Tag Archives: autumn

Encapsulating Autumn with Decor

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Seasonal decorating is a tradition many families will integrate into their homes.  When winter comes, the Christmas tree and lights go up, and when spring comes, flowers are planted around your house.  Autumn is a great season filled with holidays, festivities, and seasonal amenities which are fantastic to include in your home design.   

It’s also a great time to spice up your space with new floors and countertops. In fact, flooring and countertops can set the stage for your design. From hand-scraped to wire-brushed trends to marble looks, the design possibilities are endless in 2020. Plus, with innovations in the industry, you do not have to settle for only one type of flooring in your home.

We put together a list of five Autumn décor ideas you will want to include in your home to express your festive-side:

Plaid

Fall has a sense of being cozy when you are indoors and a sense of adventure when out and about.  Adding plaid blankets or a new area rug to your floors will give your house a nice warm and cozy feel.  You can try adding plaid designs outside through welcome mats, outdoor pillows, and blankets. 

Fall Plantation

Including fall harvest inside your home is another excellent way to make a statement.  Outside your home, you can add straw, autumn flowers, or corn stalks. Inside your home you can take these same elements and create an arrangement for your countertop to set the mood for fall.  Add pumpkins as a centerpiece on your table or you can even have a basket filled with fall foods like corn, squash, and baby pumpkins.  Including faux wheat is another excellent decor piece to add to vases or pitchers around your home.  Go a step further and add fall scents. You can incorporate things like cinnamon soaps or cider scented candles to help capture the fall feel.

However, if you notice that your countertops are not as pristine as they once were, you can have your countertops replaced. Currently homeowners love the natural, one-of-a-kind beauty of marble and quartz countertops. Marble countertops feature an authentic, beautiful veining that is unmatched by any other countertop. However, if you are looking for a more durable & low maintenance countertop, quartz is a great option, you can opt for beautiful quartz countertops. Quartz is composed of natural crystals, which makes it an insanely gorgeous countertop option. Plus, quartz countertops are perfect for homeowners who love to cook because they are scratch-, stain-, and heat-resistant.

Wood

Adding pictures with wood or incorporating wood into your home design can add to the overall warmth of a room.  You can start using your fireplace more and decorate your mantle with festive fall décor.  Put fallen leaves into picture frames and display the beautiful countryside colors of fall for an added touch.

Think Rustic

Rustic colors will make a substantial impact on your home’s decor and what you are trying to convey.  Adding rustic display items and antiques will help fully encapsulate the fall spirit.  Woven baskets are great to use in your home and can hold your plaid blankets.  Adding warm reds to your home through curtains, throw rugs, area rugs and floral arrangements can give a rural influenced aesthetic in the fall season. Try adding rustic display items as a centerpiece to your kitchen island!

Pillows and Pictures

A simple, cost-effective task you can add is swapping out your current pictures and pillows.  This is an easy tradition you can do for every season.  Plaids and stripes with autumn hues can help bring your room full circle, but you do not have to commit to the look year-round fully.

Autumn can have so many fun decorations to add to your home.  Try including some of these tricks and tips this fall season to your home.

How to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

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Fall is here, and there are many wonderful smells that the season has to offer. In fact, we love fall! It can be a great season where we get to spend time inside with our loved ones. From cozying on up by the fire to the colorful, warm colors on the trees, fall is a beautiful time year. Plus, it is always fun decorating for the season and having some of these natural fall fragrances around the house. In fact, fall has so many great scents; it can be hard to know how to capture them all in your home. To help, we put together a list of five ways that you can have your home smelling like autumn this season. Let’s take a look!

Apple Spice Air Spray

For bathrooms, consider getting an air spray can. Apple Spice is a beloved fragrance that is always adored by fall enthusiasts. Just be sure to keep it in a spot where guests can easily see it to use it if they desire.

Pumpkin Spice Air Diffuser

Pumpkin Spice is another highly-respected fall scent. Purchase an air diffuser and look for Pumpkin Spice. This fun fragrance will make your whole room feel like an autumn wonderland.

Cinnamon-Scented Pinecones

Are you looking for a centerpiece for your table? Consider a basket of cinnamon-scented pinecones. Not only do they look fantastic, but they smell great as well! Use them on your coffee table, end tables, fire mantle, or dining room table to incorporate fall décor throughout your space.

