It's been so much fun to see the beginning of fall decorations take over porches, windows, homes and stores. This is one of my favorite times of year. The autumn festivity feels like the perfect prequel to all things holidays.
I've loved to see what friends and family are sharing on social platforms of their decorating efforts, but I've also been hearing some frustrations expressed at attempts of seasonal décor not living up to their hopes.
I thought that I’d share a couple tips that I’ve picked up over time that I use in my approach to just about anything visually focused: home décor, our yard/ garden, parties and weddings.
Two things I keep in mind with décor are Simplicity and Abundance.
Simplicity in each item. Retailers have a field day with new prints and designs each year. It’s their way of getting you to buy something new over and over. But putting a lot of different designs together can make a room feel cluttered quickly. Instead, choose a color or feel for your room and home. Not every piece of the seasonal décor will scream “fall” (or whatever it is that you are decorating for) but when everything is combined it’ll come together as a whole.
I also try to choose one or two prints in seasonal decor, preferably a timeless one like plaid or stripes, or forego them all together and stick to solids.
This photo from Liz Marie Blog is the perfect example of bringing simple fall colors together to create a festive look.
Abundance refers to having multiple pieces of one thing instead of a bunch of one off different things that you are trying to put together.
I recently binged The Home Edit show on Netflix. (so good and so inspiring to go get organized!) One of their tips is never shop sales and never buy a one off organizer.
The same goes for decorating. Having a lot of different things makes a room feel cluttered. Choosing one or two things and having multiples of them will create a bigger impact in a space.
For instance, if you’re decorating for fall, choose to decorate with a multitude of pumpkins in one or two colors, a few vases of the same fall foliage around the room, autumn shaded pillar and taper candles grouped all together or a collection of the same lanterns for your front porch.
If you’re a dedicated sale shopper (and I fully admit that I love a good deal) you can still follow this approach. It just takes a bit of patience. Shopping for items off season is a great way to score. Mark your calendar for November 1st and hit up your favorite stores for their fall and Halloween pieces. Onsite or online, getting there early will ensure that you’ll have a chance to purchase enough in quantity. I often do this for faux greenery, wreaths, ornaments, and linens.
This is from a halloween magazine I snapped a photo of last year, unfortunately I don't remember where from. It's my inspiration for our mantle decor this year. It's actually a pretty simple set up - the majority of the decor is accomplished with black books and pumpkins and the remainder of the room offers some warm details that compliment the focal point of the fireplace.
Here's an amazing front stoop from Grandin Road. It's over the top, sure, but I think it's a perfect example of simplicity in abundance. Many fall garlands in the same arrangement combination accomplish this stunning doorway.
Another favorite approach to decorating is with edible décor. Apples, pumpkins and ears of dried corn are natural fall choices. I also have a collection of glass jars that I fill with seasonal candy like candy corn and pumpkins. It adds a fun pop of color to our breakfast nook and kitchen.
Here's a Christmas example from a couple years ago. The same living room mantle decorated with branches and arranged with a bunch of brass candlesticks. Simple, but when gathered all together it made our room warm and festive
- tip: many christmas tree lots will give you cuttings from their trees for free -
Finally, consolidate your décor. Instead of placing a few items in each room of your home (which can have a sparse effect), choose one room to really “do up”. As you collection of decorations grows, you can expand into more rooms. Our living room remains the focal point of all our decor with it slowly branching out to our library, dining room and breakfast nook.
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