Beginning to Fall into Autumn: 3 Ways to Ease-In to a New Season

These last couple of weeks I have had more people than usual thinking I am crazy because I have been posting things about autumn!  Now, I admit I am an early decorator (I like to enjoy my holidays and seasons for as long as possible) and fall is my absolute favorite.  I just love sweater weather, hot tea, and all the leaves turning into earthy, warm hues! So yes, the shop is already an autumn wonderland! However, I understand that some people may want to wait until the weather drops below 80 to fully indulge, which is why I wanted to share three quick tips for falling into fall – without having to fully commit to the season!

Switch Out Your Floral Accents. The first thing I find myself doing when preparing for a seasonal change is changing up the florals and greenery around my space. I have bud vases and containers galore and they are the perfect vessels to switch up every season for a new look! Small changes can make a big difference! Change out vibrant sunflowers for fall sunflowers with a dusty hue and antiqued feel or switch bright green boxwoods for cranberry boxwood sprays can to bring in the warmer tones we love during the fall months.! I also love incorporating traditional elements like acorn branches and wheat (we are right next to the wheat state after all!) to my displays to start bringing in hints of fall without going straight to fall leaves. Looking for more floral options? Try orange Allium or Wild Lantana bunches for fall hues that pop in any arrangement! 

Refresh Your Vignettes and Mantles.  Since we are easing into a new season, there is no need for a complete overhaul all at once (unless that is your style – in which case go for it!). Start by playing with smaller vignettes and mantles.  Here at the shop, we mixed springy green and our year-round favorite classic blue and white ginger jars with pops of orange, yellow and a pumpkin or two to start the transition on one of our mantles.  It creates a soft look and provides a nice mix of seasonal elements.   Warm metals are great, versatile materials to mix into your displays for a trans-seasonal look.   I also like to pop a few whimsical items in to my groupings, like owl figurines, glass pumpkins and perhaps even a mischievous squirrel or two! This takes a plain bookshelf or tray display into fall without bombarding your space with seasonal-specific décor.

Revamp Your Textiles. One of my favorite things to change up during a transitional time is my textiles, especially this time of year when I can highlight all my beautiful plaid fabrics. I use plaid year-round because I am obsessed, but I would consider fall and winter to be the official seasons of plaid here in the Midwest. From pillows and throws, to tabletop accessories, to baskets and back around to my bedroom décor, there is always a place for festive textiles! You might be surprised what a few changes to your fabric accents can do – it can feel like a whole new space!

While you might not be ready for a full dive into autumn yet, (I wouldn’t blame you since we had 90° weather just last week) you can always get your fix here at Nell Hill’s! We are so excited about our upcoming Fall Fanfare Open House happening the weekend of September 6-8th. Mary Carol and I have a lot of fun activities, daily drawings and treats lined up all weekend long! We will have live fall floral basket demonstrations on Friday and Saturday and have special guests Pickwick & Co’s Patrick and Steve coming on Sunday. They are so talented and such a delight to learn from (plus, I hear they might be bringing some extra special goodies with them 😉). I can’t wait for you to see all the fall fun in the shop and to show a sneak peek of our upcoming holiday looks! If you plan on coming let us know on our Facebook event page here! Until then – happy decorating!