I’m decorating with neutrals this fall.

Please act shocked.

But here’s the thing—just when you think you might have me, myself and my fall decorating figured out?  I’m throwing a curveball.

This is a new house and a new fall and so I’m changing it up a little.  The back of the house—the kitchen, the living room, the staircase, the office, the laundry room—will be all neutral all the time.

But the front of the house?  The living room and the dining room?

I’m decorating those in brilliant blues and reds and autumn orange.

Party in the front.

Business in the back.

My house is officially a reverse fall mullet.

I’m in the middle of decorating and I’m showing off all the fall next week.

So today is all about where I got my inspiration.

Some of it came from Joanna Gaines and Pinterest and the pumpkin patch and the leaves outside my window and this Nashville showhouse that I photographed a while back.

Here are my favorite neutral decorating ideas for fall.

1. Eucalypus, eucalyptus, eucalyptus

I bought mine at Trader Joe’s.  They have an awesome daily stockage of greenery.  I love this idea from the showhouse of placing Eucalyptus in an urn and stacking flat white pumpkins on top.  My plan is to use fresh eucalyptus and let it dry in place.

Urn + pumpkins + eucalyptus is such an easy formula and looks so fresh.

(total fall aside:  Walmart brought it last year with the pumpkins and had tons of flat white pumpkins like these in different sizes.  Check your produce section this year for a hopeful repeat.)

One quick note—if you look closely, you can see they added a few branches and some berry plants for texture.

Easy centerpiece idea

Umm.

Hello easy centerpiece nice to meet you.

Start with an oversized bowl.  I’m using a wood one.  Fill with more greens from Trader Joe’s.

Plop the pumpkin the middle.

(total fall aside:  make sure to turn your pumpkin slightly askew.  That’s what makes this so cute.)

Don’t overthink the place setting

We can all do this.

Stack your place setting.  Repeat after me.

Plate, plate, bowl.

And then?

Put a pumpkin the bowl.

Fill a wood container with pumpkins

Love the simplicity of the kitchen table centerpiece.

Not fussy.

Not overwhelming.

Just an oversized wood container filled with pumpkins and greenery.

(total aside:  this has nothing to do with fall decorating—but SERIOUSLY? 

The detail on these stools? 

This would be so easy to create with drop cloth, too.)

decorate with your fruits and vegetables

This is the time of year all the fall fruits and vegetables arrive and put on a show.

Take a simple wire basket and fill it up with the harvest.

If you don’t have a chalkboard sliding door with a cow chalked on it, no worries.

Place the basket on a stool or a bench or a table or a countertop.

If you fill it, fall will come.

grapevine

I love the idea of adding a little fall texture with grapevine.

You can buy it bundled up at Hobby Lobby in the wreath aisle.

Bring it home and unbundle it and tuck it here and there.

It works through fall and Christmas and winter.

Just keep it tucked until spring.

simple fall garland mantel

This mantel is brilliant in its simplicity.

You know how you buy that garland that you fall in love with at the store and then you bring it home and have no idea what to do with it.

Here’s your answer.

Just drape it over the mantel.

You don’t even have to loop it.

Just drape and go.

 

fall colors

Sometimes fall isn’t about putting pumpkins everywhere.

Sometimes fall is about changing the colors.

This bedroom is the perfect example.  Brown layered with gray layered with tan layered with greige.

Layered with that ceiling.

Here’s to neutrals everywhere.

Whites and greiges and browns and tans and grays of the world take a bow.

This is your season.

PS  But just wait until tomorrow.  It’s all about fall and all it’s colors.

PPS  In the most exciting news of exciting news that’s ever even THOUGHT about being exciting news….

….my newest book, You’ve Got This Because God’s Got You just got picked up by SAM’S CLUB.

Sam’s Club.

The home where all the amazing things go to live.

CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT?

This fall you’ll head to a Sam’s Club near you and this cutie will be smiling at you.

I cannot tell you how full of joy and hope and encouragement this tiny little devotional is.

It is a recipe for a weary world.

Pre-order your copy today (and one for a weary friend, too).

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Cristie A Morton Cristie A Morton

    Here in Kansas City, it's a gloomy raining day.. But just in time to ward off a gloomy mood Your Blog came in my inbox and You made me Smile and Laugh God works in mysterious ways, huh?!

