I am not the type of person who goes all-out with holiday home decor — if you’ve been here for a while you already know that I prefer subtle touches that don’t detract from my existing year-round home decor. It’s all about making easy additions (or swaps) that work for your style. I find that the easiest places to make these modifications are (1) door / wall decor, (2) accent pillows, and (3) tabletop decor. Sometimes adding a festive bunting to your mantle will work, but not everyone has a fireplace (or even a mantle over it, for that matter!) so I tend not to gravitate toward garlands or banners.
Regarding my selections, I prefer to use the colors of the holiday or seasons without using overly specific items because then I can often repurpose items throughout the year (specifically with accent pillows and florals)! That said, it would be silly not to sprinkle in some tasteful, festive items that are directly related to the season.
As you probably deduced from the title, this post is specifically related to decor for the fall season! It’s no secret that it is my absolute favorite time of year and just like in the spring, I like to use this transitional time as an excuse for a home refresh. It’s time to bring out the cozy blankets, light candles that lend a delicious scent and cozy glow, and just enjoy time at home. This post is geared mostly toward the general harvest season and Thanksgiving, but I enjoy decorating for Halloween as well.
DOOR / WINDOW / WALL DECOR
WREATHS
I LOVE a front door wreath. It gives great curb appeal and provides a festive first impression upon entering your home. If there is only one thing you swap out throughout the year, I think it should be a wreath because they are just so festive and everyone has a front door, even if it’s inside an apartment building! If you have space above a bench in your entryway, a side table, or even above a bar cart, these are other great places to swap out an art piece with an indoor wreath or a decorative wall hanging.
Since I am limited on storage space (though I would love to have a wreath for every holiday!), I usually just replace the bow on my faux boxwood wreath with a ribbon that matches the season or holiday… but in this case, I am actually using my favorite autumn outdoor wreath from last year that will stay on the front door for the season. I was so excited to see that they brought it back this year!
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WREATH GEAR / TIPS
If you’re looking for a wreath hook, this is the one that we use for our front door. I also hang the whole wreath on the hook as opposed to using the loop provided on the wreath; I personally think it gives more stability and a better look.
If you are hanging a wreath indoors, I suggest these suction cup hooks for interior windows and these damage-free hooks for your walls. *Please note the weight limits on each hook option before purchasing your wreath!
When my two favorite faux wreaths are not in use, I keep them in this plastic storage bag and it’s the perfect size. It’s really only during the winter season that both items live in this storage bag, otherwise one of the wreaths is on the front door. That being said, they both fit comfortably and I could even fit a third wreath in there if I wanted to (don’t tell my husband — haha)! I love that it’s clear, the zipper goes all the way around, and that it has handles; I highly recommend it for storing your seasonal wreaths, (especially if they are stuffed into a closet) to protect both your garments and your wreaths!
*Top Tip: Prevent insects from moving into your wreaths each year by spraying them with an insect repellant before hanging them up outside. I recommend using a more natural option if you can find one because it’s possible that the chemicals in other products may damage the integrity and colors of your wreath.
In the event that some little buggers still made it into your wreath, give it a blast with a hairdryer (on the cool setting) to shake them loose before putting your wreath away for the year (otherwise, your storage bag will end up as a bug cemetery 😬).
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FRONT PORCH
The front porch is really a highlight of the autumn season, in my humble opinion, so incorporating some fun seasonal elements to add to your curb appeal is highly encouraged. I love the look of a mix of different sized hurricane lanterns, real and faux pumpkins, as well as some seasonal potted florals (in this case, chrysanthemums). If you have the space or some columns leading up to your front door I think that dried corn stalks are such a fun autumnal addition!
I also saw this cool craft idea as an autumn leaf urn filler option. Another brilliant use of a garland! Keep reading for my garland “hack” for your tabletop.
bed and couch accents
ACCENT PILLOWS
This is another example of why I prefer to keep my year-round home decor very neutral — I like to have the ability to add in festive accents, whatever the occasion. Our couch, chairs, and pillows are all neutral colors so it’s very easy to mix in a few festive pillows, depending on the holiday or season. I try to keep in mind that I want an array of textures and sizes to add visual interest when I am shopping for both year-round and seasonal pillows. We’re also deciding on a new Ruggable rug and I’m excited to find fresh, new pillows (both year-round neutrals + seasonal ones) for our living room space!
