I can’t think of a more fitting way to mark the first day of autumn than to share with you some of my fall decor.
I’m thrilled be a part of the Fall Ideas Tour, organized by my friend, Kathy, of Petticoat Junktion. Four days, 32 bloggers, countless ideas for fall mantels, tablescapes, wreaths and thrifty crafts.
.
I’ve been veering away from tradition this year, combining colors like aqua, lavender and dusky green and decorating with metallics. It all started with the fall wreath I made for my front door.
I decided to bring the same theme and color scheme inside to the dining room.
I’m a real glitz and glamour kind of gal — the more sparkle and shine the better.
Mercury glass. Gilding. Crystal. Silver. I love it all. And even moreso when I can mix them all together.
These handpainted pumpkins that I gilded and silvered and bronzed may be my favorite thing I’ve made this fall. (And yes, a tutorial is coming soon!)
I used them all around the table, sitting them on gold plates from the dollar store, atop candlesticks and just scattered about.
This tablescape looks fancy, but it was really easy to pull together because I gave myself license to mix and match.
For the place settings, I set out some gold leaf-shaped placemats and topped them with silver chargers, our fancy platinum wedding china and some monogrammed gold-rimmed bowls from a yard sale. (And no, that’s not our monogram, but these were too pretty to pass up!)
I rounded out each place setting with our everyday flatware and gold chalkboard place cards.
For some extra glow, I filled a clear glass trifle bowl with a lighted mercury glass garland of pumpkins.
I liked these battery-operated pumpkin garlands so much I bought two at Homegoods.
I put the second one under a cloche on the gilded bar cart.
Gold and silver striped straws even match the color scheme.
As much as I love decorating for the seasons, as we head into fall and the holiday season, I’m trying really trying to lessen the workload on myself.
This year, I think the theme of my seasonal decorating will be really be focused on adding touches that work with my existing decor and color schemes. It’s way too much work to reinvent every room for fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
By working with what I already have, it’s so much easier to decorate and undecorate.
I can pull out a tablerunner that maches my china, drop a bouquet of showy white hydrangeas in a mercury glass vase and sprinkle the table with blue, gray, aqua and white pumpkins, and the decorating is done.
It still looks and feels like fall, with nary a shade of orange in sight.
Most importantly, it still looks like me and honors the things I love and have collected to reflect my decorating personality.
For a glimpse at how others let their personality shine in their fall decor, be sure to visit the other participants in the Fall Ideas Tour.
Monday
Postcards from the Ridge | All Things Heart and Home
Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer | Domestically Speaking
Prodigal Pieces | Housepitality Designs
Mad In Crafts | My Creative Days
Tuesday
Refresh Restyle | 2 Bees in a Pod
Fox Hollow Cottage | Artsy Chicks Rule
Our Southern Home | Restoration Redoux
Savvy Southern Style | Atta Girl Says
Wednesday
H2OBungalow | Cottage at the Crossroads
Today’s Creative Life | Dukes and Duchesses
Hunt & Host | The Interior Frugalista
Sweet Pea | Petticoat Junktion
Thursday
Town and Country Living | Cupcakes and Crinoline
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | So Much Better With Age
Lindsay Eidahl
The mixed metals is genius! It is so pretty all put together!
christy @ Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer
Absolutely stunning!! I love everything about your beautiful table scape, especially the gilded pumpkins! XO
Robin AllThings Heart and Home
Amy the mixed metals!!! I absolutely love that idea- thank you for inspiring us w/ your lovely autumn table my friend xo
Jessica
Can’t wait for the tutorial for those gilded pumpkins!
Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod
Oh my heavens – we love your table. The mixed metallics add such a lovely shimmer and shine. We are sure it is gorgeous by candlelight too! Love your china and place cards too!
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces
Ooh…you’re talkin’ now! I love metals and you’ve done a fantastic job of displaying them, Amy. Bravo!
Kim
Amy, I love all the sparkle and shine in your fall dining room. Your china is gorgeous. Love the color and edging of those bowls.