Quick & Easy Ways to Decorate for Fall

It's October and while Chicago has been giving us unseasonably warm weather, it's also time when jackets are to be worn and pumpkins should be painted.  The fall harvest, leaves changing, and pumpkin spice everything is part of what I love about this season.  It's also the perfect time to get creative. You+Dallas has a great page of beautiful decor ideas, including the fall table set above.  Pinterest reigns queen this time of year as endless inspirational photographs and DIY projects like these fabulous fall candles, help you make your home a seasonal paradise - or at least kinda festive.  For those of you with little time or space who want to vamp up your house for the holiday season, but know you're not quite Martha Stewart, here are 5 quick and easy ways to decorate for fall.

1. Get Baby Pumpkins & Gords

I was at the store and they had those little pumpkins and I bought a few.  I moved over a picture frame and some display bottles of wine and plopped them down.  Cute, seasonal and it took 2 seconds.  Of course youc an create more elaborate designs but for now the idea is still there.

2. Get Scented Candles or Plug-ins.

But a rich, warm scent like autumn, apple or pumpkin spice.  Add candles through the house or switch out your usual glade (or other brand) plug in and come home to the scent of fall!

3. Focus on a Few Small Areas

You don't have to redecorate the whole place.  You do live in your house, unlike a lot of the houses you see in magazines, so choose certain areas like the dining room, kitchen and entry spaces.  High active areas like family rooms and living rooms may not be the best to focus your time on, particularly if you have kids or pets who jump around and are likely to quickly put your hard work all over the floor.  Get a few wreaths for doors, things you can mount to the wall and stick up high if you're worried about kids/pets.  Clear vases with leaves or acorns (which you can get at your local Michael's, Pier 1, Hobby Lobby, etc) like the ones above are easy to put together.  Grab some branches from outside (clean them of course) and add them in.  Get electric candles to avoid burning the house down.  Find little items to stick in cabinets if you have the kind with glass doors so it's visible.  Don't spend all your time trying to recreate the house.  A few accents everywhere with most of the focus in a central place can give you just enough seasonal decor.

4. Buy the Whole Thing

While DIY is fun, if you break it down, it may not always be cheaper.  Don't buy part of an item and think "maybe I can do something with this."  If you're busy and you want to do some creative house designs, don't buy a solitary item without a plan.  That's how you end up with lots of random junk.  Have an idea in mind, buy something specific or something that can stand alone.  

5. Raid Your Kitchen & Closets

You may not have a tiered display like the one above sitting in the back of a cabinet collecting dust (or maybe you do) but you probably have those fancy bowls you'll never use.  Well use them!  Display pumpkins and apples in red, brown or even cream colored bowls or pots.  Keep your mail in a Halloween bucket.  Incorporate stuff in your house rather than buying more things you may or may not use.  Chances are there's a pile of cool stuff you bought on sale at the beginning of summer one year that you've forgotten about. Twice.