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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Create Your Decor » Falling for Neutrals

Falling for Neutrals

by Lindsay Ballard on October 9, 2009 30 Comments

I promised that I’d show you some of my Fall decorating when it started feeling more Fall-like around here. Well, that day has finally come! It’s raining (and raining and raining) and quite chilly. I’m wearing fleece pants and a long sleeved t-shirt and loving every minute of snuggling with my son under a down blanket.

Okay, so it’s 57 degrees, but that’s COLD for us!

I don’t go overboard with seasonal decorating since we don’t exactly have four seasons in Central Texas, but I do add some simple touches here and there. The centerpiece on my dining room table is usually the first place I start.

I try to decorate for Fall and Halloween all in one big pumpkin fest. By keeping my seasonal items more neutral in color instead of bright oranges and red, I think I’ve been able to achieve the right balance. We don’t exactly get the bright fall colors in my neck of the woods, so those types of decorations in my home never seem very realistic to me.

Plus, with neutral decor I won’t have to change anything on November 1st, except to take down the light-up ghosts Zack wanted to put in our front yard. I can be kind of lazy, so that totally works for me.

My sweet son brought back the pine cones and sticks for me from his trip to the lake house in Minnesota. While he was there, I completely transformed his room. A mural for some pine cones. An even trade, don’t you think? Sadly enough, I totally thought so.

I picked up the acorns at a rest stop in Alabama when I was visiting my parents earlier this year. Don’t judge me, okay? Our acorns around here are tiny compared to these! And they say everything is bigger in Texas…

I always have white candles on the silver pillar holders we received as a wedding gift. I tied some jute twine around the candles to dress them up a bit. I’m one of those people who only likes white candles, so that’s all you’ll find in my house. Isn’t that weird? White candles only?

The pumpkins and other assorted goodies sit on top of a burlap table runner I threw together one day. I’m going to teach you how to make both the sew and no-sew versions next week. It’s seriously easy, works with most decor, and can be used year around. Oh, and it only cost me about $7.

Do you take a neutral approach to decorating for the Autumn season or do you mix it up with Halloween-themed AND Fall decorations?

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

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Comments

  1. BTLover2 says

    October 9, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    Beautiful! I love the idea of decorating for fall rather than for the specific holidays (although I do break out some Halloween decorations). Keep posting!!

    Reply
  2. cindy@cottage instincts says

    October 9, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    I'm leaning more and more to neutrals too. I love what you did here. And silver is becoming my new fav metallic. We lived north of Dallas for a couple years, so I know what you mean about no season changes…having grown up in Indiana, I missed them terrribly while we were there.
    peace~
    cindy

    Reply
  3. Martha says

    October 9, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    I don't do halloween so the neutral totally works for me. I love the straw/rattan looking pumpkin. Would love that on my dining table. I do have some fall/colored leaves wreaths for my front door and two front windows. When those come down, Christmas goes up.

    Reply
  4. gina says

    October 9, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    I like natural looking decorations- nothing that says "Boo" or "joy" etc. Things that naturally signify the changing of the seasons- like sunflowers, then bittersweet, etc…

    Love the burlap runner- I need the no sew version of the directions!!

    Reply
  5. Dana says

    October 9, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    We don't really "do" Halloween here so I just put out a few fallish items.

    By the way, I LOVE your wall color in the dining room. Gorgeous!

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    October 9, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    Love your neutral decorating.

    Reply
  7. Kari @ Ucreate says

    October 9, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    I LOVE this! Looks so classy and festive!

    Reply
  8. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    October 9, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    Oh, everything looks just gorgeous. I love the neutrals and they are so versatile. I use a lot of them also. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  9. The Summer Kitchen Girls says

    October 9, 2009 at 7:30 pm

    …and then I read that she only likes white candles… yea, I thought that was extremely wierd too… Oh, um, Hi Lindsay!? Didn't realize we were typing, I guess! All kiddin' aside… your table looks fab! We love the mix of neutrals and textures… and yes, the white candles! And no, we don't think it's wierd… they go with your home and can easily be moved throughout the house wherever you need them;0)
    Karla & Karrie

    Reply
  10. Blair @ Reasonably Swanky says

    October 9, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    What a beautiful table. I really enjoy reading your blog.

