YYou’ll want to keep reading to the end to laugh with me about Jack, but first I want to share an affordable way to freshen up your home for fall. My usual autumn decorating has always leaned toward non-seasonal items—mostly moving pieces around until a room feels cozier to me.
I love browsing new seasonal collections and bringing home cozy finds and pumpkins. I was out shopping this week and finally found the green garden stool I’ve been hunting for since we moved in—major win. When I reached the aisle of ceramic pumpkin decor, I admired it for about five seconds, then asked myself if I wanted to store it in a few weeks. The answer was no.
I passed on the ceramic pumpkins and chose the garden stool and a plaid blanket instead. A sturdy green stool works year-round, and a blanket tucks away easily and can be used well into spring. Large faux pumpkins, by contrast, would need storage by November. I might pick up a few real pumpkins later, but for now I’m using velvet pumpkins on the mantel. I’ve had those for years and they store easily in a basket or cabinet.
Even if you prefer not to shop, you can still give a room a fresh look affordably by rearranging furniture and accessories you already own. Last week I started swapping items between rooms and repositioning pieces within rooms. It was a stormy day—thunder, lightning, and rain—which put me in the mood for a cozier home and motivated the changes.
I’m not finished tweaking things yet, and I haven’t settled on final decor, so this room may look different again soon. I enjoy trying out different arrangements and living with them for a while to see how they feel. Sometimes I revert to the original layout; other times I keep the change. You can glimpse another corner I’m still working on in one of the photos.
Puttering around the house like that brings me energy and joy. I also enjoy shopping, but there’s something special about pulling furniture together, placing a chair in a new spot, or making an underused corner feel cozy with a simple rearrangement.
And you know what else brings me life? My dog, Jack. I moved the ottoman by the fireplace while rearranging, and he keeps curling up on it like it’s his new favorite spot. It’s so funny I almost leave it, but I might move it again so he can face the room better. Small changes like that make the space work for everyone.
My family might tire of all the shifting furniture, but for me it’s a joyful, creative habit. One more week and my teen furniture mover heads off to college, so my rearranging sessions may slow down for a while. Until then, I’m keeping him busy helping his mama.
Have you rearranged anything in your home to make it cozier for fall?
If you don’t already have pieces you love to rearrange, don’t worry. In this series I’ll share ways to gather and collect cozy items that suit your style.
My Home Decor Sources
My Window Shades and Sources (+ Discount Code)
Don’t forget to check out the Decorating Blogger Q&A Tour & $500 Wayfair Giveaway for the release of my book But Where Do I Put the Couch?
BLOG TOUR LIST (get another entry in the giveaway at each blog!):
The Inspired Room
Reluctant Entertainer
Stone Gable
Rooms for Rent
French Country Cottage
Dreaming of Homemaking
My 100 Year Old Home
Thistlewood Farms (September 20)
Catch up on this year’s Fall Nesting series HERE!
More Fall Inspiration:
14 Simple Fall Decorating Ideas
3 Cozy Fall Activities for the Homebody
Make Your Bedroom a Cozy Retreat