Fall Decor - Then and Now

Whenever a new season rolls around, I think back as to how I've decorated the year before.  Mostly I think about what I loved and what didn't work.  I've learned over the years that it's ok to put things in the same place, but it's even more fun to try to think of new ways to use what I already have.  Adding new life to old things becomes one of my main goals every year.

This year, if you can believe it, I actually didn't buy any new fall decorations.  Other than a few pumpkins and mums, I used everything I already had.  Obviously, I started with the mantel.  In case you've forgotten, here is last year's display:

And here is this year's:

 

I'm all about the layered look these days and last year's looks so empty to me now.  I've used the same mirror and shutters in all of my recent mantel updates.  I moved the red lantern from the hearth to the mantel and added some pumpkins (both real and fake).  I used the witch, wooden candy corn, and candles from last year, but decided to use the pears elsewhere.   When this was done, I lived with it for a few days, but thought it still looked a little bare.  

Pinterest is teaching me about more elaborate mantel displays, but I really didn't want to go out and buy anything, so I pulled some pine cones I had along with a bow from a Christmas basket and completed the mantel.  I will admit that I may go to the craft store at the end of the season, though, and see what's on clearance for next year.  To finish off the living room, I took more of the pine cones, tied some twine around them, and hung them from the door in between the living and mud rooms.  It was super easy and added a nice touch.


I decorated the small table in the foyer exactly the same way as last year.  The decorations there work and are simple.  One thing I did switch up this time, though, was adding our welcome sign to the top of the chimney.  Until last Christmas when I added our "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" sign, I had never thought to put something in this space. Unfortunately, It has sat empty since we took down the Christmas decorations, but when I removed the welcome sign from outside, I wanted to see how it looked up there.  I know the sign is more summery, but I think by adding a wooden pear I've had forever, it "falls" it up.  Oddly enough, I couldn't find anywhere else to use that pear and even thought about getting rid of it. Luckily, it found it's home.   

In the kitchen, I tried to mix things up a little bit.  Here is the dish rack last year and this year:

I actually added the coffee mugs after living with the martini glasses for a few days.  The mugs are from Pier 1 and we bought them when we first moved into our apartment years ago.  I actually like them more than the mugs we registered for for our wedding.  Unfortunately, we don't have much room in our cabinets for them both, so I liked the idea of displaying them.  I love the serving board I bought at a a yard sale last year, but wanted to find a new place for it.  It ended up on the kitchen table with the pears from last year's mantel.

I've had that leaf runner since we lived in our apartment.  It has certainly been put to good use.

Now for the outside.  Last fall, our small front porch looked like this:

This summer, I picked up a vintage wooden crate at the thrift store.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to use it on the porch or in front of the fireplace, but ultimately, I decided to use it on the porch.  I flipped it on its side, added the wooden apple that goes with the pear, some mums, pumpkins, and a lantern.  I pulled apart some of the hay we used last year and switched out the table with one of the red ones we bought for our back deck.  The table is part of a set, so I put the smaller one on the other side with a mum.  And of course, no front porch is complete without a giant pumpkin.  My dad buys me one every year, so we display it proudly.

So I think that about sums it up.  I don't really go crazy with fall.  After all, I only have one box of decorations as opposed to the four or five I have for Christmas!


Be well,