Simple Fall Decor in Moss Green and White

Changing your decor for the seasons doesn’t need to be complicated or time consuming – add touches of nature and new pillows for beautiful, simple fall decor.

I think after having been blogging – and reading blogs – for awhile now that there are just as many people who don’t decorate for the seasons (other than Christmas) as those who do. Which camp do you fall into?

I have to be honest and say that sometimes it depends on the season of life you’re in – there was a time when my kids were little that decorating for Christmas was all I could do. If a vase of cut flowers made it into the house sometime between April and July, that was good enough for me.

But you know what? I also thought all “seasonal” decorating had to be like Christmas: have boxes of decorations, pull out all the stops, and add different decor to the whole house. It seemed like so much work (well, it was work – I knew that from Christmas!).

I wish I had known more about the power of bringing in simple, natural items like moss and tulips in early spring, roses in late spring, sunflowers and seashells in summer, or pumpkins and hydrangeas in fall.

The power to lift your spirits, calm your surroundings and remind you of the changing of seasons and that the natural world continues on, no matter what is happening around you.

Oh, and to smile. Our hearts and minds are built to enjoy beautiful things – it’s not frivolous (well, it can be I guess, if that’s all you pursued…) to fill our souls with some of nature’s beauty as the seasons change.

There are times when being reminded of the beauty – and constancy – of God’s creation is the only thing that can ground us in a world that may feel like it’s spinning out of control.

I have believed this for a number of years, now, taking time to change our mantel and a few other spaces a few times a year. So it was affirming to read this article from Parade about new studies showing that exposing ourselves to awe-inspiring things does make us happier – and may even make us healthier!

While we tend to think of the huge wonders like glaciers, the Grand Canyon, or the Milky Way as being awe-inspiring, it’s also the amazement that can happen when you look at a perfect rose bud, or a spiral, amber-colored seashell.

Simple Fall Decor In Moss Green & White

Fall Mantel

Okay, wow, I didn’t really mean to go quite down that path in this simple fall decor post – but obviously it must be on my heart. DO what you can – bring in even one or two items to help you feel connected to the world and the passing seasons. DON’T think you have to do too much or decorate the whole house.

My case in point? Our mantel this year. I’ve had five jars full of hydrangeas from our yard in front of the old window-turned-mirror since we put our house up for sale and started showing it in July.

They just naturally dried and I liked the way they looked. When the Jarahdale pumpkins were ready to pick mid-September, I simply replaced one of the jars with the pumpkin. Seasonal mantel done.

And I love that pumpkin and how the colors blend so beautifully with all the colors in the drying hydrangeas. It’s made me happy every day – even as we pack up the house around it.

I put a few other white pumpkins around the living room – the only other place that got a few pumpkins this year was the porch – and changed out our summery striped pillows for moss green velvet pillows. I found them at H&M for less than $10.

I think I’ve mentioned H&M before for home decor – they seriously have such good prices for pillows! They regularly have pillows for $3.99 and $5.99, which you can hardly even make for that price.

So that was the extent of my fall decor this year – pumpkins, pillows, and hydrangeas. Simple, beautiful, and just a bit awe-inspiring.

All the house is being packed up around them, but I don’t have to feel totally out of control because it’s fall, life is continuing- and I can see that by looking at my living room (what’s left of it!).

What about you? What are your favorite seasonal touches?