With the seasons officially changing and the weather beginning to cool, everyone has been giddy to dust off their scarecrows and buy pumpkins– but with the seasons changing, all of the stores are also filled with corny, flimsy décor, too. That begs the question: Is there a way to decorate for fall that is still aesthetic and personal, or are we all doomed to look like a HomeGoods store every autumn? I personally think that there is always a way to achieve an idea in a way that looks well-designed and chic. Here are some tips on how to do just that (with a focus on sustainability and affordability, too, of course)!
Textiles:
From pillows to even bedding, textiles can be a great way to add some seasonal flair to your space. It is also a great way to choose how “fall” you want to get. If you’d like to keep it more subtle, using autumnal colors such as deep oranges and bright burnt reds as solid colors can be an awesome way to switch things up. If you want to go all out, finding some leaf-patterned pillow cases or bedding can make a statement.
Outdoor:
There are so many ways you can go when it comes to outdoor fall décor. From the annual plants you choose, like mums or pepper plants, to corn stalks or handmade scarecrows, there are so many options… You don’t have to settle for blow-up decorations!! This is really an area that you can customize, and it can be a fun part of the home to let your kids participate if they’re interested 🙂
Themes:
Picking a theme for your fall selection can make your home feel a lot more cohesive and avoid feeling cheap or tacky. If you like the imagery of leaves and pumpkins( or the more spooky side like scarecrows), there are a lot of ways to incorporate your theme throughout the home instead of just going for “fall”.
The smaller things:
If big, obvious decorations aren’t your thing, making small changes like switching out your candles or candle holders, swapping out flowers in your vase for dried wheat and dried flowers, or switching your display dishware set are some smaller ways to get into the season.
The concept of “replacements” vs. “additives”:
There are two main ways of seasonally decorating – replacing things and adding things. Here is a little breakdown of the difference.
Replacements – As mentioned above briefly, you can swap out décor in your home to match the season. If you have tapers and candle holders, you can swap either or both out. Swapping pillow cases or decorative pillows, swapping throw blankets, and even swapping artwork on the walls can make the whole space feel more catered to the season (which is always great if you’re hosting). This is a great option for spaces that are a bit smaller or more minimalistic in nature.
Additives – Adding decorations is often what people think of when they think of decorating. In the context of fall, that can look like putting out pumpkins on your mantle and tables, adding new napkins to your dining set, putting up garland, and other details like that. This is great for bigger spaces with more sq. ft. to fill. If you have any staged tables in your home, like consoles or TV stands, this can be a great option.
Sustainable options:
Live plants – Obviously, pumpkins are a huge part of this time of the year, but there are other live plant options for you! As mentioned before, there are dried corn stalks for outside and dried wheat and flowers for inside, but you can also find cool ways to use branches, apples (they keep for a long time), or actual dried corn as decoration throughout the home. The best part is, when the season is over or your live plants are starting to look (or smell) less alive, you can simply throw them into a nearby forest or compost them since they are completely natural. Your décor can actually help the earth!
Reusable décor – It goes without saying that reusable options are always going to be more sustainable than something you buy and throw out at the end of the season (unless it’s a live plant). For that reason, it is always a good idea to get higher-quality décor, even if it can cost more upfront, that will last through the years. I personally always wait until the season is over and everything is on sale to grab my staple decorations for the next year! Most of the time, your favorite home goods store has seasonal options that will go on sale… that’s your chance!
DIY – Doing things yourself is not only more sustainable, but it is often more affordable and more fun than just getting it at the store! If you have kids, this is a fun bonding opportunity; if you’re like me and you just love crafting, this can be the most fun part of the seasonal decoration process.
Thrifting – My favorite!! There are some of the cutest seasonal decoration finds at the thrift store, especially for fall. The best part is… they’re available throughout the whole year! Since I store all of my seasonal décor in different sections, it’s easy to stock up whenever I find something worth taking home, and when it comes time to decorate, I have a bunch of fun new knick-knacks to put on display 🙂
If you weren’t already in the fall spirit, I hope this blog post got you there! If you were already in the mood for some pumpkins, I hope that you gain some inspiration from this. Happy decorating 🙂 Don’t forget to tag me or @ me on social media if you post your décor, I want to see!
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