Dear Nester, I want to decorate for fall but most of the items in the stores are spooky, bloody and downright scary. Help! What would you suggest for inexpensive, approachable yet classy fall decor?
PS, you are beautiful and wise and I have three daughters that are your son’s age that they can marry in 20 years and a perfect job for your husband that he will love forever. Oh, and a maid. I want to give you a maid too.
signed,
Your Imaginary Friend
Dear Friend, It’s been so long! I’m so glad to hear from you. Yes, you can have a home that reflects the season without setting up a life sized witch, placing a steaming cauldron on your porch and pouring fake blood down your stairs, regardless of what the stores are telling you.
Here are a few tips:
- Tuck red and orange berry picks into your current arrangements and wreaths
- Group pretend or real pumpkins and gourds together and on stands and candlesticks in your fireplace {if you aren’t using it} or as a centerpiece on your table.
- Cluster lots of neutral candles together and LIGHT THEM–every night
- Pick up some burlap and cut it into a long strip for a table runner. Be sure to pull away some of the threads on the edges to fray it. Burlap is the ultimate fall fabric.
- Speaking of burlap, I’m gonna make me a fall banner like this one from Fabulous K.
- Find even more ideas from Melissa’s post Natural Elements for Fall Decorating.
- What are your favorite fall decorating secrets?
Stop by the (in)courage shop for decorative tassels created by The Nester (limited!)
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Can’t wait to start getting out my Fall stuff – one more week!!
Love it. I’m so glad I don’t have to pour blood down my stairs. What a relief.
Nester ~
Loved the post and your ideas!
Your ruffle lover,
Gussy
I so prefer the softer colors of tan and cream for fall. No bright orange or bloody anything. I like plain, simple, natural looking decor, but rev it up with a little creative arranging. I also prefer things that last all through fall, and not just through the month of October.
My fave this year? Cinderella pumpkins!
You are so funny! Great tips. I love fall decorating with natural elements…gorgeous and gore free. I’m also decorating for birds this year…outdoor bird feeders, etc. lots of fun and I don’t even like birds all that much (or at all). 🙂
Oh, a maid…yes!! Great tips.
Janell
My best fall decorating secret? Open the windows and let that beautiful fall breeze inspire me to get ready for the holidays. : )
I usually start my fall decoration transition the week after labor day. I love fall!!! I love harvest…but not Halloween. It’s the only holiday I don’t participate in. Thanks for the advice.
PS. there is a house down our street that has ALL their scary/bloody/ghostly decorations out. I guess I need to find a different route to travel for the next month. (it’s not a pretty sight for a 5 & 8 year old)
Blessings to you!!!
I love natural things like wheat, pumpkins, indian corn, acorns, pinecones. I also thing fall is the perfect time to take family pictures, so I have pictures of us in pumpkin patches, carving pumpkins, or past Halloweens scattered around. A few pumpkin/cider candles burning, and you’re good to go! I’m loving your 31 day series. 🙂
Melissa
Ummm completely LOVED this. Nothing spells out fall like pumpkins, candles and cozy blankets in colors of orange, Sage and Berry. Thanks for the ideas!
I LOVE the idea of putting it in the fireplace! We have never used ours and I had to completely clean it out with lysol wipes because my little son kept playing in the nasty sooty mess. Now it is the perfect place for an arrangement!!
Oh mylanta. You make me so happy, you brilliant girl, you.
My “current arrangements and wreaths.” Oh, Nester. 🙂 Okay, so I’m not a decorating gal these days, but I do LOVE fall candles. And colors. Red and orange and brown – oh my! And pumpkin spice and cinnamon apples – yum!!
My fall embellishments are pretty simple (and inexpensive). I decorated the front porch door with a maroon mum and two pie sized pumpkins. I also found a beautiful harvest flag for our house flag post for $7. Inside. I took away all of the summer hints, and used stored fall-colored pillows(deep red and warm tan) and curtains. I also lined the dining table with candle votives down the middle. Candles always help me embrace the autum season. Simple, elegant, and right within our budget.
Brilliant ideas, as usual!
Hehee~! I just had to laugh at your imaginary friend’s letter! +-D I’m one of those people that can’t stand the spooky part of this season, and personally believe it takes away from the beautiful autumnal splendor. Anyway, all of your ideas are great and shouldn’t intimidate anyone from being able to get on the fall decor train. <3
I differentiate between decorating for autumn and Thanksgiving and decorating for Hallowe’en. For seasonal decorating, think leaves, pumpkins, gourds and mums.
I decorate for Hallowe’en every year, but somehow I never thought to pour blood down the stairs! Spooky can be fun. It doesn’t have to be gory. I go for faux spiders and spiderwebs, snakes, tombstones and jack o’ lanterns. You can find all sorts of patterns for pumpkin carving online. It is a true art form!
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