Cozy Fall Decor: Crafting a Welcoming Autumn Home with Simple, Natural Touches
Welcome to our humble abode, where we embrace the spirit of autumn with simple, natural elements and a dash of creativity. This fall home tour shares how you can effortlessly transform any space, temporary or permanent, into a cozy sanctuary using items you already own, complemented by the timeless beauty of white and green pumpkins and vibrant fall leaves. Creating a welcoming fall home you’ll adore doesn’t require an extensive overhaul – just a mindful touch!
As many of you are aware, our current living situation is somewhat unique; we reside in a temporary manufactured home while undertaking the significant remodel of our dream farmhouse fixer-upper. This interim dwelling, while not our forever home, has proven to be an absolute blessing. It provides us with the invaluable opportunity to tackle much of the farmhouse renovation ourselves, meticulously and at our own pace, leading to substantial cost savings.
Living here has also been an incredible exercise in “practicing what I preach.” It has reinforced my belief that every home, regardless of its permanence or perceived flaws, deserves a bit of time and effort to make it feel comfortable, beautiful, and uniquely yours. Whether you’re in a 1982 ranch yearning to be a cottage, a rented apartment, or even a temporary trailer, investing a little love can significantly enhance your daily experience.
Admittedly, this manufactured home is far from my ideal. Its interiors boast gray walls (a combination that, in Oregon’s often-gray climate, can feel quite somber to me), dingy blue carpet, a motley mix of cheap wood-look vinyl and poorly installed tiles, and blond oak cabinets that strongly evoke the 1980s. These elements are certainly not what I envisioned for my personal aesthetic.
However, it also possesses wonderful attributes: generous space, abundant large windows that flood the rooms with natural light, and the previous owner’s thoughtful remodels of the bathrooms and a kitchen featuring surprisingly good quality cabinets. Upon moving in, only two small sections of the home’s original tiny floral 1980s wallpapered wallboard (a common feature in manufactured homes from that era) remained. I made quick work of painting over these, as well as a strikingly bright turquoise wall in the master bedroom.
Spending months—which are now turning into years—walking into a room multiple times a day that I genuinely dislike, versus dedicating just four hours one Saturday to paint it? For me, that’s unequivocally #worthit. The uplift in mood and the sense of personalization gained from such a simple change is immeasurable.
Embracing the Season: A Mini Fall Home Tour
This brings me to the delightful task of decorating for fall in our temporary abode. While I won’t be going “all out” – I truly adore decorating a porch for fall, but alas, we don’t have one, not even a stoop – I was determined to infuse our home with fall decor that felt both pretty and welcoming, embracing the season and all who enter. The outcome is a testament to simplicity, utilizing a few thoughtfully repeated seasonal items and cherished pieces I already owned. And once again, it was absolutely worth every moment invested. The subtle shift in ambiance brings such joy.
It’s interesting how our approach to seasonal decor evolves. I rarely consider a major decor change from spring to summer, primarily because the natural elements largely remain the same—flowers, just different varieties, throughout both seasons. The transition feels seamless and organic.
But fall (and also spring)? These seasons undeniably call for something special, a gentle nudge to help us ease into a completely new chapter. The natural elements are strikingly distinct: think plump pumpkins, intriguing gourds, a kaleidoscope of colorful leaves, and elegant dried grasses. Incorporating these gifts from nature into our homes can significantly contribute to helping us welcome the season with open arms, especially if you, like me, find yourself cherishing the lingering warmth of the summer months.
The Entry: A Warm Welcome
Consider our “entryway,” which is simply a console table positioned directly across from the front door. Here, you’ll spot the charming little Baby Boo pumpkins nestled on a stack of books. These aren’t just any pumpkins; I proudly grew them in our new garden from seeds I had meticulously saved from our previous garden a remarkable three years earlier—and they were still viable! This small detail fills me with a sense of continuity and resourcefulness.
Not only are Baby Boos my absolute favorite variety of pumpkin, but this year brought a delightful surprise: for the first time ever, I harvested an array of tiny pumpkins, just two weeks after collecting all the larger ones. It’s hard to fully appreciate their miniature scale in the photograph – a coin or a measuring tape next to them would have been ideal – but the smallest among them is about the size of a silver dollar! They are perfectly formed and colored, and their cheerful presence never fails to bring a smile to my face every time I pass by. They instantly set a cozy, autumnal tone.
