmas as well.

And fourth and final, add floral and berry picks.

These fall picks and beads can also be found at Hobby Lobby for a great price ranging from $1.99 to $3.00 a piece. I love adding these as a pop of color to items already existing in my home. I’ll add them to vases, lanterns, fruit bowls, birdcages – you name it.

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” – Emily Bronte

Decorating for autumn at my house always takes place the last weekend in August. I like to have the full month of September, October and November to enjoy every last drop of fall.

However you choose to decorate, I hope it makes coming home all the more sweeter.

Have a warm and cozy autumn season, friends! And happy decorating!

~ Stephanie