Seasonal Decorating
I love it when the seasons change - I honestly think I love the actual change from one to another and the anticipation of what the new season brings more than I actually love any one season. I grew up in Virginia where we have four distinct seasons - a hot summer perfect for beaches and swimming, a crisp fall with changing of leaves, a cool (albeit usually mild) winter with occasional snow, and the warming of spring and all the flowers (and pollen) it brings. Then, when my husband and I married, he moved me out to Okinawa, Japan, then Columbia, SC, and finally Houston, TX (military wife life) - and while there are things I loved and still miss about each of those places… I missed true seasons. One of the things I was most looking forward to with our move to New England in 2019 was the seasons.
When it comes to seasonal/holiday décor there are two schools of thought for how to proceed - theme versus concept. Theme is a very overt style of décor - think word art, pumpkins galore, fall leaf garland, etc. I recently heard someone compare it to realism in art - you can immediately tell what it is. Concept on the other hand is much more subtle and invokes the feeling of the season - think color palate, textures, and scents of the season. This is more like abstract art - it invokes feelings but requires some thought.
I believe there is a time and place for the theme style décor (Christmas being the big one at my house) but have found through the years that I really prefer to decorate for seasonal changes with the concept of the season in mind. This is for a few reasons (including that when I am slow to change it out, it’s not so apparent) but really boils down to personal preference. If you love themed style décor - you go right ahead but just know I’m not going to be a great source for tips/tricks. Today, I am sharing three tips to bring the concept of the fall season to your home - without the “Hello, Fall!” signs and pumpkin throw pillows that seem to pop up everywhere starting in mid-August.
Tip 1: Swap your vase fillers for fall inspired options. I use lots of rust, spice, beige, ochre, and olive/khaki colors and dried florals in my seasonal fillers, which are colors/textures you often find in nature during this season. You do not need little mini pumpkins on sticks to make it feel like fall and can still have beautiful centerpieces for your table. You can even swap your vases for fall colored options, particularly if you have brightly colored vases.
Links: Floral 1 | Floral 2 | Floral 3 | Floral 4 | Floral 5 | Similar Black Vase | Amaranthus Spray | Iron Candlestick Holders | Yellow Flocked Pampas
Tip 2: Add in some seasonal textiles. Swap some throw blankets, throw rugs, or throw pillows - this doesn’t need to be over the top and certainly not every piece (I tend to change out two or three items and keep the rest the same). These can either be in seasonal colors or textures - such as a heavier knit blanket instead of a lightweight linen. Bouclé, wool, flannel, and fleece are great materials that invoke the cozy feeling we like to have in fall - without directly saying “cozy” or “sweater weather” on them. I also like to bring in some patterns that remind me of fall, such as buffalo plaid.
Links: Blanket | Pillow Cover | Lamp | Reversible Black/White Outdoor Mat | Hello Doormat
Tip 3: Bring in autumn scents. Smell is a great way to immediately invoke memories without having to be in your face. I personally like to use essential oils in a diffuser (little kids and fire can be a bit much), but fall candles are a great option and you have the added benefit of creating some ambiance with the flickering light. Some of my favorite fall scents include orange, bergamot, cinnamon, cedarwood, ginger, clove, and cedar - earthy, woodsy scents.
Hopefully these tips help you create a concept of fall in your home - I would love to hear which one is your favorite!
