And then came autumn … or fall.
The third season of the year plus an odd number, there tends to be some ambivalence over its name. But whether it’s autumn or fall, just mentioning the time of year conjures up warm feelings and thoughts of rich textures and hues of gold, orange, red and brown.
“The great thing about fall decorating is that you can use simple things to decorate with, and many items can be found right outside your home, like branches and leaves,” said Terie Shields of Terie’s Interiors in downtown Meridian.
Shields offers the following decorating ideas to help you bid adieu to summer by adding a few cozy autumn touches to your home:
• Firewood — Place wood in a wire basket, rack or another container, or stack on a shelf, wall or the fireplace.
• Fireplace — “If you have one, definitely use it,” Shields said. “It makes the home seem cozier.”
But if you have a non-working fireplace or building a fire becomes too tedious, stack decorative candles of various shapes and heights in the space.
• Pumpkins, gourds — Pumpkins and gourds aren’t just for Halloween, Shields said, adding they can be incorporated in your home decor throughout the fall season — on mantles, steps, to make wreaths and door decorations or as a centerpiece for the table. Use as is or paint, whitewash, cover with a doily or add glitter.
“You can also hollow them out and use them as vases, candleholders or even serving dishes,” she said. “Or, you can display them under a glass dome or cloche.”
• Apples — Cored apples also can serve as candleholders or display in tall glass container.
• Brown paper —“There are so many great decorating ideas using brown paper,” Shields said. “Not only is it inexpensive, it looks so fall.”
Decorate and use brown paper as a table runner or tablecloth, to make banners with inspirational words or create placemats and name cards.
• Brown paper bags — Use to make a place card utensil holder.
• Chalkboards — place throughout the house with inspirational words such as “grateful,” “thankful” and “blessed” to reflect the mood of the Thanksgiving season.
• Leaves — Paint and make a leaf mobile, to decorate front door or mantel, or use in a wreath of a centerpiece.
• Branches, twigs — Use natural or paint in bold colors, metallics or even neon to suspend leaves as mobile, decorate walls, add texture to a mantle or table displace or volume to a wreath or floral arrangements.
And don’t forget the aromas and scents of fall.
“There’s a wide variety of scented candles or you come go for something more natural, like apple cider simmering on the stove or even soups and stews cooking,” Shields said.
To see these and other fall decorating ideas from Terie Shields, go to her Pinterest page Terie’s Interiors Simple Fall Decorating.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/lifestyles/fall-decorating-bring-autumn-inside-your-home-with-simple-natural/article_3e997341-a00b-5569-ba42-87d532f49dd5.html