Maple-Scented Candles

Candles are an excellent way to add warmth and fragrance to the home. Maple-scented candles are a classic sweet-tooth lover’s dream. Add these around your house to infuse your space with the dreamy, sweet scent of sugar.

Fall Simmer Pot

Lastly, consider making a fall simmer pot. Add apples, orange peels, almond extract, cinnamon sticks, vanilla, and more. Add water and let the pot simmer to make your home smell delicious all day long. Continue to add water throughout the day, and do not let the ingredients burn.

Making fall scents can be fun. What are some of your favorite fall scent additions you use in your own home? Let us know below in the comment section.

How to Decorate for Fall

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Fall is a very festive season with some significant holiday décor. With Halloween being finished, it is time to start decorating for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a very welcoming holiday with décor that will work great the rest of the way through autumn. With its warm, earthy tones and welcoming scents, make people love having Thanksgiving décor in their homes. Here are some simple ways to prepare your house for the season and add some fun Thanksgiving décor:

Halloween

Halloween is a very festive time of the year. Halloween décor has surpassed even Christmas’ sales over the last couple of years. With this holiday quickly growing in popularity, it is not unusual to see some of this décor stay around even into November. While you may not be trying to keep up fake spider webs, a grim reaper statue, and fake tombstones in your yard, it is not uncommon for pumpkins, scarecrows, and hay barrels to remain up for the season.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday based on giving thanks. The traditional and iconic views of the first Thanksgiving dinner involve Pilgrims and Indians feasting together. You can find many Thanksgiving decoration ideas with pilgrims, Indians, and turkeys. These fun trinkets can be spread throughout your house with throw pillows, welcome mats, table cloths, and other pieces of décor. Have fun this autumn, and keep it festive by including some Thanksgiving pride.

Fall

Autumn is usually referred to as the change of the season. It is a very colorful time of the year as the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. The trees begin to shed their leaves, and the world begins to take a much more earthy tone in preparation for winter. Likewise, we can use some of these natural tones in our own décor. Consider some earthy tones and plaid textiles involving some fun warm colors like red and yellow.

Fall is time for friends and family, so get your home ready for hosting guests. This can mean fall décor can go from the exterior to the interior of your home. Adding a variety of fall flavor to your home can always be fun. What are some of your favorite fall décor? Let us know below in the comment section!

Three Ways to Incorporate Autumn Colors

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Every season offers a different color palette of beauty! Spring has many fun, bright pastel colors, summer is full of vibrant colors, winter has clean, crisp whites, and fall is full of rich, earthy tones. When you think of fall, you probably think of the colors the leaves turn on the trees. You have your reds, oranges, and yellows. However, fall has an extensive color palette to consider. You also have some very earthy tones that compliment the seasons as well, such as browns, beiges, and forest greens. Incorporating these colors into your seasonal design is a great way to take pride in the changing seasons. Here are three key ways to add autumn colors to your home’s design:

Textiles

Decorating your home for the seasons should not take you weeks to complete. Swapping out some textiles in your home is an easy way to adapt to seasonal décor. Consider pillowcases, towels, blankets, and rugs that can help incorporate some of the beautiful colors fall has to offer. Plaid is also a great pattern to consider using with these earthy tones to make a room feel more comforting and fall-oriented.

Exterior Accents

Color can be added externally through many natural remedies. Hay barrels, scarecrows, pumpkins, and cornstalks can all be facilitated to create fall scenery around your entrance. Be creative, but consider your weather. Not everything can stay outdoors during the cooler months. Think of the earthy tones and warm colors fall has to offer. Incorporating these in your exterior design is just one more nod to your seasonal pride!

Holiday Décor

There are two major holidays to consider during the fall season: Halloween and Thanksgiving. Both holidays have very distinct décor you can add to your home. Adding jack o’ lanterns and spooky décor is always fun in October. During November, you may want to incorporate cornucopias as a centerpiece, pilgrim and Indian décor, or cute turkey trinkets around your home. Just remember to enjoy the holiday season through decor, and always express yourself.

There are hundreds of ways to encapsulate the colors of fall. Remember, earthy tones and warm colors help keep the cooler months warmer. Make your home feel like a beautiful fall oasis by keeping the colors flowing throughout. For more ideas on how to decorate for the seasons, make sure to subscribe!

Bringing Autumn Home

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48429825 - autumn decoration accessories stored in a wooden compartment.

