Story & Photos By MARTHA SCANLON FISH
For some, the transition from summer to fall on Cape Cod means taking down screens, storing patio furniture and putting up storm doors. But for others, it is the signal that it is time to switch out summery home décor for the warm and inviting feeling of autumn.
From rich accessories to DIY projects, there are plenty of options to decorate for the much-loved fall season.
Fall Accent Pieces
One of the easiest and quickest ways to update your décor for the fall season is to use accent pieces. Artfully drape a plaid blanket over a chair or couch, swap out breezy summer curtains for warmer, thicker fabrics, and add throw pillows in deep colors and cozy textures.
“It’s all about warm, fuzzy, and fluffy and anything plaid or flannel” said Cheryl Smith, owner of Atlantic Dry Goods on Queens Buyway in Falmouth.
The shop, which carries mostly vintage and painted furniture as well as accessories, features table runners and placemats in fabrics like jute and burlap that are perfect for a fall table. Ms. Smith also recommends linens in deep reds and oranges. For the center of the table, you can fill a pitcher or vase with wheat and dried hydrangeas then place leaves or small gourds around it. Cranberries also give a distinctive Cape Cod look to any centerpiece.
Not Just For Carving
Pumpkins make unexpected containers for flowers and foliage. Just hollow out as if you were carving it and add either floral foam or a small vase inside to hold fresh or dried flowers. Yellow sunflowers or colorful mums look lovely in white or neutral pumpkins.
White pumpkins go with any color scheme, Ms. Smith said. “Even just a single white pumpkin could turn an average soap dish in a bathroom into a beautiful harvest scene.” She also suggests filling a vintage basket with pumpkins and placing it around the house.
Pumpkins can easily be decorated by overlaying lace or leaves and dried flowers then sealing with decoupage for something different.
Scents Of The Season
Many people associate the changing season with particular scents, like apple, pumpkin and cinnamon.
“Oh, I love fall. I cook cinnamon sticks in water on the stove and the whole house smells like cinnamon,” said Amy Rood of Syracuse, New York. “I can use pumpkin candles again!”
Try this simple “autumn simmer pot” recipe from The Happier Homemaker blog: Cut up apples and oranges and add to a small pot along with a half tablespoon of vanilla extract and a couple cinnamon sticks. Add enough water to cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Within 10 minutes the scent will fill your home and all you have to do is add more water as it evaporates.
Another option is to place a candle in the center of a large vase, then fill it a third of the way with cinnamon sticks or coffee beans so that as the candle heats up, the scents will waft out of the container.
Natural Touches
There are many simple DIY projects that can take the season’s natural bounty and turn it into striking home décor.
Collected leaves in a range of colors can be glued to a rustic piece of wood and Mason jars can be spray-painted fall colors and filled with flowers and branches.
Arrange tall vases with branches and berries, and buy Indian corn at local farm stands to tie with twine or plaid fabric and hang up for texture and color.
Indoor wreaths, corn husk garlands, and burlap banners add a festive feel to mantels, and you can creatively store firewood and kindling in decorative boxes and wire baskets.
Fill a galvanized bucket with flowers or fruit and hang on the wall and bring in plants with warm tones inside to help keep a little of the summer season into the cooler months. “We always want to extend the seasons,” Ms. Smith said.
No matter how you decorate for fall, be sure to enjoy the tradition that comes along with it. “It’s tradition for me,” said Michelle Heckman Dunkley of Falmouth, who begins with mums and bales of hay outside, then moves on to decorate the inside of her home. “I think the change of weather gets you geared up to make décor changes. And change is good!”