Simplified Decorating Fall Home Tour

Are you craving less stuff, but still want your home to feel warm and inviting? Me too! Join me as I share my simplified fall home tour. We’ll chat all about decorating with intention and share ideas on how to welcome and celebrate the changing season with less fuss. Leaving more time to enjoy activities, life, our families and friends! 

Hello FOXES! Today, the light & airy Fall tour continues. I’ll be wrapping things up as I share our dining area, mantel and a bit of the kitchen with you. Thanks so much for letting me break it up a little. I’ll try to be less wordy today. But I won’t promise. If you’d like to catch-up by taking the first part of my Fall tour [you can find it here]. 

We left off in the living room, and along with popping one of my willow chairs in there, the other is pulled up to the farm table. Luckily I had already put the set of chairs we normally use for dining away for the duration of the bathroom renovation. And by “put up”, I mean they are completely blocking access to my Christmas décor in storage room.

Along with a console table, and a variety of things that have been ordered for the bathroom. So that’s going to be fun to pull out, because it’s basically one big game of Jenga now. We weren’t planning on the delay when we did that. Oops. Just a little real life over here. I might just buy all new Christmas décor and pretend that room doesn’t exist.

Now we all know I’m way to cheap for that. But my boys will definitely be my legs for me again the year. I am so blessed!

So far it looks like my “chatty” function is set to on. You might want to buckle up.

I’m buying and acquiring a lot less décor, in keeping with goal of simplifying the decorating process. Over time I’ve become much more thoughtful, and I am getting much better about making more intentional purchases. In fact I didn’t order a single new thing for my fall home tour this year, opting to re-use old favorites in new places and in new ways instead.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have two exceptions: Décor Steals gifted me a few items that will be coming up soon as the steal of the day! A set of lanterns, and some faux fall florals. And while lovely, we all know I didn’t “need” either. It’s hard to refuse gifts though. haha

DECORATING THE FARM TABLE: I went as simple as could be! The large wood slab was a $2 barn sale find from a few years ago. I cleaned it up, and Jimmy ran it through the planer several times. He was also sweet enough to help by putting it on the table for me. That thing is a big hunk (just like my Jimmy). The old metal pitcher was freshly painted (it was previously a rusted/chippy aqua) and I’ve used the wheat for a few seasons now.

The glass and metal lanterns were gifted, and I filled them with candles and chunky walnuts. I’ve used those same walnuts for a few years now, I just ziplock bag them up after the season!

• Lanterns are one of my favorite go-to decorating staples. Especially when they are subtle—increasing their versatility and the ability to use them for many occasions, seasons and holidays.

Jimmy put the bar cart out in the shop for me, and I’m using this cute little cane X base table in it’s place (for now). Instead of having an upper and lower shelf, there is just a top to style/decorate. Cutting down on décor decisions, dusting and giving a lighter look to the space. Eventually I’d like to have nothing here, but I need to ease into that. 

I tried not to go pumpkin crazy, but this sweater pumpkin really wanted to have a seat at the table. And who am I to squash it’s dreams? 

OUR SHIPLAP FIREPLACE MANTEL:  The mantel has been decorated on the simpler side for a long time now. I just don’t seem to have any interest in the elaborately decorated mantels that I used to do. I think I grew out of it, and I’ve craved a bit more polished, reserved look for awhile now. 

When decorating my fireplace mantel, I tend to add a large scale mirror or piece of art, flanked by a few smaller items. Primarily candle sticks, and a natural element. It’s become a bit of a comfortable formula.

I still like my little animal things, and often sneak a cute critter in the mix.

• I will let you in on a little secret, I have had that branch for at least five years now. I am so careful with it. It’s perfect. It just always tucks in somewhere just right! We don’t have a single tree or bush on our property that changes color. So it’s like a prized possession.

Now… if you need anything evergreen, I’m your girl! A natural Christmas is the easiest thing ever as we’ve got greenery in droves.

THE BRICK WALL: With our recent furniture moving, it was a little bit like a line dance, in that everything had to “slide to left”,  that included pulling my console table off the brick wall, so the wood & metal shelf could pop up the step from the sun room and land in front of the brick. (If you missed my last post, the beautiful bathroom vanity needed a home until we are ready ton install it, as the middle of my dining room was not optimal). The new locations weren’t exactly where I wanted things, but it’s temporary in the big scheme of things. 

• Natural elements add so much texture and movement to a space. They add warmth and life. Even when they are faux. Fresh is best, but there is definitely a certain convenience to using faux floral elements that can be depended on season after season. 

When it came to decorating the shelf that sits on the brick wall, I continued with the keep it simple philosophy! Simply adding some vintage copper from my collection was all that was needed to add some fall flavour, without completely re-working every shelf. My helper thanked me for that.  

Besides a few pieces Jim’s mom got me, this tiny sauce pot is my favorite!

Wait… I’m lying to you. I do have two new little Casper white pumpkins. Why are the wee ones so cute? They are seriously my favorite. And well worth (almost) lying for. Certainly. hehe

THE KITCHEN ISLAND: Our vintage scale usually sits on the reclaimed wood bar down in the sun room, and is seldom seen because it’s the most annoying area ever to photograph, though I love it in-person. The scale will now be living out the remainder of it’s days on the island, because it weighs exactly 43 million pounds and I promised I wouldn’t ask anyone to move it ever, ever again. 

This spot ended up decorated with a hodge-podge of whatever I thought might look cute together. I tried to stay simple but it fell into pace how it wanted to, with a little more than I intended. 

The copper & brass tea pot is one of the treasures that my MIL gave me. She always found the neatest stuff for me!

This vignette is comprised of: the other white pumpkin, the mate to the pheasant on the mantel, a mango wood vase, some thrifted Magnolia stems, a few pumpkin picks, tea towels (a supreme weakness), a few of my Norden dishes, and old white washed basket, some tiny faux acorn’s, and the best candle on earth. I’d tell you all about it, but the ingredients are on back order, and it’s out of stock right now. And I wouldn’t want to tease you. It’s that good!!!!

I just checked my word count, and I’m way under yesterday. So I’m not fired. Yay. 

Having so many strong, everyday basics that I can enhance and embellish with seasonal extras makes decorating so much easier, and stress-free too! In the past I’d take every single things down. Clean. And then rebuild every spot in my home from the ground up with a whole new seasonal look. I want to stop here and say there is nothing wrong with that. I enjoyed doing that for many years. Prior to my knee problems, I was starting to lean towards simpler decorating, but since then, it’s been fully embraced. By both desire and circumstance. I think aside from my physical ability, my taste was already changing and I was craving less. How lucky am I that those two things align, and I don’t mind so much that I can’t do as much. In this respect at least. I’m choosing to look at that as a blessing.

Much love to all! Wishing you a beautiful season as we slide away from our longer, sunnier days, and into the cooler weather and the riot of color that the Autumn season holds! xo Shan 

PS: questions about anything you see? Comment or message me at foxhollowcottage@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to help!

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