I am such a fall person. And a winter person. Okay, maybe I’m just a cold weather person. Growing up I always thought that summer was my favorite season, but I am starting to wonder if the seasonal dynamics of northern Michigan (long winters & short summers) persuaded me to sit at the “summer is the best” table even though I didn’t really belong. Now I firmly believe that life would be best if the temperature outside never exceeded 75*. Give me some warm apple cider, a cozy sweater, thick blanket, crisp air that bites through your clothes just a little, and painted leaves and I am in heaven.
Today in Arkansas, we are looking at a high of 86* with about 70% humidity, so not exactly fall weather… but if the fall won’t come to me, I’ll bring it here myself! Here are six tips to help you incorporate some autumnal decor into your home.
ONE – Texture
Playing with textures is such an easy way to make things feel autumn-y. Think chunky knit blankets, dried flowers, leather, and wooden items. Having a large variation of textures helps to mimic the changing texture of the world outside as it transitions slowly from summer to winter.
TWO – Color
This tip probably seems pretty obvious, but use fall colors in your decorations. Pick warm, earthy colors like orange, mustard yellow, and rust to bring bits of the color change happening outdoors indoors. While you can almost never have too many textures, having too many colors can feel overwhelming and look disheveled, so stick to one maybe two main accent colors per room.
THREE – Smell
If you ask me to describe what fall is like, one of the first things I would tell you is that it smells like apple cider! When you’re creating a space, you don’t want to just create something that is visually appealing, you want to capture a feeling. To do this you have to use more than just your sense of sight and incorporating scents is a great way to do this.
I love candles because not only do they smell great (okay, they don’t all smell great, but there are lots that do), but they also look fantastic. I think I have 4 different fall candles that are currently on rotation in my house – apple anything is a favorite of mine and J loves it when I burn Bath & Body Works’ Maple Bourbon. If you’re not into candles, diffusing essential oils can also be really effective. A quick Pinterest search of “fall diffuser recipes” will leave you with loads of scent combinations to try.
FOUR – Go Natural
Hey there, I see you walking down the aisles of Hobby Lobby. You (like me) are in your happy place looking at literally tons of different and fun seasonal decorations. There are so many things to choose from and wait, what was that? Is that a ceramic mouse with a sweater on holding a sign that says pumpkin patch this way? You (I) need it!!!
Okay, so you probably don’t actually need that mouse. I am not saying that you are forbidden from purchasing cute, cartoonish decorations, just that you should probably limit yourself. 95% of the time, try to opt for natural items. Remember that we’re looking to mimic what’s going on outside here, so use real pumpkins, stems, and other things that you could find on a nature walk to elevate your space. If you have a solid foundation of beautifully natural items, then you can probably work that cute mouse in there without making your decor look gimmicky.
(Also, this is that Maple Bourbon candle that J loves)
Five – Greenery (orangery?)
This tip kind of goes hand in hand with tip #4, but since it is so important, it deserves its own spot. Grab a vase and throw some branches in it! If you have an amber glass vase (color) or a vase that isn’t perfectly smooth (texture), use that one! If you can find a tree or bush that has changed color, clip off some thin branches (you don’t want a tree trunk, but they should still be pretty long) and use those to literally bring some of the outside inside. If you live somewhere where the leaves don’t change until well into the season, using faux stems is a great option as long as they look relatively realistic.
SIX – Words
I’m a sucker for a good quote. My current favorite is by Oscar Wilde. “And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” There is almost a sense of swift relaxation to his words and I am just really feeling it.
A large sign on a mantle or console table with a quote, saying, or just seasonal words can also make a huge impact. If you don’t have the space to store a massive sign during the rest of the year, use a letter board! If there is a seasonal quote or funny saying that you are loving, write it out on a letter board and include it in your decoration. Limit yourself to one maybe two word-based decor pieces per room to keep it from evolving into more of a dorm room style.
So there you have it! Six tips to help you bring the crisp and cozy feeling of fall into your home. I want to hear from you! What is your favorite part about decorating for fall?
With love,
Mercedes ♥
With Love, Mercedes 