With the start of fall comes cool nights, warm sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes. As the seasons turn, you encounter the decorating bug — it’s time to switch up your interior with spicy scents and rustic decor. But what do you do when you live in a small space and don’t have enough room for your decorating dreams? No worries — you have practical options for injecting your home with autumnal fever without losing breathing room.
Have a festive fall in any area by implementing some creative decorating ideas. Check out these six tips for decorating a small home, apartment or studio for the season.
1. String Up Festive Garlands
If you lack the floor space for fancy decor, use the walls instead. An autumn garland saturated with warm hues appears welcoming when hung across a fireplace mantle or a doorframe. Buy one from a craft store or make one by using your pick of materials — pinecones, burlap, real leaves or metal flowers. Buy a garland of fake pheasant or peacock feathers for a change of pace that still embodies the feel of the season.
If you want a lowkey piece or simply don’t have a place for a large garland, make a mini garland by stringing a ribbon across an empty picture frame. Decorate the ribbon with leaves or flowers and glue some onto the frame to tie it together.
2. Create a Functional Centerpiece
Make a functional fall centerpiece out of an individual wicker basket or a set of them. Fill them with your favorite fruits and add decorative pieces such as wicker balls and fake flowers. Red roses and black dahlias create a lovely dark look — add light pink or white flowers for pops of brightness. Complement these vivid hues with gold tableware for a sophisticated mood. Gold candlesticks and utensils make striking additions you can reuse for special occasions.
3. Set Out Decorative Throws and Pillows
Drape a leaf-patterned throw across your couch and complement it with some rustic pillows. Combine neutral colors for a simplistic look, or play with patterns and shapes to create variety. Using neutral colors means you can keep them on your couch year-round — no need to shove bright orange pillows in the closet once Christmas rolls around. Plaid functions well in any season, so don’t be afraid to incorporate this pattern into your design scheme.
4. Burn Scented Candles
Choose candles with deep hues such as cranberry, brown and burnt orange to bring in natural fall colors. Scents are varied and will depend on what you prefer, but some food-based classics include cinnamon, vanilla, apple and nutmeg. If you favor nature-based smells, try moss or cedarwood. Buy candles from your favorite brand or make your own with essential oils and soy wax. Dress your candles up with birch bark candle holders for an outdoorsy touch.
5. Design a Pillow Nook
Nothing says “fall” quite like cozying up with a good read and a cup of hot chocolate. Transform a corner of your space into a pillow nook by arranging some colorful pillows and a warm blanket or two. Implement different patterns and fabric textures to maintain visual interest — you don’t want your corner to fade into the background. Try burgundy and dark green for an unexpected yet pleasant color match.
Alternatively, you can go for brighter green fabrics to use again for Christmas. Incorporating reusable decor is essential when decorating a small space, as you usually don’t have the room for one-use large items.
6. Hang Up a Pumpkin Wreath
Is your fall design really complete without a wreath? Hang one up on your door or an interior wall for a fun accompaniment to a set of garlands. Pumpkin wreaths come in several forms — make a mesh wreath in the shape of the notable squash, or buy a fake one featuring tiny pumpkins and dark-hued greenery. There’s no rule for creating a holiday-inspired wreath, so experiment with your favorite designs and materials.
Fall Into Easy Decorating
Don’t miss out on the festivities because your space is small — every home deserves to feel like an autumnal wonderland. Friends and family will marvel at your knack for decorating, and you’ll avoid feeling boxed in by oversize decor.
AUTHOR: KACEY BRADLEY
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
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