I'm not an interior designer so I won't be the expert decorator you may be looking for. But I do like to add some seasonal touches. Here are my little touches throughout the house.
When you think of Fall, what do you think of? That's what you can decorate with! It doesn't have to be perfection, it has to bring a smile or good memory to your mind. You don't have to decorate every surface unless you enjoy decorating so much that it's relaxing and fun for you. I keep it reigned in because I not only have to put it out, but I have to clean around them and then cleaning them before storing them when it comes time for Christmas decorating. You have to keep in mind that it's not just putting it out, but maintenance (like dusting, vacuuming, washing), then cleaning them before you carefully store them. And do you have enough room to store your things? So you have to find the balance for your home, your schedule and your preferences and go from there. If you have limited storage (such as living in an apartment) you can do one of two things. Only put out a couple of things. Or, use perishables to decorate with, things you can eat or throw away. You can use candies, twigs, real leaves and nuts, real pumpkin and winter squashes, fresh flowers, etc. You can re-purpose some things. For instance, if you have one of those decorative chalkboards and then use it each season by putting different messages on it.
Here are some ideas I found on the Internet:
Chalkboard ideas
Football games - Do you and your family love football? Look forward to tailgating? Love watching games on TV? Big alumni supporters or favorite team supporters? Then use it in your seasonal decor! I love picnicking and tailgating. We don't often get to go to football games but I do love the picnicking when we do. So I used an old picnic basket or my vintage metal cooler, a plaid afghan, a vintage thermos, an old football from one of my nephews and some colorful cups to bring back to our memory those picnics and hot chocolate football games.
Bright leaves, berries, twigs, etc - Most of us love the colors of nature in the Fall. I love to put out bright leaves and fall flowers in bases around the house. I love the colors and I love the memories of Fall walks and the sounds and smells of the outdoors in the Fall.
Fall cooking - Every Fall I have some Fall recipes that I make. We love Butternut squash bisque, spinach and pear salad, kale slaw, cooked greens, beans in the crockpot, apple salad, baked sweet potatoes, apple cider, etc. Do you have some tried and true recipes? Do you like trying new recipes based on a Fall theme? You can evoke these in your decor. Put out some Fall dishes on the dining room table. Use vintage thermoses or baskets. A bowl of apples. Use pumpkins and squashes and gourds. Place a pretty soup tureen out. Drag out your Fall platters. Use glass containers that hold beans, popcorn, pasta.
Do you love wood fires in the Fall? - Find some clean wood and place in the fireplace or in a basket by the fireplace. Some people like to use birch logs because o the white bark. Take some small branches and tie with a burlap ribbon. Drape an afghan over your couch. Use wooden bowls, bread bowls, buckets, trays.
Do you think of mulled cider, hot chocolate, pumpkin spice flavored coffee, chai tea when you think of Fall? How about decorating with Fall mugs, coffee beans in a vase with a tealight on top to warm the beans and release the smells? Put some cinnamon sticks in a Fall mug and place on the countertop. Fill a see through container with hot chocolate mix and put a candy dish with peppermints or caramels to add to the hot chocolate.
Do you love candlelight in the Fall? Get some nice candles and place them around. Be creative with candleholders. Just be careful about dry things around the flame as you don't want it to catch on fire.
Do you think of the farm, hay rides, harvest, crops? What could you use to remind you of a farm and the harvest? Wagons? Wooden bowls? Baskets? Galvanized buckets? Sheafs of wheat? Bushel baskets of apples? Hay bales? Real pumpkins and gourds? Old wooden crates? Cotton? Burlap? Scare crows? Chickens/roosters? Casks, crates, boxes? Feed and seed bags? Here are some ideas.
Do you think "sweater weather"? How about using knitted items, winter scarves, afghans, balls of yarn in your Fall decorating.
Do you think of hunting? Animals? Birds? Look for deer, hedgehogs, squirrels, foxes, owls, pheasants, feathers, bird cages, moose, etc.
Maybe Fall means rainy weather, rubber boots, cold. How about using some rubber boots in your seasonal decor?
Maybe you see Fall as a time to cuddle up with a good book and a hot drink.
Or maybe you look forward to working on your crafting projects as the nights go dark early and the weather gets cold.
As you can see, there are lots of ideas out there. People are so creative and now we have the internet to share ideas. I really appreciate people sharing their creativity with the rest of us! I've put out my things, now I'm ready to put some Fall candy in the candy dishes, get some pumpkin spiced coffee and a good book. Happy Fall Y'all!!!
