Decorate for Autumn without Buying Seasonal Decorations
Are you ready to embrace autumn? It’s time to get cozy – maybe scootch the furniture a little closer and pull out the old quilts.
A lot of people enjoy buying seasonal decor. We might, too… but we just don’t have room. We don’t have a closet or attic to keep a bunch of decorations. So we go without. But it doesn’t mean we go without decorating the house for the season. We just have to do it a little differently.
1. Decorate with things you have and foods you and your guests will eat.
We love using food as decoration, especially this time of year when we don’t have to worry about fruit flies. From a bowl of shelled nuts to a heaping plate of pears and apples, autumn foods are a perfect touch – the kind you don’t have to worry about nibbling too much like candy. Bowls of fruit and nuts are the perfect way to welcome overnight guests who might be too shy to mention their hunger and wander into your kitchen.
Our all-time favorite? Squashes. They make a beautiful decoration; they last for weeks. So we stock up early. And now our table looks like this:
The squashes and pumpkins are all from a farmer we met when Martin spotted his little produce stand in front of his house. We’ll use his crop in the coming month for soups and maybe a pumpkin pie. Martin’s mom picked some apples at the park, and this little one on the right is too charming to be cut up for roasted applesauce just yet. And of course, we have our bowl of nuts.
2. Make seasonal foods that naturally fill your home with sweet scents.
A person can have the most beautiful looking autumn display. But it’s the smell that really makes the display most memorable. Gingerbread, sugar cookies, foods with apples, pears, and plums – there’s nothing more amazing than walking into a house with the fresh-baked smell of autumn foods. Well maybe there is – taking the first bite!
I find myself adding a little nutmeg to yogurt and pancakes and any place where it might add a bit of fall flavor. Even when you don’t have time to cook, a little dash of nutmeg on your food can really transform the taste this season. My sister gave me this little nutmeg grinder as a farewell gift right before we left the US. Nutmeg has never tasted more amazing, so if you have never tried grinding a bit of fresh nutmeg, here’s me whispering into your ear: you’ll fall in love.
3. Pull out the heavy blankets and pillows and autumn-colored linens.
Even if the weather is still warm, the idea of cozying up just makes life seem more relaxed.
The holiday season will be approaching quickly. Don’t resist the temptation to sip cider and watch the leaves out your window a little longer. An inviting blanket is an essential! We like yellow cloth placemats and orange cloth napkins for an added touch that pulls together all the details throughout our space. The placemats and napkins aren’t only for autumn. Without seasonal symbols like pumpkins and leaves on them, they can keep working throughout the year when swapped around with a few other pieces.
So are you ready to embrace autumn? In the end when the Christmas season rolls around, Martin and I happily finish eating our squashes and pears. Then we smile and pack up four little felt leaves – our only autumn decor that hasn’t been consumed. I’ll be honest; sometimes knowing how little we’ll have to pack up is just as joyful as picking out the squashes in the first place.
Do you do something simple for autumn at your house? What types of decorating tips can you offer?
Keep it green and simple with 2 more ideas:
September 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I love your fall display, Katie! I mentioned what you will do with the pumpkin and I am assuming the butternut squash, but what will you be making with the little squashes? Also, is the red piece of produce a squash or a pomegranate?
September 28th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Hello Katie – what a beautiful post! I really like your Fall display. I especially love pumpkins and squashes to decorate with too. So fun. And much more appealing to the eye than that fake stuff. Thank you for sharing!
Blessings,
Marie
September 28th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
P.S…forgot to mention that I enjoy using red & green apples to use as vases! Simply core out the inside from top to almost the bottom. Makes a cute floral display.
Blessings,
Marie
September 28th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Good question, Michelle. We got that big round, orange item in the center of the photo from the farmer, too. He said it’s a type of really tender squash. You can actually eat the outer skin on it. So I don’t know exactly what we’ll turn that one into, but I hope it tastes good. Hope I can figure out what it’s called in English, too!
Katie
September 29th, 2009 at 1:09 am
we are so not there yet! all summer we kept the windows and doors open all day and I needed a door stop, so I used one of my big US cans of canned pumpkin as a doorstop in the living room, does that count?? =) I was thinking of making a fall wreath, but our neighbors have already decorated the front stairs, so I suppose I’m riding on their fall-decor-coattails! =)
September 29th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Canned pumpkin door stop all the way from the US? I’d say that counts, Juliette!
Katie
September 29th, 2009 at 7:08 am
The fall display looks lovely. I’m inspired to start one of my own and I just bought a pumpkin today. I was told that the dark orange squash that you can eat the outer skin is good for soup. I bought one last year, or the year before, but only used it as decoration. I don’t know the name in English, or in German actually.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:24 am
I love these ideas – I switch out my duvet covers and throw pillows and instantly transform our bedrooms from summer to autumn!