A House in Season: Letting Autumn Bloom

Dear Lovely,

There was a time when decorating my home for the upcoming season was reminiscent of a craft store free-for-all. Glitter, bows, figurines, seasonal symbols, more glitter…it was all loud and it was all sparkly and it was all fun.

After we moved into our current home twelve summers ago, however, I noticed midway through the Christmas season, that I was beginning to feel suffocated by all the stuff. Every surface screamed “RED AND GREEN AND GLITTER AND CHRISTMAS AND SNOWMAN AND HOT CHOCOLATE SIGNAGE AND CHRISTMAS TREES AND SPARKLES!” Suddenly, that many things didn’t feel authentic to who I was anymore. I had changed, like we all do, and I was no longer a “glittery” type of gal. I know, isn’t that tragic!?

In my thirties, I had several changes like this: I used to wear really dark eye liner. I don’t anymore. I used to wear long acrylic nails in all sorts of bright colors. I don’t anymore. I went through a phase of wearing eyelash extensions. Nope, not anymore. I’ve just kind of…changed. I’ve become more simple. In no way would I consider myself a minimalist, yet maximalism wasn’t working for me either.

I wanted my home to feel festive without my feeling suffocated, so I began paring my seasonal decorations way down and started again using only the pieces that meant something to me. The honest truth was so much of the stuff I had accumulated was just purchased and arranged because I thought I needed to decorate, and I assumed that doing so meant buying stuff marked specifically for that season. A sign that said “Merry Christmas.” A Santa figurine that also played Santa Claus is Coming to Town when wound up. These things were meant to help me celebrate the season, but the truth is, lots of it began feeling unnecessary. I think the purpose of decorating for the season is to celebrate what makes that season special. Our decor should serve as a reminder of what we’re celebrating, not distract us from it, and mine had become a distraction.

So this brings me to my philosophy on seasonal decorating these days. Currently, I want my home to look as though the season naturally bloomed inside it, not like I staged holiday decor on every surface.

Like the fresh produce at a farmers market transitions with the season, I simply choose to transition the ingredients of my home. Instead of a sign that says “Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice” leaning against my backsplash near the coffee maker, I prefer to bring out my weathered cutting board and a vintage silver bowl, perfectly patina-ed with age, and filled with farmstand mini pumpkins, Spanish moss softly trickling over the side.

The same idea works throughout the house. I bring out my favorite brass candlesticks—mismatched and scattered, with soft cream tapers flickering throughout—and suddenly they feel distinctly autumnal. That's really the idea: I'm not necessarily adding fall decor; I'm letting the things I already love take on a fall identity. For me, allowing the house to naturally bloom with the season means an influx of natural fall elements, autumn colors, and pillows and blankets that make the space feel cozy.

Once I started thinking about seasonal decorating this way, I realized the answer wasn't necessarily to own less—it was to use what I already owned differently. In her book Be Ready When the Luck Happens, Ina Garten mentions decorating her home using the household items she uses regularly. Picture silver pitchers filled with flowers, or beautiful coffee table books left open as decor. I love this way of thinking. I feel like I’m being a good steward and getting my money’s worth of items as opposed to my investments remaining behind cabinet doors. Perhaps we can do this seasonally too. Bring out that amber glass vase and fill it with branches from the yard. We all have a shelf or cabinet for our vases already, well, lets use them!

Here are a few pictures from around my home.

When I'm looking around my house for ways to let autumn bloom, I think in terms of four things: nature, color, texture, and warmth.

• nature — branches, leaves, nuts, fruit, moss

• color — amber, rust, brown, cream, deep green

• texture — wood, rattan, fuzzy blankets, worn books

• warmth — brass, copper, candles, spices, hearty cookbooks

I open coffee table books to pages overflowing with fall colors. The stack of books on my shelves now acts as a riser for a fall candle. My antique biscuit container holds flavorful fall candy that glimmers through the cut crystal pattern. Use what you already have. Before buying something made specifically for fall, I like to look around and ask what I already own that could feel autumnal with a little imagination. And if you absolutely love the fall-leaf bowl? That's reason enough to own it.

I can’t mention my blooming decor philosophy without paying homage to the OG home decor ladies out there who love Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Target, Mud Pie, Rae Dunn, Homegoods, and every other store that supplies us with seasonal symbols, PSL everything, and quoteworthy signs galore! Listen, I LOVE you ladies! Your homes feel magical when I walk inside. Please don’t change! This philosophy is for the woman who feels overwhelmed by seasonal decorating or doesn't quite know how to make it work in her home.

Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest and check out my Fall Recipes and Living Board for all my favorite fall inspiration. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to decorate your home.