My DD13 announced that she hates how we don’t decorate for holidays or seasons. She really wants to deck our living room for fall.
We are minimalists so I’ve never been big on seasonal decor, but I want to try and make it a little special for her this fall. We bought a few little glass and fabric pumpkins from Target, some garland and a themed pillow from Michael’s, but it just looks like the same old living room. Any other ideas for minimalist decor that’ll make an impact? |
*Adding, I’m not a Grinch or rigid; we do decorate for Christmas. Just not for Halloween, etc. |
Let her decorate. You’ve done enough.
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A fall-themed Doormat (Michael's has some cute and inexpensive ones), fall themed dish towel to hang on oven or fridge doors, are small simple touches. |
OP a budget would help!
This request would thrill me, personally, lol. I would go big on anything temporary. Natural materials, paper. So making garlands out of oranges spiked with cloves, greenery, cut out pumpkins, paper mache pumpkins coated in glitter, stuff like that. You could take a field trip to Potomac Floral! It’s wholesale but open to the public, but nothing is marked with prices. And you’ll have to pay retail. So it’s a little intimidating but could be so fun. |
Okay writing this made me think I want to do it with my preschooler and I just found out you can buy dehydrated orange slices on Amazon! I’m going to get some, have her help me rip and twist “stems” from brown crepe paper, and then we’ll glue on the stems and string or wire together and hang them somewhere. |
Ooo or maybe I’ll just use glue dots to stick them to the windows! Not sure that will work. |
- Pair of mums to flank your front door
- Plain straight glass cylinder vase, but a LARGE one, for your kitchen island. Fill with tall pampas grass, or mini pumpkins, and the rest of the year with green apples, oranges, or lemons. - an olive colored throw for the sofa where it will offer the highest contrast. Take that straight into Christmas by adding a red pillow. - Orange table runner if that’s your style. |
My fall decorating is mostly confined to the front porch (wreath, bench with outdoor pillows, big lanterns, and pumpkins), but one thing I love is swapping out my family room throw pillows. You could also just add a few that coordinate with your existing colors, or buy covers for pillows you already have. Add a fall-toned throw blanket.
I also diffuse fall-ish essential oils (scented candles work for this too, but most give me a headache). At Christmas I will simmer mulling spices on the stove for the same effect, but that would work for fall, too! |
First, I highly recommend pillow covers rather than seasonal pillows. You can pick them up inexpensively on Etsy and they're a lot easier to store. Other easy things include the hand towels in your powder room and your dishtowels. Do you use a tablecloth or placemats at meals? If so, swap out your standard for some autumnal colors.
Pumpkins, both real and faux, make for great visuals clustered or individual sitting on bookshelves, in a bowl on a coffee table or kitchen island. I agree that a basket or some strategically placed throw blankets also start to signal the cooler seasons. If you don't find them bothersome, stop by Michael's or Target and grab one of those "it's fall y'all" or "pumpkin spice everything" signs or similar and set it on your mantle. You may find it tacky but your teen will love it. Finally, even though she mentioned decorating maybe incorporate fall candles or baking with stereotypically fall flavors. |
I think DIY really makes it more fun and personal-- ask her to come up with some ideas. We've made candle holders with Mason jars and taped paper to the outside. We also have made felt leaves.
We also put some branches in a jar with orange lights (battery operated little LEDs). Cheesy pipe cleaner spiders. |
Neutral color vases like white, glass and pitchers. Add real or fake flowers in holiday colors. I get biweekly orange, yellow and purple astromeria and mums around the house in these for a fall flavor. I do greenery and fir/eucalyptus for winter season.
Im Jewish so there are lemons and oranges and pomegranates for sukkot in bowls. We eat them too. |
The key for me is to remove all your regular decor instead of adding seasonal decor on top of what you already have. Home Goods has lots of decor at reasonable prices. |
I’m surprised how many people are suggesting buying stuff, where do you put it off season? |
I do the front hall and porch in a fall theme. I'm with you on the minimalism - I'm not buying soap dishes or hand towels for Halloween, but I think some fall decor is fun and cozy. |