Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Simple and Sweet Fall Decorating

We spent yesterday painting the outside of the new doors (along with caulking and painting some peeling siding, because I’m kind of a maniac once I get going) but I thought it would be fun to go from sharing something kinda big that happened around the house (Jean-Luc the french door) to something smaller and totally free. Sometimes it’s the little things – and you guys have been asking for some fall-decor-related posts for a while now. So remember our old kinda minimalist mantel in the kitchen? Well, I decided to slap some fall into it and spend zero bucks. Call it a Use Whatcha Got Challenge if you will.

3 Things Mirror ReHung After

And why not do it on video, just for kicks? Nothing about this video is set up (I didn’t have the arrangement figured out before I hit record or anything) – I just put a bunch of potentially fall-ish items on the counter and moved things around until I liked them. So I thought it might be fun for folks to see the magic. And by magic I mean “me walking back and forth fifty times with different things and stepping back to see what stuck. Really, that’s my method.

Oh but the video cuts off a little bit at the end (the camera goes to sleep after 20 minutes of filming, and it took about 22 to finish) so it missed the last-minute addition of a bunch of corks to the tops of those topiary pots, which I thought were cute and fall-ish. So random, right? I swear the put-things-everywhere-and-see-what-you-like method can lead to the weirdest things, like corks on faux topiaries (aka fauxpiaries) but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Warning: the music in this video might make you want to dance.

You’ll see from the video that after starting out by putting a bunch of stuff on the mantel I stepped back and realized it was all really cluttered and small scale (aka: ugly without an alibi) so I just course corrected as I went and brought in some larger scale items (like the topiaries) to help with the balance. So it’s nice to just piddle and switch things up and see where you end up.

Fall Mantel7

And now for some detail shots. Along with the corks in the fauxpiaries, I also liked the little fake pumpkins and gourds in a hurricane (found in my Halloween tupperware bin in the attic from last year) and the sweater vase that always hangs out on our dining room built-ins along with a bronze paperweight to top it off (both of those guys are from HomeGoods a while back).

Fall Mantel3

In the middle I added my 50 cent (not the rapper) thrift store leaf plate that I mentioned here along with some super old printing block letters from this flea market adventure back in 2008.

Fall Mantel4

The other side has more subtly fall-ish items like gold boxes, a Thanksgiving-ish wishbone (from Marshall’s last year), a white painted pumkin that I DIYed back here, and more corks in the topiary for that cozy fall texture.

Fall Mantel5

In the end I love that I used things we had and only spent around twenty minutes on it, but I get to enjoy it for a good month or two as the temps cool and it starts to actually feel like fall around here. Three cheers for sweater weather.

Fall Mantel6

What has happened for the past day since I did it is that I forget that I did it and every time I walk into the kitchen I smile a little when I see it. Like the fireplace is saying “Surprise! It’s fall!” and I’m all “What? It is?! Sweet. I like the tableau.” Yes, sometimes I use fancy words like tableau when I’m fake-talking to my mantel.

And just because I was still in the fall mood, I decided to turn my attention to the nearby console table in the hall and continue my makeshift “Use Whatcha Got Challenge” over there. So here’s what it looked like before I got my fall-hyper mitts on it.

Fall Mantel8

And here it is now:

Fall Mantel9

Nothing too crazy, but it definitely feels more fall-ish to me. Here were my ingredients:

  • some weeds from our side yard (I envisioned some orange and red leafy branches but none of our trees have turned yet, so yellow weeds growing in the wild side area of our house worked)
  • a bunch of corks that I added to the vase before I added the water and the weeds
  • a funny little thrift store bird that I got for 10 cents almost a year ago

Fall Mantel10

I actually bought him to use in some book styling shots that we took back in Jan/Feb, so you’ll see his cute face in the book too (feel free to play a little game of Where’s Waldo – yes, I have just named the bird Waldo so that makes sense).

Fall Mantel11

The new fall console + the new french doors = happy momma. And happy Waldo. And happy Clara (she loves looking at Waldo – and so far there is no desire to Hulk-smash him, which is awesome).

Fall Mantel12

What have you guys been up to in the vein of seasonal switcheroos? Anyone else trying to use what you already have around (both in terms of weeds from outside and items you’ve collected over time like corks and ceramic birds?). Do tell.

