Smart Design With Suzette: Fall Décor On A Budget

By SUZETTE FOX
Los Alamos

I LOVE this time of year! Of all the seasons, fall is the easiest and least expensive to decorate. As the days get shorter and cooler, walk out your front door and you have found your inspiration and resources. From the exterior to the interior of your home, fall decor colors can be rich and robust or subtle and subdued. Here are some ideas to inspire you.

Bring Nature Inside
What better way to decorate then to snip some fall leaves and put them in a vase.
Red, yellows and oranges bring a beautiful pop of color to any room.

Use Your Fireplace To Showcase Seasonal Décor
Your fireplace mantel has been waiting for this season! Whether you look in your yard, or you travel to an arts and crafts store, dried leaves and pinecones make great décor. Small pumpkins, gourds or dried leaf vines, and colorful candles will brighten your mantle and spirits.

Cozy Sitting Areas
As temperatures begin to fall, bring out the fall colored throw blankets to place on couches or chairs. Complimenting fall colored throw pillows will complete any cozy nook to cuddle up and enjoy a good book. Use copper accents wherever possible for a rustic fall look.

Centerpieces
If your go-to autumn bouquet defaults to traditional mums, shake it up with a less-expected blend of veggies, fruits, berries and widely varied flowers. Small gourds, cabbage heads and pears (secured to thin dowels) bring an unexpected and creative design.

Aromas Of Fall
Fall decor is visual but also involves your other senses – like smell.  Pumpkin pies, cinnamon apple cider and the first burning of your fireplace are all welcome aromatic ways to make your home feel like autumn. Consider using candles or boil a pot of spices – cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg to instantly transport your home into fall mode.

Candles
Clear glass containers show off both candlelight as well as colorful materials. Nestle a candle in popcorn kernels or other seasonal materials such as candy corn. If you prefer, use a battery-powered candle for safety. For autumn votive candles, tie fall leaves around votive holders with string or twine. Use artificial leaves and battery-powered candles for both safety and long-lasting beauty.

Front Porch
Use tall corn stalks, raffia, or straw to wrap around entry porch columns and mailboxes. Fall wreaths bring creativity, beauty and fun to your front door, fireplace, or feature wall. Apples, leaves, mini pumpkins, gourds, berries and cornhusks – so much available at your fingertips – even simple grapevine wreaths are gorgeous on their own.  A simple arrangement of pumpkins around a lantern adds a stylish, seasonal touch to an entryway.

Window Boxes
There’s no need to put away the window boxes for the season. Fill them with gourds, small pumpkins, dried wheat stalks, and hardy green plants like decorative cabbage and kale.

Pumpkins
What would fall be without pumpkins? So many ways to decorate with pumpkins…try a monogrammed pumpkin for a change. Create a welcoming fall scene with personalized pumpkins. Etch your monogram into small, medium and large pumpkins, using different fonts and styles. (You can get a similar look with paint if you’d prefer not to etch.) Show off your pumpkins on an old chair or stool on the front porch.

Fall is an excellent time to update your home and add a few new touches before the short winter days force you inside.

Feel free to contact Los Alamos Interior Designer Suzette Fox to help with your home. For more information, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/SuzetteFoxInteriorDesign and on her website www.suzettefoxinteriors.com.

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