Crisp mornings, falling leaves, shorter days, chilly evenings curled up by the firepit…it’s officially Fall!! Time to cozy up our homes.

Bringing in natural elements like pumpkins and greenery can cozy your home too. Read more about how I implement these items into my decor HERE.
Seasonal pillows & throws are essential to instantly transform the look of the room for the season. Even if you keep a neutral base, a pop of seasonal color instantly transforms the look.

Start with throw blankets & pillows in colors of the season.

Creating a cozy home doesn’t have to be hard. Throw blankets and pillows are always a great jumping off point for adding cozy vibes to any space. Start with the colors you love most then build from there. I typically keep a neutral base with my throw blankets and pillows then splash in seasonal colors to change the look. This not only cuts down on having a lot of excess items that need stored, but it really makes it effortless to add the seasonal, cozy touches. The pumpkin pillow pictured above is the only true seasonal pillow I have on my couch, but it easily makes a statement of the season. I love shopping at places like Homegoods and TJMaxx for pillows. They are very affordable which makes it easier on the budget to switch them out each season.

I use a large basket to store extra pillows and blankets in our living room. The accent “hello pumpkin” pillow in the basket is from Bullseye’s playground at Target, so adding this seasonal piece only cost $5. Success!!
Our pup sure knows how to get cozy. This view is from a couple of years ago. Same pillow as the last photo, but I pulled in some deeper fall tones into my decor that year.

You can’t go wrong with adding candles to cozy a space

Adding a candle to the side table makes this spot even more inviting.

A yummy smelling candle instantly makes a space feel cozy & inviting. My favorite candles are from Antique Candle Co. They are clean burning, last forever, (16oz. size has an average 80 hour burn life…woohoo!) and the scents are truly heavenly. I have never smelled a scent of theirs that I haven’t fallen in love with. My fave fall scents are Pumpkin Spice, Apple Butter, Vanilla Bean, Fall Harvest, and Warm Caramel Crumble.

If you’re worried about open flames, battery operated candles are a great option too. I love the warm cozy feel in the evening when the candles I have set on timers pop on and fill the room with soft glow of candlelight.

Bring the cozy vibes into the bedroom by switching out pillows and blankets to warm fall colors

This duvet cover from Pottery Barn is no longer available, but I love the warm colors in it. I pulled from those colors to add fall touches to cozy up our bedroom. A mustard colored throw blanket, pumpkin pillow and flax colored quilt compliment the colors in the duvet.

I know decorating for the season in a bedroom isn’t necessary, but boy is it fun! I added a few pumpkins and seasonal picks and stems to create an inviting fall look, without going overboard. The pillow and blanket on the bench are an easy switch each season to pull in the colors I’m using in my decor.

We have a simple white duvet cover that we’ve had on our bed for the last couple years. This duvet set is the one we previously used. I held onto it because I still loved it, but was ready for a change. It’s fun to pull out pieces that haven’t been used for awhile and fall in love with them all over again!

I hope this was helpful and inspired you to cozy up your home for fall. Thanks so much for stopping by today! See more fall inspiration in my post HERE and follow along on Instagram for more decor inspiration.

Cozy up your home for Fall

Fall has officially arrived!! Now it’s time to bring the outdoors in by incorporating the colors of the season into your home decor.

I created this tablescape two years ago. It totally gives me heart eyes when I look back at it. So much pumpkin yumminess!! I may have to recreate the look this year.

Pumpkins don’t just have to be porch decor. Bring those beauties inside!

When it comes to fall decor there are so many ways to cozy up your home. The beauty outdoors from the changing colors of the season is great inspiration for colors & elements you can bring inside. I chat about how to add cozy touches to your home with throw pillows, blankets & more here. For now, let’s focus on bringing in natural elements like pumpkins and greenery to take that coziness up a notch.

A beautifully colored Cinderella pumpkin is the perfect addition to this spot. A cozy throw and velvety pillow add texture to soften the look.

Of course the main natural element of the season in my opinion is pumpkins. With so many sizes and colors it’s easy to incorporate them into your decor. Even if you’re not a big fan of seasonal decor you can implement touches just by adding a couple of simple pumpkins to a shelf or table. There is a plethora of faux pumpkin options out there…fabric, wood, ceramic, foam, etcetera. They all make my heart go pitter-patter. Today though, I want to focus on the real deal grown on a vine cuties that I just can’t get enough of.

For my table this year I did a mix of real and faux pumpkins on one of our handcrafted long decorative trays available in our shop.

