I realize that retail stores are pushing Christmas decorations (and have been for awhile) but this year I made a promise to myself that I was going to embrace each season and I just can’t start thinking about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over.
Please humor me as I share some ways that I am embracing fall and decorating with leaves this year. Embracing fall in Sunny South Florida is no small feat!
Bring the outside in. Find elements of fall from outside and bring them inside. If you live in Sunny South Florida, don’t be shy about asking your northern friends to mail you some of the leaves they are raking up in their yards! Seriously. This fireplace mantel never fully came together until I added (authentic) fall leaves.
The smallest details can have the biggest impact. The greatest thing about fall decorating is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. No matter your budget you can undoubtedly find something that you can carry throughout your home. For me, I chose fall leaves this year.
When decorating with natural elements from the outdoors, remember to keep things a little imperfect. Throwing some leaves around in unexpected areas will add to the decor. This antique trunk sits in a walkway in-between our foyer and dining room and it makes me smile every time I round the corner and see it.
Use nature as your color palette. This floral arrangement was (professionally) done inside a pumpkin and I scattered fall leaves across my dining table to coordinate. The contract was exactly what I wanted. When setting the table I would use dishes and linen that pulled those same fall colors.
Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Next week I’ll share my Thanksgiving table…
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Inspiration needed
A painted ceiling
Foyer
Beach entry swimming pool
The {ditto} DIY Challenge
Recycle those jeans and set a Guinness World Record
What a difference a little cork makes
Decorating with Trays: {ditto} DIY Challenge
While I am a big fan of Thanksgiving food, I am so bah-humbug about the holiday itself. I know what it represents but growing up as the oldest cousins, I think Thanksgiving and think of babysitting, being bored, and washing dishes for 30+ people all weekend. I’m starting to feel a bit guilty that I am passing on my ambivalence to my own boys. We are just now to the point where David is home for Thanksgiving. So how to fake embracing it for the sake of my boys that are getting bigger and know me too well?
What state did your fall leaves come from? We have one tree that actually drops leaves in our neighborhood here in Guam. Sometimes I go for a walk at night and when the breeze blows the fallen leaves around, I try ever so hard to pretend that I am cold. 🙂
As to your mantle, I love the contrast of the stone of the fireplace and the glass and metal of your decorative pieces. You have struck such a nice balance up there!
My friend’s mother sent them from Indiana. I don’t think she is prepared for my annual begging of leaves though. We don’t see leaves like that in our neighborhood in Florida!
It took awhile for my family (when I was growing up) to embrace Thanksgiving. Our kids are gaga over it though and I try to make it special…the only part that is missing is the extended family to celebrate with. They miss that but every 5 years or so they have “the best Thanksgiving ever” when we share it with someone else.