4 Essential Elements for Easy Fall Decorating
Hi! Happy (almost) September! Phew…that summer just flew by and here we are, back to school and on the verge of fall. Yikes!! I don’t know about you, but when it comes to decorating my house, I like to ease my way into a new season. I generally start slow, with just a few decor touches that signal that autumn is coming but don’t overwhelm you just as you’re putting your flip flops and bathing suits away.
I have found that there are 4 Essential elements that I rely on for easy fall decorating year after year.
I’m not ready to pull out all of my pumpkins and fall decor yet, but I am starting to lean into the idea that a change is on the way, so I started sprinkling a few of my favorite autumn decor items around the house this week.
I know it’s a bit early, but I wanted to share with you how you can add a bit of fall decor using just a few elements you probably already have.
I love lanterns in all seasons, but they seem especially appropriate in the fall. Maybe because many of mine are wood and metal and a bit rusty. Maybe it’s the idea that it will be getting darker earlier and I can light the candles in the evenings.
I love how they look in pairs of large and small or in groups of three. I added a few of my favorite lanterns to my living room and entry this week. In the warmer months, the are scattered outside on my back patio, but as the weather cools, I often bring them indoors.
I used some simple flowers and lanterns, to create a couple of vignettes in my entry.
There’s something about the natural fibers and color of baskets that add a warm and rustic feel to autumn decor. Filled with dried hydrangea, they are a perfect vessel to add a floral element in a simple, easy way.
I especially love large floor baskets and have begun collecting a few to use in all seasons. These dried hydrangea will last for weeks and add such a pretty pop of color.
I have to confess to having a slight love affair with copper this year. I spent several weekends in local vintage and antique shops this summer looking for antique copper and found a few gems that will be appearing often in my fall decor. I especially love the way that a copper pitcher or cup can double as a vase. 
And in my kitchen, a few shiny new pieces are making an appearance this fall. A row of canisters make a statement on the counter, a new cake stand with a copper base and my favorite new copper pot are all on display. I also decided to hang my often used copper pots behind my range and I have to say I LOVE how they look.
This little copper mug is the perfect “vase” for a simple flower arrangement in the entry.
Dough bowls and bread boards…two of my absolute favorite wood elements at any time of year. And they look absolutely perfect for the upcoming season on kitchen counters or living room tables with just a few small pumpkins peeking out or your favorite fall dessert.
Even a chippy, white dough bowl looks like fall with some soft neutral pumpkins and a few eucalyptus leaves. And my favorite bread boards work perfectly under my new hanging copper pots.
The weather in Southern California will take awhile to catch up with my decor, but I don’t mind. For the moment, I am happy to be heading toward sweaters and boots, pumpkin spice lattes and evenings by the fire…and enjoying a few sprinkles of fall here and there.