It’s challenging facing Autumn in Arizona if you’re originally from another part of the country. For many of us who originated in states with four seasons, this time of year always promised chillier weather, crisp evenings and the start of fall leaves turning.

But if you’re new to Arizona and used to digging out your sweaters and crockpots to make chili and your mom’s chicken soup, it may seem strange to face the fact that here in the middle of September we’re all still wearing shorts every day. But for those of us who have been here a while, we have developed some habits to make it feel at least a little bit like fall. Here are a few suggestions:

Showcase fall colors: Use table runners, placemats, or add some pillows and throws on your sofa to pull some of the colors of autumn into your home. Yes, you’ll still see bright greens outside, but you can add gold, rust and brown to your interiors.

Bring your autumn accessories out: Pick up a few small pumpkins, gourds, pine cones or whatever takes your fancy. If you want you can even go to a hobby shop for some branches with silk autumn leaves. Then have at it on coffee and side tables. Make your home look like you’ve been wandering outside and brought some gleanings in from the woods.

Fix some cocoa: OK, it may still be too warm for that chili recipe, but a mug of hot cocoa with a few marshmallows might be a nice preview of the treats you’ll enjoy in the cooler days to come. After all, our evenings really are starting to cool down. And eventually we will get to see some leaves turn and drop… in December!

Step into Autumn: Travel

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autumn-travelmorgue-webWhile we don’t get any fall colors in the Phoenix area this time of year there are a number of places to visit for a weekend or a day to get our fill of autumn without leaving the state. The trick is to go North and go up! Here are some recommendations.

Oak Creek Canyon: About 2 ½ hours from Phoenix, you can find yourself in the kind of world you expect to see in New England. Oaks and other deciduous trees change colors, and the Creek itself along with rocks makes the scenery spectacular in the fall. Colors are at their best from late October to early November, but you might want to make a call to see how they’re shaping up this year. And on your way in or out, be sure to stop at the roadside stand selling fresh squeezed cider to really capture the season!

Flagstaff:  Spend a weekend and take the time to ask locals for the best drives. Leaves generally peak up there in mid-to-late October. While you’re visiting, wander around Northern Arizona University’s campus to capture the mood of college students caught up in the semester.

Visit some of Northern Arizona’s ski areas: Altitude helps create color in the fall. Snowbowl road is one great choice. Also look into ski areas in the White Mountains. These options are more suited to a weekend trip than an overnight, but pre-snow prices can make the trip a bargain.

Check with AAA, the State of Arizona visitor’s bureau and chambers of commerce in some of our Northern towns to get more ideas. And get on the road to find your fall color!

Step up to Autumn: Food

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autumn-food-morgue-webEven though we’re still dealing with summer temperatures here in Arizona, autumn has arrived and it’s worth your time to remind your family that the season is changing. One great way to do that is by taking advantage of the bounty of fall foods available. Here are a few ideas.

Apples: They are coming off the tree right now which makes them extra fresh and well-priced. How about buying three or four varieties and holding an apple tasting? You can have baked apples or dip them in hot caramel for dessert.

Winter squash: The grocery stores are filled with a variety of fresh winter squash, providing a healthful and tasty side dish for almost any meal. Try cutting a butternut or other winter squash into half to one inch squares and roast to bring out the sweetness. Simply place the squash in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, butter, or a combination and add salt and pepper. For some extra sweetness add several tablespoons of maple syrup. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20-40 minutes at 350 degrees, stirring every 15-20 minutes and pulling out when the squash is soft and starting to brown. You may find that even your picky eaters will enjoy the rich caramel flavor.

Pumpkin bread: Recipes abound for pumpkin baked goods, and pumpkin bread is one of the best. Experiment with adding additional pumpkin for more flavor and richness, double the cinnamon and consider grating your own nutmeg to get the freshest flavor. Some people like to add raisins, nuts or even chopped dates before baking to add personality.

Pumpkin and pecan pies: Fall is the perfect time to introduce some special hot desserts. Both these pies require some baking skill, but one cook’s secret is to explore some store-bought options. One warehouse store in particular makes a pumpkin pie every year that can put even county fair winners to shame.

What other fall options are your favorites? How about baked apples or cider donuts? Maybe you have a frosted pumpkin bar recipe that you haven’t made since last autumn. Well, it’s time to pull out your favorites and bring the taste of fall into your home.