Comments

  2. Mandy says

    Hey, I was wondering, do you guys have anything hanging on/decorating your fridge? Our fridge is a disaster area and was looking for some ideas.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Nah, we keep the fridge completely clear just because it feels cluttered whenever we put stuff up there (and we have tons of photos and art hung in the hallway frame wall, the laundry room, etc).

      xo
      s

  3. Meredith says

    I love using corks for decorating! My BF and I save all of ours and we have a ton of them. When we need to get rid of some we just take them to a cork recycling box. It’s pretty cool, restaurants and retailers around Charlottesville have cork recycling drop-boxes through the Re-cork Cville program (http://www.recorkcville.com/). I’m surprised they haven’t expanded to Richmond!

    Reply

  4. Lindsay B says

    Haha…Jean-Luc. Is that Star Trek inspired?

    Love the fall decor! I think I’ll go pick up some gourds to spruce up my mantle as well!

    Reply

  6. Elizabeth says

    I did a double take when you said “so it’s nice to just piddle…” so I had to look it up. I was only familiar with the second definition! :)

    pid·dle? ?[pid-l] verb (used without object)
    1. to spend time in a wasteful, trifling, or ineffective way; dawdle (often followed by around ): He wasted the day piddling around.
    2. Informal . (especially of children and pets) to urinate.

    Reply

  7. Jenny says

    I’m so glad I’m not the only one that re-arranges random items on my shelves a hundred times, take a step back and stare at the result for a while, and then re-arrange it again…Does work great with a sped up video though! Love your mantel-piece Sherry!

    Reply

  8. Koliti says

    Love how your mantel-scape and console-scape is your style with a cozy playful nod to fall.

    At work we have a black and white little waiting room. While the goal is to run on time (hopefully no more than a rare 5 minute wait, awesome for a doctor’s office) and not to have the patients actually spend time there – the space needs some oomph. I’ve found the best way to add some color is to make a garland for the 5 foot long mirror in the seating area. For fall, I made a garland out of fabric scraps torn into 1″ x 6″ strips tied with a simple ‘right over left’ method onto a length of kraft-paper-twist (or you could use rope). And ta-da! The fabric strips have the full-spectrum of fall color (teal blues, greens, reds, oranges, yellows, raspberry, purples) and lots of texture without being traditional fall decor.

    And best of all it was free! Already had all the delicious batik fabric scraps that a friend gave to me after she made a quilt and the paper-twist – for years hanging out in my craft stash awaiting this happy fall incarnation.

    Reply

  10. MK_Marie says

    I super love the fall-y goodness, but what caught my eye more were those GORGEOUS printing block letters, I know I’ve seen them from an older post but I love that you’ve incorporated them in a completely new design. I’ve printed using the metal version of those letters on a gigantic press and I always had to resist the urge to kidnap a couple letters because of how pretty they were! Awesome job you guys!

    Reply

  12. Rebecca says

    We were having some people over and I thought I’d bring in some clippings from an as-yet-unidentified plant on our side yard (they came with the house, which we’ve only been in for a few months.) Oh boy was that a mistake. I still don’t know what they are, but they had a horrible stench! Haha. Almost like a burning smell. As soon as I brought them into the house I realized the smell and they went right into the green bin. I learned that if my plants are unidentified, they at least need to pass a smell test before being brought inside. ;)

    Reply

  13. Plein Jane says

    Nothing says fall to me like Japanese lanterns. You can get them fresh at places like Whole Foods. After the season, you can dry them yourself and use them year after year. (You do have to be careful about storing them, though, since they’re kind of fragile.) And they provide some height on the mantle, which I like.

    We also use corks inside two small clear-glass lamps on our dining-room buffet. In the fall, I also like to put a small silver bowl of pomegranates and clementines there. I love the color of them, and they are seasonal without being obvious.

    Reply

  14. maribel says

    Will you be doing any Halloween decor? Will Clara dress up this year? Regarding Sue P”s comment, I think she’s talking about your everyday time decor, I think you shared in post that you store that type stuff in a cabinet.

    Reply

  15. Alice says

    I just wish I had a fireplace and mantel to dress up for the different seasons and/or holidays!

    Something I thought of when looking at your mantel, if you ever wanted to change it, a more rustic mantel similar to your stained desktop (which by the way is my favorite DIY project of yours!) would look fabulous!