Just like us, pumpkins come in every shape, size and color you could dream of. The natural beauty of each ones imperfect perfection has me swooning every year around this time. When I enter the local grocery store, farm store or Lord help me, the pumpkin patch, it’s full on blackout mode. I can’t resist bringing ALL of those cuties home and finding a spot to let them shine.

On the shelf on our living room I decorated with a white pumpkin & an accent of seeded eucalyptus to give more interest to the vignette. Handcrafted wood lantern and wood & glass bead strand are available in our shop. Handcrafted corbels are the brackets for this shelf.

A simple mini white pumpkin can be used in a multitude of vignettes, so those are my number one suggestion if you’re just starting with adding in real pumpkins to your home decor.

A yummy fall candle, a seasonal bead strand and a white pumpkin pull this simple vignette together.
My kitchen counter staples are breadboards, antique white dishes & pitchers and seasonal touches. Here I added mini pumpkins and eucalyptus as my seasonal pieces. I also added one of our handcrafted wood pumpkins.
Obviously you can’t go wrong with a book, a candle and a bead strand. Here’s another vignette with those same decor items. Add a white pumpkin and seasonal floral touches to instantly give it fall vibes.
I love using white dishes to elevate items in my kitchen decor. Thrift stores are a great place to find antique and vintage dishes for a great price.
Okay, so apparently I have a candle obsession… I can’t help it, they smell soooo good!! Check out my fave candles here.
Look at the sweet curly vine still on this pumpkin stem…swoon!!

Bring in the pops of seasonal color

I tend to use a lot of neutral colors in my home decor, so I am mostly drawn to the white, pale blue and peach colored pumpkins. If you prefer a bit more traditional fall color go for yellow, orange or striped pumpkins. In the tablescape I created a couple years ago I mixed neutrals with the more traditional colors.

By mixing the traditional fall colors with softer pale tones in this tablescape it helped make the look blend well with my other decor.
Seeded eucalyptus is a great accent greenery. I place sprigs of it throughout my decor to soften the look & add an additional natural element.
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! Next to the stove I ground all the frequently needed items in a basket or on a tray. Here I added a mini pumpkin and some seeded eucalyptus to a vintage creamer. The whitewash pumpkin is an item we handcraft and offer seasonally in our shop.

Mix real and faux to add more interest to the space

In both floral arrangements and vignettes I like to mix real with faux to create interest and give a more realistic look. In many of my floral arrangements I use faux florals and real greenery to add more natural movement to the look. I do the same with my pumpkins. In areas where I use multiple pumpkins I mix real with faux because it adds more texture and realness.

For my table centerpiece I used a mix of real and faux pumpkins and gourds. Pop in sprigs of seeded eucalyptus to add more texture to the look. Can you tell which pumpkins are real?
Even the bedroom gets a little sprinkle of pumpkins. I sometimes like to use dried naturals in place of florals or greenery for fall. The double tassel bead strand here is a new style in our shop. I love the statement it makes with the oversized tassels and chunky beads.

This old champagne bucket (thanks mom!) is great for making seasonal floral arrangements. I implemented the colors in other areas of my home for fall to tie the look in with the room. I added seeded eucalyptus and silver dollar eucalyptus with the faux florals and dried barley to add natural movement. When it dries out it holds its shape pretty well. If you’re worried about it drying out you could add water depending on the vessel so the greenery stays alive longer. I’ve done this for a few arrangements in the past. The double tassel decor strand and handcrafted decorative tray are both available in our shop.

There you have it!! I hope this inspired you to think of real pumpkins as more than just outdoor decor. Bringing them inside to decorate with truly adds such beauty and texture to any space inside or out.

Happy Fall, friend!!

Bringing in natural elements to your Fall Decor

patriotic home decor for 4th of July and summer styling

Adding festive, patriotic touches to your home decor this summer can be both easy & inexpensive

I love adding seasonal touches to my home for every holiday. When it comes to summer decor I keep things pretty simple and let my plants and flowers be the stars of the show. As Fourth of July draws nearer though, I love pulling out pops of red white & blue! The shelves in my kitchen are my favorite area to decorate for each season, so they get a full transformation.