Step Up to Autumn: Décor

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autumn-decor-morguewebWe’re moving into autumn, but here in Arizona it still feels like summer. You can change your home’s mood to reflect the season even if outside we’re still dealing with temperatures in the 90’s. Here are some tips to give your home that fall flavor.

Wreaths: Start your autumn mood with a wreath on your front door. Many hobby shops and florists have options available for purchase, or make your own with dried flowers, leaves and seed pods. You can add multi-colored ears of corn and even small pumpkins to make it even more interesting.

Fabrics: Change out throw pillows and add lap quilts across the tops of sofas and chairs. Although you have no need for their warmth at this time of year, they still set the mood. There are lots of choices available in fall colors in almost any store. Consider some of the discount stores for a bevy of fall tones on a budget.

Accessories: Why not select one or two surfaces in your home to host a fall display? Start with an interesting branch from outside to integrate everything, add a few pumpkins – fabrics such as burlap help create the mood. Although out leaves aren’t turning here, you can pick up a few fall leaf branches or garlands at your nearest hobby shop to add the sense of autumn. Finish up with some acorns or nuts in their shells.

With a few strategic décor decisions, you can create an autumn mood in Arizona even if it still feels like summer.

Fall Tablescapes

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7843574_SAre you ready to bring your dinner table into autumn? If you’ve started making stews and homemade baked beans again because you just can’t wait any longer, how about making the table itself feel like fall?

Start with a walk through your neighborhood. Even desert landscaping may have some dried branches around that have fallen off a nearby tree. If you don’t find anything, visit your local hobby store or florist to pick up some dried branches, pinecones or any other dried plants or branches.

Next, wander through your kitchen for pottery vases or bowls that mirror the fall colors. Any natural-color basket or wood container would also work well.

Fall flowers can be found in every grocery and warehouse market. Consider sunflowers in traditional yellow or bright dark orange coupled with Japanese lanterns and fall berries in dark reds and greens. Fill in with mums, which come in every color of fall. Add a few of those dried branches and you have a floral masterpiece to echo the season.

Because fall is harvest time, you can add almost any combination of fruit or vegetables and have the mix work. Look for pomegranates, bosc or other yellow or brown pears, apples, and dark red or purple grapes.

Do you have a fall table runner? That’s a good place to start. Now, set all of your discoveries on the table and move things around until it looks right. Those branches may work well in a tall vase or pitcher, or maybe just lay them along the center of the table. Pile fruit in a bowl – a couple of apples, a pear, an eggplant and a few fall leaves and you have created the vision of a harvest feast.

Above all, enjoy the process. Celebrate the changing of the seasons with complementary changes in your home, and you can welcome autumn‘s bounty along with the cooling temperatures. For more ideas, we invite you to visit Fulton Home’s Pinterest board: Seasonal décor.

Bring Fall Colors into your Home

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14387115_SFor those of us who live in the Phoenix area, September is greeted with relief that the hot weather will soon be gone. But if you’re originally from the Midwest or anywhere further North, you may find yourself missing the magic of leaves that turn golden, red and every shade of fall.

If you fit into that category, you can drive up to Sedona or Flagstaff in a few weeks, or you can pull some of those colors into your home right now.

You might start by shopping your closets. All of those russet tones that seemed too hot to bear in June and July will look more appetizing now. Do you have a throw or two, a pillow or tablecloth in fall tones? Showcase them in your home for the next few months.

Discount and department stores are showing off fall colors. Picking up a few placemats or some serving containers shaped like pumpkins add a feeling of fall. Incorporate just a few fall shapes into your year-round accessories and create a sudden autumn impression in your home.

16396871_SDon’t forget grocery stores. Pumpkins of all sizes, gourds, apples and pears, and mixed nuts in their shells can be used to create a wonderful autumn centerpiece on your dining table or buffet. If you’re a sewist, fabric stores carry a rich selection of fall-toned fabrics which just beg to be made into a runner.

Finally, Pinterest has become a favorite place to grab images of fall. How about printing some spectacular photos of fall scenery and hanging them through the house, temporarily replacing some less seasonal art? Warehouse and office supply stores will make larger prints at a very reasonable cost.

We may not see fall leaves in metropolitan Phoenix, or at least not until December, but you can use these ideas to bring fall into your home even as temperatures still hover around 100 degrees.