simple fall decor from the handmade home

Hello lovely people and welcome to the Finding Fall Tour of Homes!

If you’re headed over from Jones Design Company, we’re so glad to have you… thanks for stopping by!

We’re still sporting the shorts and flip-flops combo here while we sweat it out via the heat of the Alabama tropics. There’s been a tent caterpillar invasion in the back yard, and I’m pretty sure our neighbors shot us the evil eye yesterday when we busted out some pumpkins + mums. Those are fake pumpkins, because the real ones are nowhere to be found within miles of here, {we checked} and the mums always inevitably die from sheer heat exhaustion. I’m still going for the frap combos when we indulge our occasional, guilty pleasure that is Starbucks. Hold the pumpkin, please. While we long for cooler weather {we’re practically begging the weather man for it} we know that it’s still a few months out.

So we have a confession to make. We’re like, the worst fall decorators in the history of ever since we basically live in Barbados sans the benefits of flying fish, luxury cruises and million dollar beach front properties. That means that sometimes, we’re a little reluctant to get started because we’re still battling it out in the midst of a mosquito warfare. It’s not that we don’t love all things fall from yoga pants to s’mores and football. Because we do. It’s just super hard to get into the spirit of things when we’re braving it in the heat and sweating it out like banshees. {See 100 degrees just last Friday}

Are we ruining it for you yet?

So today, in addition to the {hopefully} fun photos, we thought we’d share a few tips for the slightly reluctant fall decorator.

Just a few, super simple ways to keep it cozy. In case you find yourselves feeling a bit of the same way, regardless of your location.

• Fake it ’til you feel it. Is it cold enough to warrant coats and scarves here? Nope. Does this mean you should don those layers whilst mowing the lawn so your neighbors stare at you and ask if you’re feeling okay? Maybe. Because, duh, that would be hilarious.

But breaking out the warmer accessories on those little hooks you may have around your home certainly makes everything feel just a bit cozier for that in-the-meantime phase. We bring out fun stylin’ little fall pieces of the kids from scarves to boots to instantly give our home that cozier feel.

It may seem a little silly since we’ve ruined it with some real life factoids, but it’s also free, so there’s always that.

• Bring the Outside In My great grandmother can be found in Ripley’s Believe it Or Not for the most cotton picked in a single day. I have to confirm, but she was some really ridiculous age. I think it’s also important to mention that my great grandmother was 4’11” and absolutely tiny. She cut her fingers on a fan while preparing Sunday Dinner, wrapped them up, and kept going. She had two toes on one foot from an equally sad hatchet-falling-from-a-stump incident, and is basically a legend for being so hardcore. Those were the bite on-a-stick, don’t-mess-with-me days, and if she could see me now with what we do, she would probably slap me silly. What she literally picked to make a living, we now decorate with. My, how the times have changed.

But I said all that to say, bring in the elements. Whether it’s cotton, pumpkins, or mums. It’s the easiest, natural, no-headache, genuine way to decorate.

And it’s absolutely gorgeous in all it’s simplicity.

• It doesn’t have to be fancy Our home is a casual one, and while I swoon at formal table settings loving them just as equally, I know that our time for that will come. Since we’re still a little stuck in the summer weather here, and since our children are more likely to break the fine crystal {oh wait, that was me} we went with a s’mores fete.

And the kids had an absolute blast. Yes, we did have s’mores for dinner one night. No judging. I made up for it with fruit for dessert.

Find a quick how to for our metallic pumpkins, here.

• Make it a Family Affair This is our second year homeschooling. Something I thought we would never do. But never say never as a parent, because here we are, and it’s turned into a passion of ours. Each season and holiday, we love letting them put their own flare in their own way on the spaces. This year, we made a simple watercolor garland, and the kids had a blast.

Not seen in photos below: Target Dollar Spot window cling-ons, and massive spiderwebs complete with spiders, all in the name of a little Halloween fun in their spaces. The Halloween obsession has begun.

• A Few Words Go a Long Way Every season, we mix it up and personalize it with our favorite quotes of the moment. They can be seasonally related, or simply inspiring in their own way. It brings instant updates to your home without a lot of fuss.

• Embellish the Every Day We brought in branches from our backyard, and spray painted them gold, because, why not? And a some pinecones from my parent’s yard can be found, scattered around the house in gold, as well.

The more you know – cue rainbow sparkle star: Did you know that if you spray paint them and leave them in the rain (oops), they’ll close back up? The paint had nothing to do with it, but we did have an impromptu science lesson…

We recently made over our mantel, and it was worth the change. This season’s decor is all about a touch of modern with vintage finds for a slightly hodgepodge feel in deep greens.

• Cozy it Up with easy additions like throws, rugs, pillows and mixing it all up to give a subtle, warmer vibe. I believe one can never have too many pillows. And if you do, toss them on the floor for even more comfort. It’s all about shopping your home and making little changes to make your family comfy.

And for us, it’s all about making our home even more of a haven during the cooler months. Mama said there would be days with the sniffles, and days like that with cold, rainy weather call for even more comfort.

And for the rest of the tour, a quick peek at more of our home:

We recently made over our bedroom and bathroom after beercanmoldpocalypse’14. It only took us about nine months {good things come to those who are patient and work hard} but we’re ready to spend many a lazy Saturday morning here.

The boys spend a lot of their days here, in the top bunk they share. It created a lot more space, and I love watching them interact with legos, nerf guns and all their “lovies”. They also love a good wrestling match while I freak out and worry about mangled arms.

These are the things being a brother is made of.

Here’s a sneak shot of our playroom, which we left as is. I think the colors are perfect for fall.

Between paper decor, claiming our family pet, Chloe, as her own and tiaras galore, Emerson always has her own ideas for putting cozy twists on her space.

And that about wraps up our little tour for fall. For more fun images + details of our home, be sure to check out all the spaces here + here!

But now for more good stuff… If you’d like to sign up for some great ideas for Holiday Decor, be sure to check out BHG’s newsletter + sign up for 100 Days of Holidays!

And…Continuing on with this Finding Fall Tour of Homes, be sure to move on to the next wonderful stop, Gina of The Shabby Creek Cottage! You’re gonna love what you see there! – Don’t miss it!

Have an inspired day!