5 Tips for Bringing Neutral and Natural Fall Decor into Your Home
Whether it’s branches from the yard, apples from a tree, or some eucalyptus in a vase, neutral and natural fall decor is one of the easiest and most beautiful ways to decorate for the season.
Fall is definitely my favorite time of year. I look forward to decorating for fall almost as much as I do Christmas! And nothing makes me happier than incorporating things from nature to usher in the season. And since I naturally gravitate to a more neutral fall palette, natural elements are a perfect fit.
As you know, I’m not the biggest fan of the bright oranges and rusts, haha! I like to do a more muted and pared down version of fall. And one of the easiest ways to do that is to incorporate items from nature as part of your seasonal decorating.
With fall decorating, a little goes a long way. You don’t need 85 pumpkins on the porch with bales of hay! I sometimes think Pinterest has made us all think we need to go all-out with our seasonal decorating, but I disagree. Just a touch of the season brought in through nature says fall in a subtle way, and reminds us to slow down and enjoy the season we’re in!
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1. Use White or Pale Pumpkins
In this fall dining room tour, I added white pumpkins to my favorite marble bowl for an easy statement centerpiece.
I love white pumpkins as I’m sure you know by now, and they are about as neutral and natural as it gets! But if you can’t find them, the faded orange heirloom varieties aren’t as bright as the traditional ones. In fact, the selection is so large now that even supermarkets carry faded orange, pink, and even the soft green/blue ones.
And they say fall in a much softer way than the bright orange ones do!
You can also get lots more ideas on decorating with white pumpkins in this post! And I’m sharing a great source for faux white pumpkins too as I know not everyone can find them and/or they aren’t always available early enough for decorating. You can also mix the faux with the real to make them go farther!
2. Use Eucalyptus Generously!
For this Soft & Subtle Fall Home Tour I used eucalyptus in a French demijohn along with a some pumpkins on a bread board for a natural vignette in the family room.
One of the things that has really changed in my seasonal decorating over the last few years is the addition of eucalyptus! I swear when I first found it I was wondering where it had been all my life! It’s such a versatile green, and inexpensive, too.
It looks wonderful in arrangements, on the mantel, in a bowl with some pumpkins, or simply in a vase like in the demijohn above. And there’s something about the seeded variety that really says fall to me. Plus, it is one of the few natural items that looks as pretty dried as it does fresh!
In the family room, I combined pears, a seasonal candle, and a wood vessel filled with lots of eucalyptus to create a simple and natural fall vignette. And if you can’t find live eucalyptus where you live, there are lots of faux versions that look amazingly real (I often mix it in with the real to make it look fuller!)
3. Incorporate Other Items From Nature
I love adding apples to my kitchen in the fall, as I did in this kitchen tour. Apples added to a vintage basket create a beautiful and unique way to celebrate the season.
Whether it’s adding pomegranates or artichokes to a table setting, or using apples or pears in the kitchen as decor, it’s wonderful to add some of the bounty of the season.
For last year’s fall kitchen decor, I used an abundance of pears in a vintage wood bowl. Not only do they make a pretty focal point, but you get to eat them, too!
4. Add Cozy Pillows and Throws
From my Soft & Subtle Fall Family Room Tour, this plaid pillow and wool throw add lots of warmth and texture on the sofa.
Bring on the hygge! This is the season of cozy, with chunky pillows and throws adding texture, warmth and comfort to the inside of your home. According to my kids, there can never be too many throws on the sofas!
Soft rusts and golds gave this simple fall living room a subtle nod to the season without going over the top.
5. Bring in the Colors of the Season – But in a Subtle Way
These flowers are a faded orange rather than bright, as is the soft throw on the sofa in last year’s Soft Fall Family Room Tour.
Believe it or not, I actually love the colors of fall and the warmth they bring to a space. But when I bring in fall colors, I always bring in a more muted version.
So instead of bright orange pumpkins, think a faded version, or even pink. Bright rusts become subtle browns. Rather than bright or dark, it’s a soft green. These are more the colors of nature, and they feel inherently more natural when you use them in decor.
One of my personal favorites! These fading hydrangeas capture the essence of neutral and natural fall decor perfectly! You can see more in this Warm Kitchen Fall Tour.
I hope this gave you some ideas for your own fall decorating. And if you’re looking for more neutral and natural fall decor, I’m sharing tons of cute options below!
Shop Fall Decor
Happy Fall!
Sheila
xo
And if you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out more fall decorating inspiration below:
I enjoyed your post. I to like the neutral colors for fall and I have been using them for a few years now. Besides the white pumpkins I like a basket of bleached pinecones. They are really easy to do… A bucket, bleach, water and pinecones. Also, it is kind of fun to see them change colors each time that you check on them. Love how they turn out.
Thank you for your kind words Ruth! And yes, I love the bleached pinecones – always been wanting to try it!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Great post! I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer re Eucalyptus, but readers should keep in mind that Eucalyptus prompts more allergies for people than almost any other plant. Burning/itchy eyes, congestion, coughing……Extremly common allergy. If anyone in your household tends to have problems with pollen and other plant induced allergies, absolutely choose the wonderful faux. Many people have not grown up around Eucalyptus trees, so have no idea they are allergic to them! Also, they are extremely dry and flammable, so use caution when placing candles right by them. (To see how much they like to burn, follow the CA wildfire stories – the hills covered with Eucalyputs are one of the reasons major fires occur annually and spread so quickly). I vote for faux….
Thanks for the info Beth – I had no idea. I don’t have allergies but good to know for those who do. And the PB eucalyptus is SO good (I do use that too!) so that’s a great option for those who are allergic or for those who can’t find it in their market or florist!
Thank you. I love your tips. I don’t do orange….not in my nor in my garden so your suggestions are my favorites!
Haha no orange for me either!! Glad you liked the post!
Your home is beautiful and inspiring! I’m ready to start decorating my home now. Thank you!
Aww thank you Jill – so appreciate your kind words! Happy fall!
Love all of your ideas as I always do… thank you for this fall inspiration.
Thanks so much Cara! Happy fall!
Isn’t it wonderful how many colors and kinds of pumpkins are out at the market this year. Now if only the prices would come down a bit! I’m going broke. Your home is lovely and I agree that eucalyptus is a great addition to fall decor. Has replaced the bittersweet I used last year but it didn’t go to waste. Used it outside on the front porch where I have used brighter colors.
I’m so glad you love the eucalyptus too! And yes, I must agree, the unusual pumpkins are a little pricey! And since they’re everywhere now, you’d think they’d be cheaper, haha!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sheila
Lovely, simply lovely.
Aww that’s so kind! Thank you so much!!
Happy fall!
Sheila