Go-to pieces for my kitchen shelves are a mix of Ironstone pieces, cutting boards, and greenery. I add in a few seasonal pieces to add a festive look.
When I style my shelves I always add layers to add interest and dimension to the space.
Did you know we have a shop where we sell handcrafted home decor items? Click the shop tab on our home page to check out the items we have to offer. Among the items we offer are our handcrafted decor bead strands. I love changing out my strands seasonally to add a pop of texture and color to my vignettes.
This 4th of July sign was made using an inexpensive canvas from Hobby Lobby. I painted it with red acrylic paint and used a chalk marker to add the message. A very easy way to add a seasonal touch!
Thrift stores and antique malls are my favorite spots to find beautiful antique dishes. They are great for using as kitchen shelf decor.

You don’t have to go all out with your seasonal decor. Simple changes can make a big impact

In the main living area things are kept easy by simply adding flags to my existing greenery & switching out the throw pillows and blankets. Of course decor bead strands always play a part in my decor, so those get changed out to some festive strands with pops of patriotic colors.

For this area the changes were very basic. I added a patriotic pillow to my basket and a flag in the vase of greenery
Mini flags are an inexpensive way to add instant festive touches to your decor

If you only do one thing to decorate for 4th of July put up flags

The number one tip I give when it comes to adding an instant festive touch to your home decor for the Fourth of July…flags!!! My motto is the more flags the better!! I typically buy my mini flags in a pack of 3 in the Target dollar spot. The larger size are very inexpensive as well. I pay $1-$3 for the larger size depending on where I’m shopping. The great thing about flags is they are the symbol for our country, so right away you associate them with Independence Day. Pop those bad boys in every plant, floral arrangement or vase you can find and show pride for the USA!

I love collecting antique milk glass and pitchers. They are the perfect addition to 4th of July decor

Gather red, white or blue home accent pieces and splash them into your vignettes

Another way to add some seasonal color is through dishes and accent pieces. I try to keep most of my home decor accents neutral so they can be versatile. When the base is neutral it’s easy to add pops of seasonal color. The red cake stand I used on my table can be used for 4th of July, Christmas or even Valentine’s Day. That pop of color draws the eye and can really make an impact among an otherwise neutral blend of items.

Milk glass, and antique pitchers & creamers are some of my favorite items to use year-round in my kitchen decor. They add interest while at the same time being versatile due to the neutral color. On my table I grounded the centerpiece with one of our handcrafted trays and layered red & white accents with some pops of greenery and a few flags. I love incorporating my antique dishes into vignettes in the kitchen, so I added a stack of antique plates to add some height. The touch of gold on the rim ties in with the gold on the flags.

Over the years I’ve gathered a few small signs to add into my decor for the Fourth of July. I love shopping at Hobby Lobby after the holiday is over and snagging items like signs and small accent pieces at great sale prices. Etsy has some unique and beautiful patriotic signs as well.

Once the holiday is over the transition back to neutral decor is easy.

I take down my patriotic decor about a week after 4th of July. When I’m ready to change things up it will be as simple as removing the flags and pulling out the pops of seasonal color.

The blue and white beads in this decor strand work great for 4th of July. They are very versatile though & can be used all season long
An inexpensive throw pillow and flag were the only items added to this space to switch it up for the 4th of July. The bead strands can be left, or switched out after the holiday.
I love adding layers to my vignette with old books. I have a variety of colors to switch out for the seasons. Here I added the red book and flag to for a patriotic touch. When the holiday is over I can remove the flag from the plant and switch out the book. Easy-peasy!
For this vignette the decor bead strand has a pop of blue that can extend through summer. I will take away the flag and change the message on my chalkboard and viola, this space is back to a simple summer look.
Little white pitchers and cutting boards are a staple in my kitchen decor. When the time comes to take down my patriotic decor I’ll simply pull the flags out of these pitchers. The neutral base will be great as is, or I may add a seasonal floral to one of the pitchers.

My main focus for this post was to show how simple it can be to add festive touches for 4th of July.

You don’t have to get super fancy or spend a lot of money. Using what you already have on hand and adding in just a few seasonal pieces and flags can totally transform your space. Have fun adding mini flags to your outdoor space to pull the festivities outdoors! I love adding mini flags to all my planters and a bunting above our garage too.

Happy Decorating!!

Angie

Easily add patriotic flair to your home for 4th of July

Styling shelves can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be…

When inspiration struck to decorate my kitchen shelves for Easter/Spring I started with a jumping off point of knowing I would use these precious bunny plates from Pottery Barn

Shelf styling is a common struggle when it comes to home decorating. A blank, flat surface with a million possibilities…where do you start?? Let me bring you inside my decor brain. (You’ll have to push aside the faux florals and bead strands to find a seat.😉) An empty shelf is a canvas ready to be brought to life by your creativity and personal style. Have fun with it! To get started choose a theme or color scheme. Are these shelves going to be left the same for awhile or changed out seasonally? Either way, start by getting a plan together for the elements and the colors you want to feature.

