Autumn & Halloween Vignettes at Home
While away in Italy on our anniversary trip, the weather at home certainly changed to feel very fall-like. We arrived home to temperatures that were at least 30 degrees cooler than when we had left. This welcomed change of season certainly put me in the mood to make some small changes at home over the weekend. I eagerly swapped out our textiles, reworked the front porch for autumn, and styled some spooky apothecary type curiosities for Halloween. We’re hosting our annual Halloween (also my birthday) party again this year, so I do like to consider that when decorating. This year I kept things pretty simple… cozy pillows & throws, plenty of candles, fall florals & branches, pumpkins, and I also brought out a few more lamps. Click through to see some snippets & details of our home feeling a bit more seasonally appropriate. Cheers to September, October, and the spooky autumn days ahead!
It’s crazy to think three years has passed since we replaced our front door. That made a huge impact in regards to the aesthetic of our home exterior. Our front porch is always the first place I begin when decorating for fall… probably because it’s the most festive and feels like a fun tradition. It pretty much looks the same as it did last year. I’ve grown to like the elegance of oversized mums in my pedestal planters, simple pumpkins, and candles in glass lanterns.
This year, I swapped my real candles for these battery powered ones the are set on a timer. They’re not quite as elegant, but they’re definitely far more safe, and I like the ease of setting the time once for the season, then forgetting about them. They come on at seven in the evening and flicker until about ten before turning off on their own. They really add charming ambiance, and still have a nice warm glow!
Come Halloween, I always let my good friend Dru take over our porch and front yard. We’ve known each other since we were kids. Humble friend brag, he’s in cinematography and production and an Emmy-winner, at that! Since we’ve been hosting Halloween the past few years, he likes to go all out for our annual party… think fog machines, special effects lighting, animatronics, projectors, synchronized music, the whole nine yards. It’s wild- and a little scary, to be honest… but what’s Halloween with a little haunt? Here’s to hoping we don’t give the neighborhood kids nightmares. I’ll definitely document it this year, so you can see how next level everything looks. This year our theme is “Classic Halloween”, and we’ll all be dressing as the standard monster mash characters- like Frakenstein, vampires, mummies, ghosts, etc. Emmett and I will be going as vampires, to recycle old costumes we have. Anyyyway…
My vibe is most certainly not all the scary horror things, as you already know. For me, fall is about participating in all the things I love about the season… gathering with friends, making fall foods we look forward to, enjoying the change of seasons & cool weather, and admiring the fiery foliage against the mountain landscape. It’s a magical time of year here, but then again- I’m a Scorpio and I adore Scorpio season. Inside, I kept things easy. The mantel is the next vignette I tackled…
I tend to stick to apothecary type Halloween items (in moderation) and standard simple fall decor (branches, a warmer color palette, candles, etc).
I gather up things I already own and display & style them in a different way this time of year- one that feels more interesting for Halloween. I also like to pull dark monochromatic items for a spooky look.
Foraging the backyard also comes in handy… I’m glad I procrastinated on emptying the dead florals in my window boxes. Ha! Almost anything looks cool inside a cloche- a very specimen or precious type feel.
You know I love a sculptural hand! This one floats around my house year round, but is especially fun to style for Halloween. Funny story though- Crosby is scared of it. I had it on our coffee table and ended up having to move it because he refused to walk through the living room to go outside. Ha! Doodles seem notoriously terrified.
I also like incorporating natural materials into my Halloween vignettes… things like dried florals & branches, horn, bone inlay, geodes & crystals, etc. They take on a different aesthetic this time of year for a chic look.
Of course candles are a must for the fall and winter seasons. I always add more to my collection this time of year, along with the accessories that accompany them: unique match strikes or matchbooks, pedestals, candleholders, wick trimmers, etc.
I also switched out some of my table lamps. As evening makes its arrival earlier and earlier, I prefer switching on lamps and sconces as opposed to overhead lighting. It just makes everything feel cozy, warm, and inviting.
Fragrance is another area I pay extra attention to during the fall & holiday months. I’ve been switching my summer scents for earthy and masculine fragrances that accompany the season: vetiver, oud, leather, musk, spiced aromas, etc. I still love my porcelain floral diffuser (it’s cedar wood & musk scented)… isn’t it pretty? I need to pour some more oil in! This has lasted me months, but it’s ready for a refill.
I’ll quickly take you into the kitchen… I didn’t do any fall decorating in here. I did replace my artwork with the pieces we bought in Italy, but aside from that- I think cooking fall favorites, using seasonal ingredients, sipping warming beverages like spiced cider, mulled wine, hot coffee, and smoked cocktails make this space feel extra special this time of year. I guess it’s more about embracing the season from a culinary and gathering perspective that gives me the warm & fuzzies in our kitchen. I basically love it year round! You know I’ve already started baking pumpkin treats!
I did snag a moss topiary from the shop, which I think works well for any season. It’s always nice to add something with a little greenery or life to a space.
I’m ready for fall festivities, to eat seasonal food, transition my wardrobe, watch some (not too scary) movies, and begin wearing my sweaters & boots again. Cheers to autumn and the fun that comes along with it! What are you looking forward to? Does your home feel like fall right now? Be sure to check back on Wednesday- Peggi is sharing a fantastic post on cloisonné! If you’re not familiar, you’re in for a treat. It’s absolutely beautiful. Here’s to a good, productive week ahead… and enjoying these cooler temperatures.