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Tips for planning your seasonal decor along with shopping sources and inspiration.
This fall, more than any other that has come before, I feel the need for simplicity. I actually thought about skipping autumn altogether, but knew I would regret it if I did. I want to welcome fall into our home, but in a calm and subtle way. I don’t want to rush the season, and I don’t want to take away from what’s left of the summer. But planning is always a good thing, so that’s what we’re doing today.
Give Yourself Plenty Of Time
This year, let’s simplify things, begin early, and start with a plan. I have found, and I’m sure that most of you will agree, that making a plan before starting literally any project is a good idea. Let’s approach our seasonal decorating in the same way. By making a few uncomplicated decisions early-on, we can pave the way for a cozy and comfortable autumn.
Easy Steps For Making A Seasonal Decor Plan
- Choose an item to use as your jumping-off point. It can be a set of pillows, a throw blanket, a seasonal wreath, a framed print, or even a flower arrangement. Use the colors in your inspiration piece for the rest of your decor, along with plenty of neutrals.
- Once you have your inspiration piece, shop your house. See what you already have that can be used again…or repurposed into something completely new.
- Decide which spaces will be included. I usually decorate our porch, entry, living room, and kitchen, but that might change this year. This decision will most likely depend on how many accessories you have. If you have just a few things, start with one or two spaces.
- If budget allows, add something new. It’s always nice to freshen seasonal decor each year. If your wreath is old, add a new bow. Purchase a set of new pillows, or a festive throw. Since it’s fall, treat yourself to pots of mums or bouquets of sunflowers.
floral lumbar pillow | faux hops
rocker | tasseled pillow
candlesticks | doormat
Make Your Plan A Reality
To help you visualize how to do this, here’s my fall decorating plan.
- For the porch: a new doormat that looks like it’s hand-hooked, along with tasseled pillow covers on the rockers, and the rustic garden stool from last year. (Doormat is also available on Amazon.) I still don’t know what, if anything, I’m putting in the planters. I’m considering foregoing the planters altogether, but I haven’t made a final decision about that!
- The door wreath: I’m using my favorite, very full greenery wreath, with golden faux hops randomly inserted right into the wreath base. No wire, and no glue.
- For the inside: my whole plan began with the desire to honor my mom and dad, and somehow reconnect with them. My mom’s favorite color was red, and her home was filled with red fabric and accessories. I haven’t decorated with red for years, but when I found these floral pillow covers, and these too, I immediately knew how my plan would fall into place. Not overwhelming red, but touches here and there.
- Accessories: I’m using simple black candleholders for the mantel, various baskets and throw blankets, my mom’s bean pot, and a small dough bowl that sat on their coffee table.
Tips For Putting In All In Place
- I always begin with the porch, and work my way through our house. Start with the easiest space, but don’t try to decorate everything all at once…spread it out, and enjoy the process.
- Use a color palette inspired by fall, such as deep oranges, rich yellows, warm reds, and earthy browns. These colors remind us of autumn, and create a cozy feeling.
- If your budget is tight, shop sales, and use what you already have. (That’s why it pays to plan ahead.)
- Sometimes less is more. Don’t feel like you have to decorate every square inch of your space. This is our mantra: “Add and then edit.”
I know there is a lot of summer left to enjoy…and I’m not trying to take away from that. Planning ahead makes the actual process of decorating for the seasons so much easier. I like to think about things for a while before I start making decisions, and I bet some of you do too. So start thinking about where you would like to begin, do a little shopping, maybe even fit in some sewing or crafting. Most of all, enjoy and have fun!
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I am already getting ready for fall by taking care of yard things now. I have cut down plants, and really weeded out things that have encroached into my flower garden. I have window boxes on my deck that really don’t look that great because I was away for 4 nights, and they didn’t get watered so I have removed them. I lost my wonderful husband unexpectedly 4 months ago, and I am keeping our yard up to the same high standard that he had. It’s my way of honoring him. We already had reservations in September to an inn and spa and I am going by myself, and I want everything in order before I go. I give myself one hour very early in the morning to accomplish specific tasks. It’s amazing how much you can get done in an hour when you work nonstop. I am looking forward to having a clean slate outside so when I return from my trip I can start with the inside of our home.