*Top Tip: The easiest way to accomplish the seasonal pillow decor is to get pillow covers and just swap them out with inserts instead of buying actual pillows (especially if you’re pressed for space like I am 😅). It’s also recommended to get covers that are one to two inches smaller on each side than the pillow insert because it makes for a plumper pillow!
COZY THROW BLANKETS
I don’t think there’s anything better than snuggling up under a soft, warm blanket while it’s chilly outside. Light a candle, give me a blanket and I’m immediately in my happy place! We have had a couple of deep pile faux fur throw blankets in our living room for a few years now and I’m always so excited to pull them out for the season because they’re so luxurious. They have a decent weight to them (which is so comforting), the faux fur looks pretty real (and is super soft!) and they actually keep you super warm. I also really love a chunky knit blanket. Both styles give both cozy vibes and an element of texture to a space.
TABLETOP DECOR
FLORALS / GREENERY
I love a floral arrangement to add a little “zhuzh” to a space (faux florals are great for reusing for multiple seasons so spending a little more on realistic flowers / greenery is a worthwhile investment). These can make a statement, such as a centerpiece on a dining room table or a larger arrangement on a coffee table, or create a more subtle ambiance with smaller arrangements sprinkled around your home on end tables or even on shelves!
Something that I like to do to maximize my use of faux florals is to keep stems in basic colors such as white and deep red to repurpose in arrangements throughout the year. For example, I add in pink flowers for Valentine’s day, blue flowers or berries for patriotic holidays, and even some greenery for the Christmas season!
However, fall is a little different for me in this aspect. Yes, I could create an arrangement of flowers in seasonal colors, but instead I choose to use branches of autumnal leaves because I feel like they are just so quintessentially “autumn”! You may have noticed in the above photo that I haven’t trimmed the stems of my branches yet, and I’m not sure if I will because I may choose to repurpose them in a taller vase someday… we’ll see.
If you prefer to stick with florals (as a fellow flower-lover, I totally get it), one of these beautiful fall arrangement ideas would be perfect for displaying in your home!
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DINING
In addition to a dining room floral arrangement or tablescape centerpiece there are other elements that can contribute a festive flair. The table runner, linens, napkin rings, glassware, serving trays, crockery, and even charger plate options make a statement to add to your home’s seasonal decor.
I don’t necessarily suggest having festive items for ALL of these elements at once, but just as suggestions to adjust your existing table decor. Maybe you already have a set of classic napkin rings, but could use some seasonal napkins; or maybe you need a special serving tray or two, depending on the specific food needs of the holiday.
An easy centerpiece “hack” that I love to do is to make the shape of an infinity sign (or a “figure 8”) with a six foot festive garland (secured at the ends with a paperclip). Then I fill the empty space in the loops with candles or pumpkins or whatever works best for the season!
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MISCELLANEOUS
In this situation, “tabletop” could obviously be regarding the dining room table, but it could also apply to sideboards or entryway tables, coffee tables, or even end tables. Don’t underestimate these locations — every little piece adds something to the overall effect. Decorative items could be wooden carvings, textured fabric or glass pumpkins, seasonal candy in a beautiful display jar, candles, or the occasional festive knick knack.
I think a great way to display these decorative bits-and-bobs is on a raised serving tray (pedestal?), cake stand, or a tiered tray which makes them look a bit less haphazard and more intentional. Don’t try to cram everything onto them either… look around your space and see what areas / surfaces might benefit from a little color or zhuzh-ing up with festive items.
Filling a cloche with some seasonal items is another way to decorate a small area without creating too much “sprawl”. I filled mine with some velvet pumpkins, fairy lights and faux leaves that I removed from some of my other floral stems, but it would be cute filled with pine cones, other little filler pumpkins or anything else you want! It’s a great opportunity to be creative!
Personally, because this time of year is so cozy I tend to add more candles than usual, scented and otherwise, to my decor. I also really enjoy adding in decorative pumpkins! ALL THE PUMPKINS, PLEASE.
You can also find even more autumn decor inspiration (like tiered tray styling or tablescapes) as well as Harvest / Halloween and Thanksgiving recipe ideas on my Pinterest!
Happy cozy season, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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