The Living Room: Comfort and Natural Beauty
Moving into the living room, I strategically placed more of those adorable Baby Boo pumpkins throughout the space. The two plants that sprouted this season gifted me with an abundant harvest, filling approximately a 5-gallon bucket! Complementing these natural accents, I gathered the very last of the vibrant zinnias from the garden. While zinnias are often associated with the exuberance of summer, their ability to bloom right up until the first frost makes them a perfect, late-season floral choice for me. I plan to refresh these flowers as needed; a small, potted mum, for instance, would introduce another beautiful fall texture and color, lasting a long time for just a few dollars.
On the couch, I maintained the larger green pillows from spring and summer, which serve as a neutral and comfortable base. For a touch of autumn, I swapped out the smaller accent pillows for covers featuring a classic tan buffalo check pattern, which I had used last year. (I actually delved into my archives to see if I could link to last year’s post, only to realize I never officially shared it – so, I suppose these are a “new” reveal for you this year!). To amplify the cozy factor, I brought out a beloved tan knitted throw I crafted several years ago. Made of wool, it instantly adds warmth and inviting texture. (You can find the pattern here – I’ve made one for everyone in our families over a couple of Christmases; they make fantastic lap throws, perfect for snuggling on chilly evenings).
On the bookshelf, which ingeniously serves as a “mantel” for displaying decor, you can admire a close-up, as seen in the lead photo, of the largest Jarrahdale pumpkin/squash I cultivated this season. Again, these beauties grew from seeds I had carefully saved before our move in 2016! I was incredibly thrilled that at least one seed sprouted, yielding two of these absolutely gorgeous green squashes. They are hands down my favorite variety to decorate with due to their unique color and shape. (Incidentally, they are also reputedly excellent for eating, though I confess, I don’t cook with squash very often myself).
To further enhance the natural autumn vibe, I harvested some branches and leaves from a burning bush located on our property, strategically placing them here and there to add pops of autumnal color and texture. An unexpected yet perfect seasonal accent is my grandfather’s stunning butterfly art, the corner of which is visible in the frame. The rich brown hues of the grasses and flowers within the artwork beautifully complement the fall palette. (I once again searched my archives to link to the butterfly art, only to find I’ve never written a dedicated post about it, though I believe I’ve mentioned it in my newsletter. Oh well, you can catch a full glimpse of it in last year’s Christmas decor post here. These are all real butterflies my grandfather personally collected in the 1930s and 40s, and they hold immense sentimental value for me).
The Dining Room: Effortless Centerpieces
The theme of natural simplicity continues into the dining room, where more of the delightful white mini pumpkins find their place on a side table, casually arranged in a simple galvanized tray. Are you starting to discern a pattern here? My fall decorating “technique,” if you can call it that, is playfully straightforward: grab a bunch of pumpkins, strategically place them in areas where you’ll frequently see and enjoy them, toss in a few beautiful fall leaves, and declare it perfectly good. It’s a low-stress, high-impact approach to seasonal styling, embracing the bounty of nature rather than elaborate store-bought items.
I applied this very same “technique” to the elegant marble lazy susan that graces the center of our dining table, transforming it into an instant fall centerpiece. To complement the gorgeous green Jarrahdale pumpkin, I pulled out a green striped table runner from my existing stash. The Jarrahdale pumpkin, being slightly smaller than the other, served as the focal point, and I artfully piled a collection of the small white pumpkins around its base. The subtle green hues of the Jarrahdale even echo and coordinate beautifully with our Jadite salt and pepper shakers, creating a cohesive and pleasing color story. You can probably tell by now, I have a particular fondness for green in my decor, especially when it comes from nature!
So, there you have it – our mini fall home tour encapsulated. It’s a testament to the power of a few strategically placed pumpkins and leaves, augmented by a fresh pillow cover and a wonderfully cozy throw. With these simple additions, the essence of fall is truly welcomed into our home, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere without any fuss or excessive spending.
For those who don’t have the joy of growing their own pumpkins, fret not! While craft stores certainly offer an abundance of options, a more budget-friendly and sustainable approach is to explore local thrift stores or even farmer’s markets. You can often discover pumpkins of all shapes and sizes at incredibly reasonable prices. And the best part? Don’t stress over their original colors. A simple can of spray paint can transform any pumpkin into the exact shade you desire, allowing for complete creative freedom and personalization. This method not only saves money but also encourages repurposing and adds a unique, DIY touch to your fall decor.