As I write, it is a steamy 88 degrees F here right now so it is hard to imagine that fall is around the corner! Labor Day weekend, Back to School, and Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes usually usher in the “fall season”, but it’s a weird year. And it’s a bit disorienting to STILL not know what day of the week it is half the time. But fall isn’t REALLY official until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22nd so… GOOD NEWS we have time to prepare!

Fall where you live is probably nice, but here in New England, it is spectacular! I don’t want to brag, but we do have the BEST fall! Our trees turn an array of glorious colors, the air is crisp, and the light shifts lower in a vivid blue sky. We break out our sweaters and boots and go apple picking. The quintessential colors and flavors of fall are all inspired by nature; Apples, pumpkins and squashes, bittersweet vines and acorns, and sunflowers and mum plants all in shades of red and burgundy, orange and ochre, gold, purple, and brown.

The waning light and cooler temperature are what turn us to warmer colors and textures for fall decor. After the breezy pastels and tropical brights of summer, we look to add richer, deeper tones for the fall. But do you HAVE to add orange and brown? Not at all! I always advocate for seasonal decor that complements the colors in your furnishings and finishes. If orange is going to clash with your decor, choose another option. There are plenty! Add warm gold tones, or burgundies, or even just deeper neutrals and fall elements and textures!

Dry some hydrangeas, bring in milkweed pods, collect acorns (feel free to collect them off my lawn — it feels like I could supply the whole county!). Add arrangements of apples, squash, pumpkins, or gourds. They come in all sorts of colors in real life and there are plenty of faux options to mix in that come in everything from touchable velvet to glam mercury glass! And don’t forget the ornamental kale! It can add a nice green and purple element to your arrangements. And decor is pretty much the best use for kale IMO.

Side note: I know I’m going to hear how wonderful kale is from some of you. You do you, feel free to eat it. I have a limited tolerance for a vegetable that requires you to give it a massage to render it remotely edible, but maybe that’s just me.

In addition to indoor decor changes, this year thanks to the continuing need for outside entertaining and social-distancing, we are planning some upgrades to extend the season for our back deck. It will get a fall makeover too!

We’ll be replacing the umbrellas with a patio heater. We might even add a firepit table to our seating area once we determine what will be safe to use in that location. And we’ll add some deeper toned all weather pillows and stock an assortment of wool throws to add a cozy element. Replacements for the patio lights incapacitated by the destruco-squirrel will be hung, and seasonal plantings and arrangements will replace the summer annuals in the pots…this would be a good place for that kale…

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Here are some of the items we are considering for our fall deck makeover (links in legend below image)

Patio heater | Striped lumbar pillows | Gold and bronze filigree pillows | Alpaca wool plaid throw | patio light strings | Fire pit

I fantasize about a deck with a fire pit like this stunning one below. Ours won’t be quite so elaborate, but a girl can dream!

Hot spiced cider and apple pastry on the deck, anyone?