I have versions of “light” seasonal decorating. I’m thinking about cutting much of it all down to white ceramic vessels and good quality faux florals. I haven’t been home a lot in the last year…off visiting kids and grandkids and had medical issues. I still have winter decor up in my house! I guess whenever I get home, I’ll be dealing with a lot of pine cones…maybe they’ll be in season again!
Ann, Love all things fall🍂. We are fortunate here in Minnesota to experience all four seasons. Our leaves are so beautiful. One time on a car ride my sister described leaves as driving through a bag of Skittles. What a great description😊. I already “liked” your references for the pillows at Target but not yet ready on their site yet for shipping. Looking forward to more fall inspiration!
Thank you for this lovely post. Our family is grown, but I still decorate for each season. It gives me such pleasure. My daughter now does the same for her family. Nice tradition to pass on.
You have excellent taste. I won’t even consider Fall until after Labor Day but I thank you for your ideas! God bless
What a lovely post. :) I’ll start decorating for fall on September 1. While summer isn’t necessarily my favorite, I have begun to cherish each season for it’s own gift. I also honor my mother in a particular way. When she passed in 2016, my brother and sister gifted me her autumn dishes. The very first thing I do is pull out the mugs and switch out my coffee station. It has become the official start of fall for me! Thank you for the warm sentiments.
I understand wanting to skip a season. The year my best friend died I did not have it in me to do Christmas. But I had kids at home so I put up a Christmas tree. That was it- just a tree, no ornaments, no lights. Was it unusual? Yes but the the truth is the family could have decorated it if they cared to and they didn’t care enough to do it. I learned I was the only one who really cared about the decor. So give yourself a lot of grace in this season of grief. Minimal seasonal decor isn’t going to hurt anyone and honors how you feel.
I absolutely LOVE fall and only want to rush if the summer is unbearable!! I also absolutely LOVE how simple yet gorgeous your decor style is simply beautiful. <3
Thank you for reminding us to enjoy today. Sometimes my anticipation of an upcoming season makes me miss out on today. I really appreciated your post!
You can rush Fall any time! It is my favorite season. The only thing I love about summer is knowing that Fall is just around the corner. Love everything about fall, the weather, the colors and pumpkins and mums. And the smells! Thanks for the ideas. Great as usual.
Where did you get your beautiful wood bowl? Fall is my favorite time of year but like you I don’t want to rush it. The time goes too fast as it is.
Hi Sue! Here is the link to the wood bowl: https://rstyle.me/+FERP3LzH1YKcnqxwHCmRbA?__cid=1151 Thanks!
Thanks!
I guess there are two of us here. 👋🏻 How confusing.
Ann, thanks for the nudge to not only explore seasonal items we store year to year, but to transition gradually and savor the slower journey. Planning ahead also frees us in later weeks to serve churches and community – the true beauty and inner heart of each season. Your encouragement, philosophy of simplicity, shopping sites and well-tested recipes are so appreciated!
Agree….we give some thought and gather our ‘Fall’ stuff but that doesn’t mean we put it out until Fall. It puzzles me some people can’t grasp the ‘not until Fall part’. I know what’s in my stash and if I see something that compliments or replace anything tired from yrs past…then I will purchase. Summer gets it full time in the sun….and I tend to think of ‘early Fall’ and full on Fall when putting out my decor. There’s a transition just like in Nature.
After working in the craft/home/antique decor industries for 45 years and forced to decorate 15 foot Christmas trees in August, …honestly I don’t hurry any seasons. I browse stores…maybe (forced to really) but only put out my own Fall out when the leaves begin to turn and not when it is 95 degrees everyday. Christmas goes out second week in December—maybe. Easter goes out for a week or two before. Seriously—life speeds along at an alarming rate as we get older—no need to push it even faster! I may do a project or two—and hope to add classes this year. But it will be in season and not months before.
Hi Ann,
There are some great ideas in your post, thank you. It seems to me the year is flying by, we’re already in August. I think your suggestion that we start early is spot on.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Karen B.