    Reply

  16. Anna P says

    Loved,loved,loved seeing the process! I always wonder how people finally end up with what’s on their shelves, so thanks for the glimpse into all your variations before the final choice. It’s making me want to go through my bins and sprinkle a little “fall” around!

    Reply

  19. Annie Reindl says

    Cute! I liked watching the speedy fast Sherry! It was fun to see and then I was like- “no, I liked that there!” but then I saw what you did and liked that too :)

    Also, in my family, the word “piddle” means you peed in your pants a little….so, hopefully you’re not piddling around too much! :) LOL

    Reply

  20. Louise says

    Sherry – I love the wishbone! and i love birdie, what is the white tripod shaped white ornament on your console table called? i like that too oooh and one more thing, what are your ceramic drum tables called so I can do an internet search, i’m nicking that idea off ya! ;)

    Reply

  21. Chana says

    Here in freezing cold Manitoba, Canada (literally freezing. It’s been below zero with the wind chill for the past week. We even had a blizzard last Friday!) it’s feeling a bit more like Christmas than fall, but I’ve done my best to get into the season – burlap table runners, candles, switching out sea shells for pebbles and pumpkins. In fact, today I picked up a pack of decorative mini pumpkins and they’re sitting on my kitchen table! I wouldn’t say that the arrangement is finished, but considering the fact that I’m working mostly with what I have, and what I have isn’t very much, then I like it. :)

    Reply

  25. Amber says

    I finally decorated the mantel in our master bedroom. Haven’t blogged about it yet, but I loved tinkering and seeing how it evolved. Also it was nice to put some of my decor that’s been sadly looking for a home in a spot finally!

    I love the love in letterpress blocks, so classic. I bought some huge metal letters from a flea market for our living room mantel to spell…wait for it…love. That mantel is just too wide and deep for normal styling.

    http://www.willscasa.com/2012/07/love-sign-complete/

    Reply

  26. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    I’ve got a question for you! How do you keep all the little things (e.g. the bird, the wishbone and anything else you don’t already have out but maybe have hidding in the playroom?) organized so that you can find them and pull them out to use later? I always forget what I even have (that could have something to do with the total lack of organization) and never use it again. Does that happen to you?

    Reply

  27. Ann M says

    I never really got into doing things like this until I brought in some branches from the woods and end up decorating them for the seasons! Just last night, I finished hanging felted wool acorns in a range of browns, taupes and greens and they make me SO happy! I think I kinda’ feel like a little kid in school where the teacher would decorate the bulletin board for every season. :)

    Reply

  28. Karen says

    Thanks Sherry! I was just online looking at Fall Decorations, and was mentally tallying up all the purchases I would have to make… now I am totally challenged to rummage through my home and “use-whacha-got” YHL style!!

    Reply

  31. Val says

    So cute! I love Senor Waldo…why is that putting anything under a cloche instantly makes it look 10x cooler?

    My mantle is always a huge challenge. It’s super long (6 feet, maybe?) and really shallow (like 10″ – 12″). So everything always looks really piddly and puny up there. It is currently sporting a charming arrangement of new contact lens solution and out-of-rotation dog toys…wah wah waaah.

    Reply

  35. Emily F says

    Hah! That video cracks me up! Soooo many trips back and forth! Maybe when people ask you what your exercise regimen is, you should say “decorating”. :) And I love the Burger seal of approval. :) Now I’m anxious to get home and put up my fall decorations! :)

    Reply

  36. Kimberly @ PaintedLoveBlog says

    That’s what I love about the different seasons…changing up the seasonal decor around the house!

    I know you’ve had your stools for a little while now but I just have to tell you that I LOVE them!!! Your kitchen looks amazing!

    Reply

  39. Phuong says

    Glad to see how many different things you did, Sherry! I always thought that you get everything perfect the first time you stage things!

    Reply

  40. jeannette says

    love to observe your process, and you hooked me on it while styling your stoveside shelves.
    emily henderson lays down some principles here you seem to have by instinct and yet also not, expressing your own style.
    http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/styling-101-how-to-style-your-mantel.html
    i think she may actually refer in this video to the japanese principles of asymmetry via odd numbers, but if not, i learned it off a chef who used it as a principle for garnishing plates. i think it’s called fukinsei, and you def got it.

