Restrained Fall Décor

Eschewing the cutesy for the warm and moody to usher in autumn

Sometimes a mere hint is more effective than a hay bale when it comes to stylish fall decorating. (Photo: Amber Interior Design)

When you do a search for “cute fall decor” or “vintage fall decor” you get a lot of kitsch. Plush pumpkins, little scarecrows, harvest-y wheelbarrows. Oh, and signs, signs, everywhere signs.

“Hay rides this way!”

“Farm fresh pumpkin patch!”

“It’s fall, y’all!”

There is a tendency to go all out when the weather changes, putting away the flip-flops and beach towels and happily ordering your pumpkin spice latté once again. We admire the door wreaths with their acorns and fake orange leaves on every door and yearn to bring that fall feeling indoors. But for the small space dweller, all of this Hobby Lobby stuff might feel overwhelming and maybe not very authentic.

I like how some dark greens and blues are mixed in with the typical fall palette in this living room. (Photo: Collection Prints)

Making Fall Small

I spent some time looking for images of rooms that celebrated fall in a more restrained fashion. They contain the essence of fall without the heavyhanded farmhouse look. (Don’t get me wrong, I love everything about farmhouse but it’s not always the right choice.)

For those of us who like to decorate seasonally but don’t have the time/money/interest to create a lavish display in every room, use color, light, mood, and material to make your fall statement.

Deep red flower or berry sprays in a striking clay vessel punctuate a dark dresser. Create compositions made with items you already have. (Photo: Amber Interiors)

So…are you in the mood to do something fallish, where a little goes a long way? Come along with me for a better way to decorate.

First, pick your spots. Some good ones are your front door, entryway, mantel, coffee table, home office, dining table and bookshelves. A few spots of pretty groupings is sometimes better than a lot of knickknacks scattered everywhere. More visual impact.

Then, declutter. Maybe now’s the time to put away the gym bag, the donation box, and all of those little piles of junk that mysteriously stop registering on your consciousness the longer they exist (I’m including myself in this admonition).

Try “shopping” your home before hitting the stores or Amazon. Some things to look for: interesting jars and pottery, candleholders, baskets, copperware, sculpture, books in pretty bindings, throws, and pillows. Update them with florals, new candles, and new pillow covers.

You may not be ready to recover your favorite chair in this pretty gold velvet, but you can pick it up in a throw pillow. (Photo: Afloral)

Now, get to work. Build your designs thoughtfully; don’t try to rush through the process. If something looks awkward or dull, simply remove it and try again. It’s OK to refer to your favorite images online and literally mimic them in every detail. I guarantee that your personality and unique taste will shine through anyway.

If you’re going to accomplish just one thing, then do it around floral arrangements. Artificial florals are so advanced now that the good ones are hard to distinguish from real. Dried stems are absolutely stunning for fall (actually anytime of year) and you have a lot of shades and textures to choose from.

This stunning lineup of dried flowers in unique vases is all you need to do for spectacular fall design. (Photo: Hello Hayley)

This horizontal arrangement of bittersweet is simple yet dramatic. Brass or earthy pottery containers would look great, too. (Photo: Food52)

Now for the next few months when you come home after work, that little bit of autumn in your world will feel (and look) oh, so good.