The idea I had in mind when decorating my shelves last summer was to bring the feeling of the outdoors in. I used terracotta pots and greenery with some woods and whites to ground the look.

Start with a blank slate

The first thing I do after determining the look I’m going for on my shelves is give myself a blank slate. Previously I had my shelves styled for Valentine’s Day, so first I clear off the existing decor. There are some neutral items I use as a base layer on my shelves quite a bit, so those items stay close at hand. Give the shelves a good dusting, then we’re ready to create or masterpiece!!

As I clear the shelves I group items into categories. The seasonal items I’m done with go into a group and then get cleared off my work surface to make room for the new items coming in.

Now let’s add a base layer

The shelves in my kitchen are not very wide, but that doesn’t stop me from adding layers of decor to create visual interest and texture. I start by placing the base layer, which I’d say are the anchor pieces for the shelves. I tend to stick with a pretty similar base with my shelf decor. Cutting boards, antique Ironstone pieces I pick up from the thrift store or antique mall, corbels, etc… To get started I place the anchor pieces where I think they’ll look best, like pictured below, but let’s face it… they will probably be shifted quite a bit as I continue to add elements to the shelves.

I start with a neutral base layer. Since these shelves are in the kitchen I typically decorate them with items used in the kitchen.

Time to start adding our Seasonal elements

The second layer I add is the seasonal or themed elements. I’m styling the shelves for the upcoming spring & Easter season, so I’m bringing in bunnies and blooms. When I looked through my spring decor I knew my bunny plates would be the key pieces that I’d be working around. I have the matching dinner plates so I decided to try to tie those in as well.

When I’m layering plates on my shelves I use drawer gripper to hold them in place. I cut small squares and place it under the edges.
Here you can see that I layered a cutting board in front of the decorative metal tile piece. I then added the floral plate in front of that. Layers upon layers!!

Time for some florals

Now that we have our anchors and themed layers in place let’s bring in a bit of texture with greenery and florals. These real touch faux tulips (pictured above) are one of my favorite florals to use in my spring decor. I placed some in a few white creamers I’ve collected over time and as you see they become an added layer to our shelves.

I add a touch of faux greenery in front of the plate to add a bit of texture and movement to the space.
This sweet little vase was a gift from my godparents a few years back. I love adding it to my shelves, but it needs a bit of height added so it can be seen better. I use tiny wood slices to help raise up small items. I found the wood slices at Hobby Lobby.
Depending on the season, try adding different colors and textures of greenery. I added this lighter wispy greenery to a small green vase I picked up from a garage sale a few years back. I placed it in front of the white corbel to help it stand out.

Now for the final touches

To finish things off add in the small details. Since I’m decorating the shelves for Easter of course I decided to bring in some eggs. Find little pockets of space and layer the small detail items in. Add in other details for texture. For this shelf style I added decor bead strands and nests.

Using different sizes and colors helps add to the interest of the decor.
To help this aquamarine glass bead strand stand out , I draped it over an old spindle I found at an outdoor flea market.

Creating a space you love takes time

Don’t worry if after you finish your space you aren’t in love. Look it over and see if there are pieces that need to be removed or switched around. It usually takes a few tries before I have things just how I want them. There’s also a mess to be made when it comes to decorating. Let it happen… there’s beauty in the chaos, and you can clean it up after you have the project complete.

This is what my countertop looked like as I was decorating my shelves. A swirl of cast aside items I decided not to use, extra items that I pulled out thinking they might get used, my coffee (typically forgotten and cold by the time I’m done) and random greenery.

Something I didn’t touch on was tying in areas that are close by. For example, I have a cake stand beside my coffee maker. Take elements used on your shelves and tie them into nearby areas as well.

I used a white pitcher with more of the faux tulips to tie into the area I used them on the shelves. I also added a bunny, nest, eggs, and decor beads to tie the space together.

Now it’s your turn…

Okay, now tell me, did this help you gain confidence in styling your shelves? I hope you have pulled some inspiration to use these tips for styling shelves or a table top in your home. The key is to have fun and not let it get overwhelming. Start with your theme and build from your anchor pieces. You’ve got this!!

Tips for Styling Kitchen Shelves

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