How To Decorate for Fall

“How to Decorate for Fall”…no “Fall Decor Ideas”…you type into the Pinterest search engine and are met with an array of truly beautiful displays! But it’s over-the-top and almost overwhelming. Everything is perfection and expensive! Maybe you’re overcome with a bit of longing for something that you know is not for you in this season! You know good and well that for so many of the rest of us, it doesn’t look like this!

Where are the people that have been collecting autumn decorations for years and using them over and over again? The ones hitting up Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart, but then not scrapping it all for new decor the following year? Where are these people?? I’m here for you! I stand in solidarity with you against the Pinterest Perfection that is so prevalent!

Sure, it’s beautiful–if you can afford to get new decor every year, but not all of us can or even want to! If you have ever felt like this, this post is for you! And if you haven’t felt this, I hope you’ll stick around to hear my perspective anyway!

I’m going to walk you through my home that I’ve made cozy with things I’ve been collecting for years! Will I cave and buy anything new this year? Maybe, but I can guarantee you it will be only a couple of things. I NEVER go out and scrap it all for new! Every year, I pull out my treasures and begin again to decorate for fall! It isn’t perfection, but it’s cozy and we love it! Maybe the rest of you will love these ideas of how to decorate for fall too!

Let me give a quick disclaimer so I do not come across in the wrong way! Please note that I am not critical of you if you are buying new decorations every year! There are SO many gorgeous things and I know your home is so beautiful! If that is what you love and it is within your budget to do so, go for it! For me it is not, and I know for many people it is not! If you are with me in that not being real life for you, I encourage you to start collecting items a few at a time and building a treasured collection that you look forward to seeing each and every autumn!

I’m fairly simplistic in my kitchen decor. I wouldn’t say minimalist (I have way too much stuff for that haha), but I usually bring in a taste of the season by hanging a fall sign or two under my cabinets. Additionally, I’ll set out a pumpkin or two in various locations. One of the things I love to do is to leave out greenery, such as boxwoods, that I already use, and just add something to make it festive! The touch of green is still nice, even in the autumn season!

So, our dining area is open and adjacent to our kitchen. One of my favorite ways to decorate seasonally is to decorate my hutch! It usually takes me a lot of trial and error to get it how I would like it to be, but once I hit the “sweet spot,” it is one of my favorite spots in our home! I like bringing in different sizes and textures of pumpkins and florals. This year, I have some faux florals that I’ve had for several years, but I also added in some dried hydrangeas from our flower bed. I love the touch it adds.

Glass jars or white pitchers are always something I enjoy decorating with in this space. They are so versatile, and they can either stand alone or be a great way to display those florals or seasonal berries! While I’m parked here, something else you should know about me is this: I actually LIKE signs and decor with words *gasp*!! Shocking, I know! That is a no-no in the interior design world, but guess what?? It’s my home, and I like it! If you don’t, that’s fine too! We can still be friends! Ok, back to the tour! I added some fall signs that I love to this space as well!

I try to bring fall to the table by adding a festive centerpiece. Usually this involves berries or florals of some sort. This year, I’ve used a dough bowl that I have had for years, some filler pumpkins, and yet another white pitcher with some fall berry sprays!

I am a huge fan of neutrals for my main pieces! I don’t have a color or theme in most of my house because I love to just be able to switch out the pillows, add a few decor pieces, and change the whole flavor of the room. In the living room this year, I’ve used some navy and white patterned pillows that I’ve had for years and added in a few fall-themed pillows that I’ve collected over the years. Another must is some cozy blankets and throws! I have a few different textures and patterns that I use this time of year.

I will set around a few pumpkins and festive berries, as well as switching out my normal boxwood wreath for a fall themed one. Again, I love making a few changes to my normal decor instead of entirely redecorating to mirror the seasons. An example in my living room would be adding some velvety looking pumpkins to a boxwood wreath I always have in here.

In our bedroom is another place that I like to capitalize on neutrals to change the whole dynamic of the room. I opt for a neutral bedspread or quilt so I can easily add pillows and blankets to bring in the fall season! I also have some neutral pillows that I paired with a cheery yellow striped pillow and a specifically autumn-themed pillow.

This year, I added a leaf garland above our bed, some pumpkins to the nightstand, dresser, and cabinet and some faux berry branches.

In the master bathroom, I’ve gone extremely minimal this year. I simply added a couple of neutral pumpkins in here.

Our entry way is a very small area, so we just have a small entry table. I’ve added a meaningful DIY piece a dear friend made us, and some pumpkins and berries.

In our hallway, I replaced the picture on the wall with a fall print and added a few fall-themed details to the table underneath. Fun fact: this green pumpkin with “family” on it is the only new fall decor piece I bought this year. I didn’t randomly buy it either. I needed something specifically for this space.

Typically, I will decorate the main spaces of my house and then allow my kids to have a free-for-all with the remaining decor. They are allowed to use it in their rooms and they love it and always look forward to sifting through what I leave behind for their own special decor pieces!

There you have it: a tour through my not-so-Pinteresty home that is still super cozy. No, it’s not trendy and won’t get me included in any Better Homes and Gardens magazines. Our furniture shows more than a little wear and tear (hello! four rambunctious kids)! Everything isn’t new, including our seasonal decor, and THAT’S OK! We love our cozy home and look forward to the change of seasons every year to decorate in a way that is right for our family!

I will reiterate what I said in the first section just once more. If you love scrapping all your decor every year and buying new, and your budget allows you to do that, then by all means do that! Make your home beautiful! The whole point of this post is to not be pressed into a mold that is not truly YOU! Whatever is truly YOU, be that!

Encouragement

So, a word of encouragement to you, friend! If you don’t tend to keep up with every trend, it’s ok! If you do keep up with trends, but they just don’t fit you, that too, is ok! And if you have been collecting treasured items for years on end (even if they did come from Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, or the Target dollar spot) and they bring you joy every year when they are displayed, keep doing what you’re doing.

Release yourself from the pressure to spend a ton of money on new decor every year. Enjoy your life on your terms, not the world’s! Create a cozy environment for your family to snuggle up and prepare for the cooler months in just the way YOU like it to be!

Be content there, friend! As the Word tells us:

Did this post resonate with you at all? I hope you’re encouraged to embrace your home exactly as it is!

Pin It For Later

Additional Resources:

If you are interested in a fall cleaning routine to prep your home for fall, check out this post complete with FREE printable.

How to Prepare Your Home For Fall

Check out my fellow blogger Mama’s Front Porch Swing ‘s post on affordable fall decorations if you need to start small building your collection!

• Where To Buy Cheap Fall Decorations – Mamas Front Porch Swing