Do you love a home tour? A tour with lots of photos and inspiration? Yay, me too. But what about spending money on seasonal decor? I’m over it. I can’t say I don’t buy a little something now and then. I am a woman after all. But this year my goal was to rework last year’s decor for a new fall look. I guess you could call it a fall redesign.
If you’ve popped over from Lora Bloomquist’s blog, howdy! I’m so glad you’re here. Were you inspired by her vintage-styled bedroom? When I first saw her blog I was smitten. Still am! I find her quintessential style absolutely charming and I hope she blogs forever and ever.
The tours today are going to be fantastic so stick around and see them all at the end of this post. You won’t regret it!
Begin with an inspiration piece. Mine was this textured fall pillow.
Rework Last Year’s Décor for a New Fall Look
Would you say Autumn is your favorite season? I’d say it is for us native Texans. But the trees around us don’t get leaves that change to vibrant colors. Some do but really they turn brown and just fall off. However, the cooler days, the festivals, corn mazes, giant pumpkins, and the sweata-weatha are magnificent! Fall is when we can finally get outside and enjoy life.
The Living Room:
Use a common theme throughout the house. I used gold hydrangeas. I had so many!
When I was thinking about how to decorate for fall, I didn’t want to repeat last years approach. If you change things up seasonally, do you put the same items in the same place each time? I can’t do that. I’d go nuts. I’m already moving things around quite frequently because I think it would look better somewhere else. Please tell me I’m not the only one.
Rearrange your furniture.
At my age, I can barely remember what I did yesterday and I have enough on my mind without concerning myself with duplicating my home decor year after year. Just kidding. I actually think about that all the time. 😉
“One good thing about being a blogger is you have posts with pictures to look back on!”
When I looked back at the photos, I had forgotten about some of the decor. Other photos made me grin and decide that particular item was coming back out again.
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and colors that don’t quite match.
Like the little ceramic squirrel candle holder. I love that little guy. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and any colors that might be slightly different from others. Like the tablecloth I’ve had for years and never used. I found it one day at a garage sale and loved the colors. They aren’t exactly the same as the leaf pillows but who cares?! I decorate for me, not the critics.
Since switching over to a grandma-chic kind of style, things are more colorful around here than they used to be. The rooms are filled with new things, vintage items and thrifted finds. It’s quite fun to be able to mix and match them together to bring a room to life.
The Dining Room:
I switched the tables. The white one is now in the breakfast room. I like the black one in here but the table seems more informal. There are scratches on top and plenty of hot glue clumps since I used it as a craft table too so I’ll need to do something about that. Hopefully before Christmas but I’m not holding my breath. It’ll most likely be a tablecloth coming to the rescue.
See more of those gold hydrangeas? I can’t believe I have so many.
In using what you already have, candle holders don’t have to hold candles. I plopped black pumpkins on a couple of them then added gold velvet ribbon to help them stand out. Easy peasy.
“Cha cha cha chia!”
When I saw this little owl vase at Home Goods, I knew it was coming home with me. I didn’t have a plan for it which isn’t always a good thing but it was only $5. Then as soon as I cut these faux stems to fit inside, I started singing the Chia Pet song. Doesn’t it remind you of a chia pet? Or maybe a mutant head of broccoli? I love it! Take my advice… Always buy the weird thing.
The Annoying Entry:
I’ve said this many times – our entry is obnoxious. When you walk in, the door faces the dining room. So you have to look behind your right shoulder to see the hutch (another slightly weird piece that isn’t quite right for an entry) and to put down your keys or purse.
More gold hydrangeas – LOL!
I’ve gotten used to it and I suppose it would be more awkward if the front door faced the opposite way. That side leads to the guest bathroom and laundry room.
Here’s a fun idea! I found a large (11″ x 14″ ish) book at an antique store for $12. It’s titled 100 of The World’s Most Beautiful Paintings. I’ve had a stash of empty frames for a long time so I went through the book pulling out the prints with the best fall color and added them to the frames. Do you recognize one? You’ll see more soon.
Mix anything you like for a look you want.
Do you enjoy styling shelves? It’s like playing with paper dolls to me. I mix and match new things with old, layer and fluff until my heart is content. And this is where I usually display the kids school creations. Like the dark vase from my son when he was in the 8th grade. He’s now 29 years young and it will always be cherished.
Well, that’s it for my fall tour and sharing how to rework last year’s decor for a new fall look. Next up is Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse. She’s another friend I hope never stops blogging!
I love it all, Cindy! I am with you. I am proud of myself……I’ve only purchased 1 faux pumpkin this year and it was for a project. Everything is just so cozy. I like that leaf table cloth on the side table. Hey, don’t make fun of that adorable owl vase. Its a cutie! Ha, ha!
