The air is a little crisp, the days are shorter and cooler, and the smell of Pumpkin Spice Latte is in the air. Well, that and a lot of smoke due to all of the wildfires in Oregon, California and Western Washington, but it is getting a little better today. These changes can only mean one thing; my favorite season is here!! I love everything about fall, but most of all the autumnal palette, and the rituals that go along with the end of summer. The beginning of the school year, with its more structured schedule, brings with it a sense of order that is comforting to me.

In my hometown of Walla Walla, the Southeastern Washington State Fair is normally held each year over Labor Day weekend, celebrating the end of harvest with exhibits, the rodeo, and seeing people you often don’t see over the summer. Growing up, I loved the fair! Today in the Tri Cities, fall means the local Farmer’s Markets are bursting with ripe produce, as well as the beginning of apple and grape harvest, the latter for our robust wine industry. The corn stalks are starting to dry and the pumpkin patch north of town is a field of orange loveliness. Fall, you never fail to disappoint.

When I had three small children at home, I used to go all out for fall decorating. Now now I prefer to gently lean into the season by finding ways to evoke a feeling of fall that is subtle and warmer, than the lighter colors of summer. To keep it simple, I also target only one or two places in the house; typically the entry and kitchen counter. Today I’m going to show you how I re-styled our entryway, changing it from a light summer scheme to a warmer fall-inspired look. You might say it was as easy as 1-2-3.

Step 1 was to make a couple of simple changes to our entry credenza cabinet. For summer, it had a light colored bird picture (made by my sister Loralee) on an easel atop white books, and a topiary with a couple of ceramic birds in front. For the fall look, the picture was replaced with a “hello fall” plaque that I made by using a piece of scrap mahogany wood my husband cut to size, and applying a gold letter cut-out. Next, the white books were changed out for those with warmer tones, and a copper tray was placed on the credenza to hold a small pine cones and an arrangement of orange flowers, all found in our yard. An orange candle burning in front was the final accessory.

Step 2 was to turn my attention to the chair and arrangement on the other side of the entryway. To give this area the feeling of fall, I just added to the summer greenery with some colorful orange berries and lotus pods, and replaced the light pillow with a warm, fall inspired pillow. Side note: I haven’t ever had lotus pods before and I absolutely love them! As soon as I added them to the greenery, they transformed the whole look.

Step 3 was to replace the light cream and white throw rug in front of the door with a rug that contains all the shades of fall.

These small changes gave a nod to the change of season in what I hope is a subtle, quiet way. As the season progresses, there will be time for adding some colorful leaves and pumpkins, but for today, this was enough.

It doesn’t take much effort to gently lean into the change of seasons with your decor, if you vow to keep it simple. This entire process took about 15 minutes. And if I’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it is that simplifying my life in many areas is a great idea. Sometimes, it’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Good tidings,

Diane