Neutral Fall Home Tour
This is my first year ever decorating for fall. That is right – I used to be a fall décor virgin.
I’ve always been reluctant to decorate for different seasons because it seemed too expensive and like too much of a hassle. But since I have learned over the years that decorating definitely does not have to be expensive, I decided to give it a try just this once. I mean really what’s there to lose – if I hate it, I can just never do it again!
I did have some ground rules though. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money and I didn’t want a lot of extra stuff to store. And I wanted to stick with colors I already love in my home. As beautiful as I think red and orange fall leaves are, I’m just not a fan of red or orange in my house. And the traditional fall colors really wouldn’t play nicely with the beachy colors I have going on year round.
So I went with some simple neutral fall décor instead of traditional fall colors.
I ended up spending $8. That bought me three small fake pumpkins, a pack of white feathers, and some wrapping paper printed to look like birch bark. I added some acorns, a few free printables, and some paint and I was all ready for fall.
So without further adieu, welcome to my cheap and easy, neutral fall home tour.
The mantel is the centerpiece of most of my fall decorating. And with the TV moved out of the family room, there was a lot more mantel to work with than usual!
I started with a couple of yard sale mirrors in the middle and added a little chalkboard banner that I printed onto cardstock and strung on twine. (You can download your own free grateful banner here.)
I added an old balance – another yard sale score at only $1, some old books, and an old Mason jar full of river rocks. The faux pumpkins I bought got a facelift with some chalk paint (old white and aubusson blue). I added a little liquid silver leaf to the tips of my feathers and sprinkled in a few silver leaf acorns.
On the other side – another painted pumpkin, an old silver candlestick, and a free printable that looks just like a chalkboard from Nest of Posies.
Hanging out next to the fireplace is my wire basket made from an old lampshade, filled with cozy blankets.
I added a few small touches to the buffet on the other side of the family room as well.
One of my favorite parts is this birch bark lampshade. I found a roll of birch bark wrapping paper at TJ Maxx for $3 and wrapped some around a plain white lampshade. To secure it, I just taped it on the inside of the shade with good old scotch tape. Clearly, it isn’t real bark, but the wrapping paper is textured and it looks pretty awesome in person.
On the other side, I added a few feathers and a bowl of silver leaf acorns along with a cute little globe.
So far I’m feeling pretty darn good about this little fall decorating experiment. It was definitely inexpensive and super easy. And it is neutral enough to take me right up until Christmas.
In the meantime, you are definitely going to want to check out these fall home tours by my fellow bloggers. These ladies really know what they are doing!
<!– end InLinkz script —>
looks beautiful- i love the scale!
Thanks Cassie! That is my favorite too.
The neutral decor looks beautiful and perfectly fits with your style. The lampshade is such a great idea! Thanks so much for joining in the tour this week!
Thanks Ariean! I am so glad you guys invited me to join in!
Carrie I love your rules for Fall decorating. Not a big fan of red and orange pumpkins and leaves over here either!
Thanks Sarah – I figured I would just make it my own this year!
Your home is beautiful! That lamp shade and that white arrow (I love arrows). It all looks amazing!
Thanks so much Lindsay! Clearly, I love arrows too!
I love that you decorated for fall in a way that felt right for your home- it looks absolutely perfect!
Thanks Nina – I am so glad I did some fall decorating this year. Thanks so much for inviting me to join you guys on the tour!
Just beautiful! That birch lampshade is genius! So much fun to be doing this hop with you :)
Thanks Corey! I’m so glad I finally dipped my toes into the fall decorating pool.
I LOVE the neutral decor!! You pulled it off so well, but it still feels like Fall!!
Thanks so much Sarah! I was really hoping it would turn out that way!
What a beautiful home! I am a HUGE fan of silhouettes…I have them everywhere…and I love yours! Fantastic…thank you for sharing!
Thanks Becki! The big family silhouette was my first silhouette project and I had so much fun doing it!
You did SUCH a beautiful job, Carrie! You should do this fall decorating thing more often. ;)
Thanks Rachel – I’m thinking I may just give it another try next year. ;)
Beautiful. I love the blue and white.
Thanks Michelle!
Carrie I love the greys and blues- so unique!! Really beautiful home!!
Mandy @ The Hankful House Blog
Thank you Mandy!
That birch bark lampshade is DIVINE, Carrie! Great tour!
Thanks April! I love that lampshade – and it was soo cheap and easy.
I love that you embraced your love of neutral colors and blues and worked with it. It still looks fall-ish and cozy!
Thanks Jen. I am so glad I went with colors I love as well. I was really wondering if it would look ‘fall’ at all but I definitely think it does!
Carrie! I love your home.
Thanks Carmody!
Looks fantastic! Wondering if you shared where you found the printable banner that looks like the chalkboard? I might have missed it but I looked pretty carefully! My mantel needs that!!
thank you:)
Nicole, I didn’t say in the post but I actually made the printable chalkboard banner myself. I am hoping to share it as a free printable in a post on Friday.
Yay! I was hoping you were going to say that;)
Wow, it’s so awesome you only spent $8 and your home is beautiful! I am also crushing on that wire shade basket and the birch lamp shade you made from wrapping paper!
Thanks Katie – anytime I can make stuff I already have is a major win!
So very lovely! Those silver acorns are gorgeous. And those scales for $1??! I would’ve died! I absolutely love your neutral colour scheme – so beautiful and restrained!
Thanks Karen – I’m so loving my neutral fall decor!
Love that old balance with the little pumpkins!!
Thanks Jennifer!
I always love your home, Carrie! It especially looks great dressed for fall. Lovely!!
Thanks Chelsea! Now I’m ready for some bonfires and caramel apples!
I love your neutral/cool tones, Carrie! Such a fun change from the usual warm hues. And I LOVE that DIY lampshade! What a great idea! It’s super cute! :)
Thanks Allison! The lampshade is one of my favorite parts – and I am definitely contemplating more ways to use my new birch wrapping paper!
I’m so glad you decorated for fall, because it’s lovely. And I LOVE that you only spent $8 on it. I end up having one small box of fall decor that I store in the attic the rest of the year. But I LOVE decorating for fall. :)
Laura, I’m so glad I went for it this year as well!
So pretty Carrie- I love your beautiful fall vignettes!!
Thanks Krista!
I love that you kept it neutral–it looks great!
Thanks Michelle!
I love this fall decor!