  2. Image for Sharon Smith Sharon Smith

    So I had no intention of decorating my house for fall. Really, it seemed like such a chore. Then I saw your blog today (well, not just casually saw as I wait for it all the time!) and all of a sudden, my mind filled with ideas for decorating. I mean talk about inspiration....I think you are the queen of inspiration. So I will be doing fall decorating and as soon as I can! Thank you, Queen Karianne!

  3. Image for Teresa Gonzales Teresa Gonzales

    Stunning!!! Looks beautiful and relaxing. Can't wait to see the explosion of color!!! Since having a place in Massachusetts I tend to go more neutral as the show out the window is so wonderful! In southern California always go with the explosion of color! Different strokes for different locations!

  4. Image for Kris Kris

    Thanks for this post full of fall decorating inspiration! But I have to ask because I also live in Texas (Dallas) and fully expect that we will have 90+ degree temps for another several weeks---how do you keep your pumpkins from turning to moldy mush between now and Thanksgiving?

  5. Image for Lynn W Lynn W

    OMG!! I’m dying laughing over here with the Fall mullet comment. 😂 thank you, I needed a good laugh! I am so inspired by these pictures and I love decorating with Eucalyptus. The texture, smell and variations of gray greens....a real fav of mine Love Sam’s....congrats to you 💜

  6. Image for Colleen@LilacDriveDesigns Colleen@LilacDriveDesigns

    I love a good mullet! Thanks for sharing these great pictures and inspiration. I'll be decorating my house for fall this weekend and I can't wait! I've had a long busy summer with work travel and my house needs some decorating love. Fall is my favorite season!

  7. Image for Graham Graham

    I have to find some good looking artificial pumpkins- squirrels and chipmunks attack the real ones and I'm left with huge holes in my real ones. One year I had varrigated corn on the front door and the squirrels hurled themselves at my door and ate that too! What's a girl to do?? Dying to see what you do. Congratulations on Sam's!

  8. Image for CorrieMae CorrieMae

    OH OH!! How exciting for your book! I must get a copy. Do you have any resources for the rug in the picture with fireplace in the far background, orange flowers on the rectangle coffee table? I am looking for rugs and furniture for our new home. Thanks Much. I adore your blog, on of my favorites :) Have a fabulous weekend! And............................. ........ is it really fall already, I think I missed summer ;)

  9. Image for Mackied Mackied

    Can't wait to see the fall decorations in the front rooms of your house. I miss fall looking like fall in blog land. September, October, November do not conjure up neutrals to me. However, your neutrals are very tasteful and attractive . . . for neutrals. So bring on Autumn in all its glory! I'll be waiting.

  10. Image for jillian jillian

    I really do like the soft neutrals, so pretty. I use them all summer and even in some of the christmas rooms. But...since we have been collecting bins and bins of fall color and pumpkin-y and witchy things for many years, then out it all comes and goes everywhere. The change of seasons where we are is gorgeous with lots of trees, so it is all pretty cheery. Looking forward to the colors you have chosen to go with the blue and white, it will look awesome.

  11. Image for laura janning laura janning

    i have always loved that home! it's just gorgeous. congrats on the book being available at Sams. I think i m the only person on the planet who dosn't have a sams or cosco card so book sales should do really well!

  12. Image for Carol, The Red Painted Cottage Carol, The Red Painted Cottage

    I’m so excited for your book to be in Sam’s Club! They’ll make great gifts as well as one for me. Share Your Style Link Party is starting up this coming Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST. I do hope you’ll try to join us because everyone loves seeing what you’ve got to share with the world, my friend! I’m loving this Nashville Showhouse❤️

  13. Image for Susan Susan

    Those stool tops look like they could be slip covers! Could it be? That would be so easy to do (in my mind!) and the idea of using drop cloths is perfect. Love the ceiling in the photo over Fall Colors! WANT THAT.

  14. Image for Lauren Lauren

    Just a side note.... If you can't get fresh eucalyptus., Walmart has some very good eucalyptus stems that come in a bunch with 4 stems for $3.00! They are the perfect shape and color.

  15. Image for Kari Cox Kari Cox

    Just pre-ordered your new book, and cannot wait to read it! This post was one of your best, as far as great ideas. Can't wait to go find some eucalyptus and grapevine! As always, you in my inbox is a treat. Have a blessed day!

  16. Image for Kris Kris

    I love the cushion covers on the bar stools, but I love the chair covers in the first picture even more. Gorgeous pictures.

  17. Image for Susan Susan

    Congratulations on your new book, how very exciting! You are a very busy Lady ,you have to balance your business, the web site , family stuff ... I have no idea how you do it all!

Comments are closed.