Fall Decor Essentials: My Five Favorite Decorating Items

These 5 favorite fall decor essentials will bring the warmth of the season into your home, with nary an orange pumpkin in sight!

I love a seasonal change. No matter which season we enter, I always find it fun and refreshing to welcome a change in weather, the food we eat, and the clothes we wear. And the decor I have in my home!

I’m not a huge fan of loads of orange pumpkins or themed decor, but I do love to bring a nod to the season into the house. I want our home to feel warm and cozy, with the feeling, textures and smells of the season.

These five fall decor essentials are my favorites, the ones I use year after year. The result is subtle, yet they bring in the warmth of the season simply and beautifully. 

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FALL FOLIAGE + FLOWERS  

Probably my number one fall decor essential is seasonal flowers or foliage. And if you’ve been here awhile, this one won’t come as a shock!

I’m a flower lover, and I have flowers in the house throughout much of the year. Changing them seasonally is so easy, and helps to usher in whatever new season we’re in.

 

 

In the fall, that could be anything from potted mums brought inside, to grocery store flowers in warmer tones, to a fall favorite like dahlias. 

 

Another favorite is branches or faux dried grasses. These look great in textured or warm wood vases and really bring in a feeling of autumn. 

 

 

And I love using eucalyptus in arrangements, but did you know it looks beautiful all by itself? It also lasts a long time and can be pretty even when it’s dried. And there are also great faux versions if you prefer to go that direction. 

Another favorite is olive branches, real or faux. 

 

 

NATURAL ELEMENTS

For me, natural elements go beyond pumpkins. They are the most obvious choice, of course, and I love decorating with white and pale heirloom pumpkins. But I typically start decorating in early September and oftentimes, pumpkins aren’t even in the stores yet. 

 

 

So what’s a fall-decorating-girl to do? Use acorns. They’re a seasonal favorite that most people don’t think of! They look great mounded in bowls, or scattered on a runner.

You can buy authentic dried acorns, completely faux acorns, or a blend of the two. Mine are a mix of faux acorns and these faux acorns that have ‘real’ tops glued on so that they look like actual acorns. That way, you don’t need to worry about bugs, mold or any of the other things that sometimes accompany the real ones.

 

 

SCENTED CANDLES

When we experience a season, we don’t just do it with our eyes. Scent is a big part of what we associate with a certain time of year, whether that’s flowers in the spring, scents of pine in the winter, or the warm scents of autumn.

In fact, the scents of fall might be the best part! Which is why one of my favorite fall decor essentials is scented seasonal candles. 

 

They’re such a great way to make the house smell good, and can be added to any room. My favorite is this pumpkin scent, but there are other warm, yummy scents like cinnamon, coffee, or apple that all bring that cozy feeling of fall to a space. 

For more delicious fall candles, you can read all about my favorites in this post.

 

 

PILLOWS & THROWS  

One of the reasons I love having a white or neutral sofa is that it makes it easy to change the look of the space simply by swapping out the pillows. And if you buy only pillow covers, it’s much more economical and way easier to store them!

I have a set number of pillow inserts and then I simply change the covers and voilà, a completely different look!

 

And you don’t need to do ‘themed’ pillows with phrases or graphics to create the feeling of fall. Switching to richer tones or warm fabrics like plaid or sweater knits creates that same ambiance, but can last for a much longer time. In fact, you could use them year-round if you want!

And of course, a few chunky knit throws is a nice addition as well. They add texture to the room, as well as keeping you warm and cozy while you curl up on the sofa!

 

COPPER

Copper has a unique way of bringing warmth and patina to a space, especially if it’s vintage. 

 

I love to bring out some of my vintage pots to sit on the stove, add a bowl or two to a table, or add flowers to a vintage copper pitcher. For even more ideas on incorporating copper into your fall decor, check out this post.

 

Shop Fall Decor Essentials 

 

Happy Fall!

Sheila
xo

 

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out more fall inspiration below:

4 Tips for Easy Fall Decorating

Fall Front Porch Decor in the Warm Shades of Autumn

Subtle Fall Decor in the Kitchen 

Fall Living Room in the Rich & Warm Colors of Fall