Easy Fall Decorating Tips to Spruce Up Your Home
by Samantha Conner
This time of year is always hard for me. Once the Fourth of July passes, it seems like all the retail world moves straight into Fall. Since I have lived in the South for the majority of my life, I have a skewed internal calendar. Summer lasts a good 6 months and then the other 3 seasons fight it out for how the remaining 6 months of the year will end up. Some years we get weird, cold snowy weather. And some years, we go straight from Summer back to Spring. This inconsistency in weather is what makes the time of year so hard for me.
My favorite hangouts, crafty stores and Nordstroms, keep tempting me with apple cider candles and snuggly cable knit sweaters. I realize it is September, but in the South, September is still summer and the poor scarecrows are even sweating.
So those pumpkins, orange leaves, and ceramic turkeys aren’t going to make an appearance around my home until October. In the meantime- and to keep my mind off those all the cute fall crafts– we have been doing a few things to spruce up the house for the change of seasons. Looking for a little change around your home? Try these quick fixes!
1. Clean up Your Front Entry: It’s the first thing guests see and therefore needs to make an impression. Sweep up the leaves and add a new doormat. Garden Ridge has great looking ‘monogram’ mats. Add a few new potted plants in a sturdy urn — try sweet potato vines or ferns. You can even paint the front door. Repaint it in the existing color or be bold and try something new. These are inexpensive fixes that give you a lot of bang for your buck.
2. Break Out the Spray Paint: Check out your exterior lighting. Is the metal faded, rusted, or even brass? Consider painting it. Make a quick trip to the hardware store and choose from black, silver or an ‘oil rubbed bronze’ look. A coat of black paint to our exterior lights made the fixtures ‘pop’ and tied in better with our newly painted black front door. It’s amazing how much more you notice great lines and details with a fresh coat of paint.
3. Rearrange: Now is a great time to move things around. Since the kiddos are back in school, you can get a little bit more done during the day. Go through clothing and toys and choose what can be donated. Then set your sights on the furniture. Try moving a rug or chair into a different room. Move around the throw pillows or rearrange a bookshelf. Decluttering and reorganizing can make your home feel fresh and new.
4. Make a Trip to Ikea: Several times a year, I like to go just to ‘see’. My husband asks me what I am looking for and I tell him “I’ll see.” I think this scares him, but I love it. There is something about wandering through all those mini-homes that gives me a thrill. Focus on the little details. I set my sights on new table accessories. Ikea is the perfect place to find natural sea grass-type place mats and runners. I also left with some cute plants in galvanized pots, linen curtains, and dishtowels. Small ticket items, but they help freshen up the utilitarian objects involved in everyday living.
5. Keep Your Eyes Open: Even though the retail world has been selling fall décor since summer – I am really trying my best to just look. Those jack-o-lanterns are mighty tempting, but I am on a mission to collect ideas and make a plan for fall. Sign up for sites like “Pinterest” or “Tumblr” and search for Halloween or fall decorating ideas. Save what you like, then start shopping and collecting. By the time October rolls around, (fingers crossed that I can even make it to the last week of September!), your home will be spruced up and ready. And you will have some great plans for bringing a bit of autumn into your nest.