Decor
If your small living room is blessed with high ceilings, take full advantage of that extra space. While vertical space doesn’t help with squeezing in an extra seat, drawing the eye upward does help give the impression that your room is far larger and grander that it would otherwise seem. Fill the vertical space with an eclectic art gallery. note: 4 vertical frames in corners and 2 in center
If you’ve had enough of bright orange pumpkins, calm things down with heirloom varieties in muted colors. Here, four large heirloom pumpkins in assorted colors, five small white pumpkins, a large bunch of seeded eucalyptus and gold votive candleholders create an easy and sophisticated display that feels at home through November. Tip: A neutral runner carries the theme through. Get the step-by-step [see onenote]
A delicious edible pumpkin with the unlikely name Long Island Cheese anchors an outdoor arrangement of fresh pomegranates and a burgundy-leafed liquid amber branch.
potted succulents like echeveria and paddle plant (kalanchoe luciae) make great additions to a low-maintenance garden.
Succulents are often at their best in fall, when their coral, gold and magenta blooms play off harvest colors. Tip: Anchor your arrangement with a feature plant or pumpkin that has an attention-grabbing shape or color, such as this Japanese red kuri squash. Don't worry about symmetry; instead, balance the center with a casual arrangement of smaller pumpkins, pomegranates and other seasonal fruits and flowers.
Even just two or three pumpkins on a table that you can see out a window can brighten an October afternoon. These volunteer pumpkins sprouted from compost added to planting beds last spring. Free decor! Tip: Return pumpkins to the planting bed this winter, so you'll have homegrown pumpkins to play with again next fall.
Tip: Create a makeshift runner by lining up placemats down the center of the table.
Combine the last blush of roses with miniature pumpkins and candles on a table runner glowing with oranges and reds.
Single sunflowers. Shake things up by using a group of vases or bottles, each containing a sunflower. The look of the colorful vintage bottles here is lovely, but if you want a more uniform look, you can use glass jars or vases that are clear or all the same color.
Fruit and twigs. Enjoy the fruits of your apple-picking labors by mixing fruit, grapevine twig balls and leaves in a bowl. Other good fruits to use for a fall arrangement are pomegranates, figs and pears.
A box of fall. Corral gourds and decorative corn husks and acorns in a vintage wooden box for the center of the table. It’s easy to pick up and move around to different spots around the house and yard in one fell swoop. You can also fill in the empty spaces with something like hay or pine straw, as seen here, but as someone with allergies, I would skip that component in an indoor arrangement. -- round table use round bowl or tray
A box of fall. Corral gourds and decorative corn husks and acorns in a vintage wooden box for the center of the table. It’s easy to pick up and move around to different spots around the house and yard in one fell swoop. You can also fill in the empty spaces with something like hay or pine straw, as seen here, but as someone with allergies, I would skip that component in an indoor arrangement.
Found and foraged. This arrangement is a nice fit for a farm table. All you need is one long linen or burlap runner, a pair of clippers, a vase or pitcher, some hurricanes and candles, oak branches and acorns. Clip a few fall branches from a shrub or tree for a natural arrangement in the center, and flank it with two hurricanes. Fill the bottoms of the hurricanes around the candles with acorns.
Glorious berry branches. Branches make for wonderful arrangements because they stand out, give great color and structure, and can last longer than a typical arrangement. And see how striking they are all on their own. When you’re not using your table for dining, several large-scale vessels can create a dramatic effect. Tip: Extend the life of your fresh branch arrangements by smashing the bottoms of the branches with a hammer; this allows them to better to soak up the water. Change the water every few days.
Glorious berry branches. Branches make for wonderful arrangements because they stand out, give great color and structure, and can last longer than a typical arrangement. And see how striking they are all on their own. When you’re not using your table for dining, several large-scale vessels can create a dramatic effect. Tip: Extend the life of your fresh branch arrangements by smashing the bottoms of the branches with a hammer; this allows them to better to soak up the water. Change the water every few days.
Gourds and berries. This is an easy arrangement to add on top of a table runner, place mat or fabric swatch. It’s a simple mix of light orange and white pumpkins, berry clusters and votive candles.
Pomegranates and Branches Bright red pomegranates look as if they jumped right out of a painting, making these fall fruits an ideal choice for a centerpiece. Pile a wooden bowl with the ruby red beauties and pair it with a vase filled with cut branches for a long-lasting display.
Firewood and Pinecones A basket of cut firewood instantly suggests warmth and comfort, whether or not you have a working fireplace. Step up the style by adding foraged pinecones to your basket, or line them up along the hearth.
If you’re feeling a bit more creative, make a wreath with elements foraged from the garden or purchased at your local floral shop. Here, a simple circle of gray-green olive leaves, fragrant rosemary and fiery orange American bittersweet would be a festive addition to a fall entryway and transition well into winter. See how to re-create this wreath[seeNoteOne]
Hang a wreath. If you do nothing else this season, pick up a simple fall wreath and tie it on your front door with a decorative bow for a quick upgrade. Here, a ring of whimsical berries stands out against a charcoal door. Wreaths of artificial berries, preserved leaves or dried fall fruits can be used year after year for fall decor.
Wood awning. Use wood boards to create the look of an exterior awning. Paint the wood your favorite color with a dry-brush application
vase in bowl in basket
decor -- lanterns at front door
use a base strip and a top strip but leave an uncovered stretch of wall in between that will appear to be part of the baseboard when the area is painted out.
desk/cabinet
“If I were designing my perfect hutch, it would measure 72 inches wide and would have four central drawers on the bottom half, plus two 21-inch doors on either side, each of which would open from the center outwards,” says Grelli. “Each door and drawer would be devoted to a specific holiday season, so there’s never confusion as to where all those Christmas-tree mugs or bunny plates are.”
like sectional and ottoman for basement
if redo couch, consider no skirt and add legs
crown molding and board-and-batten siding To make it more affordable, they skimmed the drywall smooth and added wood trim pieces instead of solid board and batten.
A trio of houseplants in modern planters, including a rubber plant and a Madagascar dragon tree, adds a touch of green near the front door.
note "stool" under plant
thick wall/ceiling at opening
Create a decorative winter scene. When my daughters were little they always felt sad when it was time to take down our holiday decor. One year, we decided to leave the fireplace garland on the mantel after the tree and other decorations were put away. We added white lights as well as white decorations — snowflakes and snowmen — to create a winter scene that didn’t feel Christmas-specific. We liked this solution so much that we now keep our mantel decorated until early February.
corner cabinet
cabinet
Dings and dents. This lovely chest has many dings and dents, but the shiny polished finish keeps it from looking rustic. A great way to camouflage imperfections? Add more dings!
Corbels transform small spaces. Add corbels to small open entryways in a sunroom, nook, sitting room or other semi-open area.
coffee table
barn wood buffet
coffee table
chalkboard
table
coffee table
nightstand
Q