Fall decorating means rich colors, warm textures and nature’s bounty
MetroCreative
As temperatures drop and leaves begin to change color, it’s time to decorate your home with touches of fall.
Many people consider fall their favorite time of year and the season – which stretches until it’s time to put up winter holiday decorations – offers many ways to dress up your home.
“People really embrace fall because of the rich colors – the greens turning to orange, brown and burgundy,” said Marice Brooks, interior designer for Sheila’s Home in Uniontown.
“Any fall color you see in nature, you can use in your home,” said Charlotte Connors, owner of Charlotte’s Custom Draperies and Home Furnishings in Waynesburg.
But don’t be afraid to offer a twist to the traditional fall color palette.
Stefanie McCulloch, owner of Broad Avenue Treasures in Belle Vernon, noted that people are pairing turquoise with fall colors, such as orange.
“I have gourds painted in turquoise and antiqued to make them look not as bright. It adds a nice pop of color, and it’s unexpected,” said McCulloch.
Start decorating on the outside of your home with pumpkins and fall flowers, such as mums, on your front porch and door steps. You can place a wreath or swag that feature leaves, flowers and/or pumpkins on your front door.
“We do a lot of grapevine wreaths,” said McCulloch, who noted they can be used throughout the season.
Inside, it’s all about incorporating colors and textures.
Connors said fall colors “can be used in throws, pillows. You can use fall colors in just about everything.”
Brooks said, “Pillows are an easy way to make a change. We have ones with leaves, ones with pumpkins.”
Continue the fall theme by attaching colorful ribbons and bows to containers holding houseplants, said Connors.
With so much emphasis on the outdoors, Brooks said feathers are popular for decorating, and suggested adding them to floral arrangements for “a pop of nature.”
And an animal that you might not think about is enjoying popularity in themed decor as McCulloch noted “owls are a real, big thing.” An internet search finds owls featured on pillows, nightlights, bookends, trivets, rugs and figurines.
Bring in nature’s bounty with pumpkins, gourds and apples.
“You can fill a big bowl of apples – everything from a crystal bowl to a wooden basket – it’s just fall,” said Connors.
While orange pumpkins are traditional, many people are decorating with white pumpkins.
Connors said she is decorating a home done in white, off-white and cream, and noted “white pumpkins would look awesome in that house.” She advised having some dark tones, such as wood, in the rooms to add contrast.
Pumpkins themselves don’t have to be real. Many stores provide pumpkins made from a variety of materials.
Brooks mentioned decorative pumpkins are being made with metals, such as aluminum and copper.
“It creates that warm, inviting feel to settle in for the winter,” said Brooks.
“I have fabric pumpkins that I keep in my home. You can go online and find patterns for making pumpkins,” said Connors, who noted she recently saw a posting about someone who made a pumpkin from a cable-knit sweater.
Shorter days mean people have more time to make use of candles and fall offers many special scents.
“We sell a lot of candles,” said Brooks. “We have all the fall scents – pumpkin, cinnamon, hazelnut.”
McCulloch added cloves to that list, saying it’s “anything that makes you think of fall.”
“Candles add comfort and a real ambiance to a home when lit,” said Connors. “My only concern is children. That’s why I love plug-ins. They have fall scents and make the house smell so nice but it’s safe for animals and small children.”
Brooks noted lanterns are popular, suggesting you might create a display that includes adding a candle to the lantern and gourds around the base.
Strings of indoor lights can also be featured in decorating.
“Strands of fairy lights can add subtle color to a fall piece,” said Brooks.
McCulloch noted the popularity of rice lights, “They’re very small and battery operated. You can accent different areas, even in a dining room – a china cabinet that’s not lit. Use it to showcase seasonal things.”
Those with a fireplace can add coziness with a fire. Cut wood also makes a nice display.
When decorating, don’t forget other areas, such as the bath and powder rooms where you can add fall scents in soaps and lotions.
“We have some really nice handmade soaps,” said McCulloch, who noted the scents change with the seasons.
There’s also plenty available for the your kitchen and dining room.
“I put out new dish towels in my kitchen – they make so many pretty fall ones – and runners on the table,” said Connors, who also uses fall napkins and placemats.
“We have a number of fall placemats and runners,” said Brooks, who noted that burlap remains popular in the fall.
“Burlap is still in. It’s very fall,” said McCulloch, who pointed out you can use it as a table runner with a basket of pumpkins and gourds on top.
If you’re enjoying company, fall foods and drinks can add to the decor.
Connors noted you can serve fall teas with flavors such as apple, cinnamon and pumpkin spice.
And what table doesn’t look beautiful with an apple or pumpkin pie, ready to be cut.
So whether you’re entertaining or curled up under an afghan watching television or reading, these fall accents can make your home feel cozy and warm all autumn long.