    Reply

  41. amanda says

    So what’s the weather like there? I have to live vicariously through bloggers who live in states with nice weather. The high is 90 degree here today, real bummer as I LOVE Fall but we rarely get a nice full Fall here in TX (it was in the 70s for 2 glorious days, but that just makes it worse when it warms again). I would love to move to a more northern state, just not sure I could move so far from my family :(

    The new french doors are nice, but do you not get bugs in your house without the screens? If I so much as open my door to let the dog out, I get a new bug each time and it drives me crazy!

    Is that a sweater vase on your mantel? Where did you get that? I am obsessed with sweaters, I saw a coffee cup like that once, but passed because I have to stop buying coffee cups since I don’t even drink coffee at home that much.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s pretty fall-ish today! Maybe around 65 degrees with leaves starting to fall… come to Richmond! It’s so nice right now! As for the bug thing, I don’t leave the doors thrown open like that, we just slip in and out like we used to when they were sliders (the old screen didn’t work either, so we’re just used to opening the other doors around the house with screens and leaving that door alone. As for the sweater vase, it’s from HomeGoods a while back. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  42. sara says

    Your mantel looks festive. I like the corks and the wooden words.

    I cut cattails and some kind of wild yellow flower/weed (actually, kind of like your flower) out of the ditch a week ago, (we were driving through the country side, slammed on my breaks, jumped out…kind of thing). Managed to get them in a wooden vase and on the mantel, but its not completed.

    Reply

  44. emilymarion says

    This was so helpful! I liked watching where your little globe kept ending up & then not even making the cut :)

    For our wall collage I added pics of my husband & I in childhood costumes. We used an iphone app Pocketbooth to make a black & white Halloween photo strip (they mail the strip to you for $1.99) and framed it. I made a black & white inkblot painting that may end up staying year round and I splurged on a $1 bag of spider rings, cut the ring off, glued them to burlap and threw them into an ikea shadowbox. I love it! So fun and everything was under $3!

    Speaking of wall collage, the gray picture, written in script, just above the console to the right. Are those wedding vows? A sentimental letter? Just something fun?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That was something someone gave to us a while back written out in caligraphy (from a dude! he was amazing at it!). It’s just a sweet thing that talks about things to be grateful for and all that. Sweet.

      xo
      s

  45. Stephanie says

    This makes me want to start decorating for fall! Maybe that’s what I’ll do this weekend.

    What? What’s that you say? I should probably just DECORATE period since I still haven’t done that? Hehe.

    The most exciting thing I’ve done this week is make a chocolate chip cookie in a mug. Yes, it was pretty exciting actually.

    I’m hyper. Too much coffee.

    Reply

  46. Jimena says

    I love your blog!!!,, you have a very very nice taste for everything!!! Love your house and how you keep it so clean always!!!! I have a 22months baby and a 3 month baby so any tip will be appreciated on how to keep the house as beautiful as yours!!!
    Ps, I live in Miami, are you coming for your book tour???

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Woot! We’ll be headed to Miami for the tour! If you click the book button on our sidebar there’s more tour info. As for tips for keeping the house looking nice with little ones, we’re huge basket fans (we toss all of the piles of toys into baskets after Clara goes to bed and it almost feels like we have our house back- haha). Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  47. Lesley says

    So cute! I am eating lunch at my desk and I almost spit it all out laughing twice. First one, the word “futz” at the beginning of the video. HA-LARIOUS! Also, when you say that there has been no desire to “Hulk-Smash him” I couldn’t get myself together! Thanks for the laughs and super cute inspiration for my mantle at home!

    Reply

  49. Vicki says

    Hi guys, Love the fall decor. I would get so cranky trying to get those corks out of that bottle under your gallery wall…all the more power to ya though. It would be along the same lines as trying to get stickers off of stuff…cranky, cranky, cranky :)
    Looking forward to fall decorating this weekend.

    Reply

  50. Mindy says

    I’m the queen of freebie seasonal decorating. I especially like the corks in the clear vase. I think that’s my favorite part.

    I just did a similar post using the, use what ya’ve got method, including snipping from the garden. http://rindymae.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-in-house.html#

    And on a sidenote, I’m excited to hear you’ll be back in Portland on the grand tour…although my yard crashing idea ain’t gonna cut it for Oregon in January. Booooo
    Yard Crashers: The Dormant Series? lol Well you’re welcome to come by for hot chocolate anyway. :o)

    Reply

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