Author
LOL, thank you Christy. The little owl vase is not quite sturdy enough to be a vase. He falls over which means I guess I need to cut the stems shorter. But goodness gracious the stems have the thickest wire. It’s a job for the Mister. And kudos to purchasing only 1 new thing for fall!!! 😉
It’s such a brilliant idea to frame the pics from the vintage book. Your home is so lovely!
Author
Thank you Renae! How are you? I hope you are busy at your beautiful farmhouse. Happy Fall!
Love all the ways you reused your home decor items from last year, Cindy. They’re all so warm and inviting. I love the way you styled the shelves too. It makes me want to curl up with a big hot mug of something festivfe and read a good book! Thanks so much for putting these hops together and for including me. I hope your Autumn season is all that you need it to be, CoCo
Author
Well so far the season is beginning to be magnificent. We are headed to VT, NH and ME next week!!! I am so excited!!! And I liked the look of the cubby shelves too. Cheers to cuddles and cocoa soon. Thank you CoCo.
Everything looks so warm and cozy. I love the gold hydrangeas and that little squirrel is so cute! Thanks for hosting!
Author
Thank you Angie. I’m loving all the color too. Even the Mister noticed the coziness! And that’s saying something!
Love your prints.. love love the dandelion print and how could you not love the squirrel candle…so cute. I like the vibe of your house…. fall has arrived…now we just have to get some cool weather..lol!!!
Author
Thank you Lorri. It’s my favorite place to be. And a big fat please to bringing the cooler weather!
Cindy
What a great idea. So many ways to save money and make previous decor look new again. Great post.
Author
Thanks so much Rachel. I hope to keep this up for Christmas too. But I’m not sure I can stand not buying more ornaments. :0
I’m with you, Cindy–why buy more stuff when you can restyle what you have? And you have done it beautifully! I recognize your cute squirrel and I love your velvet pillows! Happy almost fall! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
Author
Thanks so much Cecilia. I’m going to do the same for the farmhouse this October. Only buying pumpkins and cornstalks for the porch. Enjoy the season!
Cindy,, oh that pillow!!! It’s amazing; such a statement piece. And the wonderful artwork you created and the piece above the mantel. Your owl is adorable; love the mutant broccoli concept. It’s perfect! Our decor needs to make us smile! Thanks again for hosting.
Author
That’s a great way to put it Debra – our decor needs to make us smile. And mine does. Each room has something I really enjoy or treasure. Cheers to being our own niche. 😉
Cindy, I do exactly as you do. I start pulling things and end up moving things where I think they’d look better, And thank goodness for blog photos to remember the fun things, and to avoid duplicating looks. Having said that, I am in love with your fall style. The pillow covers, that tablecloth, the golden hydrangeas, and that cute squirrel and owl. I also like the black table in the DR. I think WV is going to be like TX fall this year – leaves turn brown and fall. In fact, instead of golden hydrangeas here, how about some burnt toast? It’s been an awful summer!
Happy Autumn! Off to see more. on the hop….
Author
Doesn’t it feel good to have an entirely different looking room that costs nothing but time and energy? I LOVE IT! The hubs, not so much. He doesn’t like change and I think some days he’d rather me just buy something new instead of rearranging things. Last time he helped me hang a mirror he raised his voice and said – good grief woman, this wall looks like swiss cheese! I understood what he meant. All I could say was, I know, now put this nail in the same hole in the center and leave me be.
I can’t stop, won’t stop rearranging things. LOL Thank you Rita!
p.s. You should join us next time we have a tour.
I always love seeing how you decorate for each season. You are so creative and fun to read. I too don’t buy for each season cause I already have more than I can store. Thank goodness for room under beds!! We’ve had a few cool mornings, which was wonderful but I want 60’s all day. Happy Fall!!
Author
I’m with you Marlene – 60’s all day and the sun shining on my face. It makes my day to hear you enjoy reading the blog and seeing how I decorate. Not everyone loves that as much as I like doing it. Fingers crossed the cooler weather is here come the 22nd! Wouldn’t that be nice? Thank you friend.
Cindy, here I was all ready to pop over early this morning… and No internet! Anyway, a new router and something up in the attic later, we are all good. 🙂 I love your mantels and sooo many hydrangeas!!! I am happy my one little hydrangea had nice blooms this year. It’s a happy plant. And no, I never really remember what I decorate from season to season but I did think about not bringing out the somewhat newish fall pillows this year. I thought I’d give them a rest. 😉
I do love your little squirrel… Mine are still waiting to come out to play. Soon! Thanks again for inviting me to come on the Autumn Home Tour. <3
Many fall hugs,
Barb 🙂
Author
If the Mister weren’t a Network Engineer, I would have never become a blogger. He’s saved the day more than once around here. Glad you are back up and running. And thank you for the visit so late at night.
Happy fall decorating and for you – fall gardening! I think you should plant a pumpkin garden. I’ve tried multiple times with no luck. I bet your green thumbs will have a garden full in no time! 😉