Decorating & Design
Harvest Season Is Here! Discover 6 Easy Fall Decorating Ideas
Published on October 21, 2020
A shift in the weather can be a tipping point for change. When days get crisper, beachy stripes and nautical blues make way for pieces that capture a hearty, harvest spirit. The mood is relaxed and convivial: tables are set for dining inside again with homespun dinnerware and rumpled linens, and the sofa is piled up with throws and pillows. Scroll down to discover six easy fall decorating ideas to get your space ready for cocooning season!
Layer throws over the back of a sofa to supply texture and pattern. Create an impromptu “runner” by unfolding a contrasting throw and adding pillows, and incorporate natural tones — like wood accents and a feathered headdress — to warm up the graphic black and white palette.
Look beyond florals when dressing a fall table. Grasses, branches, thistles and seedpods are a modern update on a centerpiece — and are appealing fresh or dried. Group mismatched terracotta planters or vintage jugs together for a vignette of varying heights, colors and textures. Casually layer a swath of fall-toned fabric over the tablecloth — the wrinkles give it extra character.
Take color cues from dusky plums and velvety grapes and figs for your tableware. Stoneware plates have a mottled finish that looks organic, and the patina of a battered wooden trug and brass bowls and utensils inject low-key luster. Earthenware crocks repurposed as utensil holders stand next to glazed stoneware plates that complement the rich colors of seasonal fruit.
Throw out the rules of typical gallery walls, where paper templates are required. Instead, “frame” a piece of furniture to give it presence. This mix of portraits, landscapes and illustrations looks cohesive because all the artworks are monochromatic. For this relaxed effect, butt the frames against each other to create a halo of space around the furniture piece. Don’t worry if the frames don’t align perfectly — that’s part of this display’s carefree appeal.
Even if it’s not chilly enough for a fire, the fireplace can still be a fall focal point. A rustic mantel is assembled by suspending boards from ropes hung from wall brackets. Fill a hearth with seasonal offerings — a white pumpkin, curly willow branches and oversized pinecones — that can be refashioned as an outdoor Halloween planter later on. Swap out paraffin candles for pure beeswax versions; their mellow natural color is the perfect addition to a cozy fall night.
Elevate functional items as beautiful objets. Rugs draped over a console create textural interest while humble sifters, moulds and baskets form a striking display when hung en masse.
Angus Fergusson
House & Home October 2018
Christine Hanlon