    Reply
  11. shortmama says

    October 9, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    Im wondering what the shade on your walls is? I love that color!

    Reply
  12. Craig, Blair and Turbo Skousen says

    October 9, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    AZ is similarly lacking color! I love your neutral set up. I'm not a huge Halloween fan, but I love me some fall. So I decorate mostly for fall so I can keep it there for Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  13. Grace @ One Craft Girl's Corner says

    October 9, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    I confess that I don't do a whole lot of decorations for fall or Halloween. I do a very minimal amount. It could side effects of being a teacher and not wanting Halloween to come because I dreaded the "sugarred up" children that would come to my class.

    Reply
  14. lindsey@junkstyle says

    October 9, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    I love the centerpiece! I have attempted something like that myself but I have two young girls who climb on the table to get to it so it doesn't work for me!

    Reply
  15. Gwen says

    October 9, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    I am loving your table. Count me on your team with the neutral decorating. Some might call me lazy for not going all out Halloween Batty, but I call it practical.

    Reply
  16. Paula says

    October 10, 2009 at 4:24 am

    I like your neutral pumpkin look. It especially looks nice on your burlap table runner. I like the way you tied the twine around your candles!

    Reply
  17. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    October 10, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    Hi, Lindsay! I love your centerpiece. 🙂 I add some orange pumpkins to my stuff b/c they are plentiful here in Virginia. Love the acorns you added. 🙂

    Reply
  18. trish says

    October 10, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I love how you are using neutrals! I am like you, starting with the table first and work my way around. :o)
    Have a nice weekend.
    Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

    Reply
  19. Jane says

    October 10, 2009 at 9:04 am

    The table looks so nice…..I love the neutrals. I think my halloween decorating style is a mix of oranges/browns/creams. My house colors work with the typical fall colors so I can mix them all in without it screaming "halloween". I plan on getting my limited autumn decorations out this weekend….it is only 35 degrees this morning so I'm now in the mood!
    jane

    Reply
  20. C @ Project Pretty says

    October 10, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    Love your neutral decor!! AND, your paint color is flipping gorgeous woman!! 🙂

    Reply
  21. jenelle. says

    October 10, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    i totally do not do anything but white candles either. ever. I just don't… and thats why. (same reason you have!)

    Reply
  22. Just say Julie says

    October 10, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    Yeah, I've had a hard time decorating here too, since it feels weird to have fall stuff out and temps in the 90s. But this recent cold spell made me break out the pumpkins. I do have a burlap runner on the coffee table, and most of my halloween stuff is black and white, so it transitions to thanksgiving with the help of ribbons. I have to do 2 separate sets of decorations, as much for the young un as for me.

    Reply
  23. paisley penguin says

    October 11, 2009 at 9:19 am

    I used to only decorate with neutrals and would put them up sometime in September through the holidays and just add and subtract things. The last couple years I have added more Halloween stuff which only stay up for October. My husband is HUGE in to Halloween. I find it easier to keep stuff up for a few months and just change a few things. I do only seem to decorate in the fall and winter though.

    Reply
  24. kim schoppa says

    October 11, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    I love all your pumpkins. Where did you get the white ceramic one if you don't mind me asking? I am feeling inspired add a little "fall" to my house!

    Reply
  25. Becky says

    October 11, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Very pretty! Since I am lazy too, I love the idea of putting up fall decorations that work from Sept. until after Thanksgiving. I have a few Halloweeny things…for the kids…but not much.

    Reply
  26. Leslie says

    October 12, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    beautiful!
    I've found that I also try to take more pumpkin-y approach to decorating for fall/ Halloween- but because it means less stuff to store for the rest of the year!! 🙂

    Reply
  27. KatieJ says

    October 15, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    Ah disregard my last comment (on the runner) I found the close up! What a great blog you have, you are being added to my reader right now.

    Reply
  28. Ashley@DesignBuildLove.co says

    September 15, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    totally LOVE your tablescape and am featuring it tomorrow on my blog! 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Pepper Design Blog » Blog Archive » For the Love of Burlap: Easy DIY Table Runners says:
    November 15, 2010 at 2:11 am

    […] from top: Apples and Onions, Living with Lindsay and Style Me […]

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  2. Fall Pinspiration | | Design Build LoveDesign Build Love says:
    September 16, 2011 at 10:00 am

    […] {source} […]

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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