My House Finally Feels Like Fall
Fall is not my favorite season, but I do enjoy the decorations. I’m late in decorating this year and thought that winter just might arrive before I finally got around to decorating. Last Sunday I had a bit of time to pull out my boxes and look through my things. It’s always fun to unwrap each item from its tissue paper and to refresh my memory on what I have.
My goal this year was to use what I have and not to buy anything, even fresh gourds. My formal living room is my favorite room to decorate because of the fireplace. The colors in this room work perfectly for fall.
This is the view from just inside the foyer.
This view is from the main hall.
The wooden box that I found in my basement this summer and had been using on the porch to hold beach towels came inside and now holds dried gourds. Many of these large gourds were grown by my dad and are twenty years old.
More dried gourds fill a white dish on the mantel. To learn how to dry your own gourds to use year after year, click here, here, or here.
Pinecones, a pressed Japanese Maple card made by my grandmother, a cute squirrel, a candle and a gold maple leaf adorn this chest. 
This Vermont Maple leaf is really a Christmas ornament.
I used dried gourds all over. I like their texture and subtle color.
This old plate has a masculine fall scene. 
More gourds fill an old bowl on my buffet in the dining room.
Dried gourds decorate the top of my pie safe. The two vases are Czechoslovakian.
It looks like my theme for this year’s decorating is dried gourds. I’ve resisted so far, but I’ll admit that I really want to buy some colorful fresh ones to use, too.
Thanks for coming along on this mini-tour. I did a small amount of Halloween decorating that I’ll share as soon as I can take pictures in day light, which might not be until next weekend. It’s getting darker earlier and earlier and getting to the time of year where I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. Do the shorter days make you tired? My body thinks it is supposed to go to sleep as soon as it gets dark outside.
Sharing With:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Paula, your home is lovely. Thanks for sharing your fall decorating ideas. I love the idea of using what you have…we all need to do more of that. Carla
Looks so nice and cozy.
Such a beautiful room Paula! Your home is so warm and inviting. All the fall touches look so nice and I love gourds.
Beautiful! Fresh out of a Better Homes and Garden magazine, simple and not too overboard but very “festive” and homey 🙂
Everything looks so pretty! I love all the gourds. I am going to try to preserve some…thanks for sharing the info.
Jennifer
Beautiful, Paula! I can see why you like decorating in here. At first I thought you attached fall fabric to your valances but now I see the colors pick up the colors in those beautiful oval prints.
Paula, I just love your living room, and your fall displays are so pretty. I really like how personalized and meaningful your treasures are. The paneled wall is quite fantastic.
Yes, I also find myself feeling more tired as the days grow shorter. It’s getting more and more difficult to leave my cozy bed in the mornings!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen your living room Paula, its fresh and cozy and I think it lends itself well to fall. I’ve got a bunch of dried gourds in the basement, I’m going to bring them up…thanks for the tour and inspiration.
i do love that leaf ornament-what a great idea, displaying it in fall. and also loving the gourd in the little white vase! i put all my white away, but this is a great idea!
What a beautiful room, Paula. It’s decorated so tastefully. My eye was drawn to the orange pitcher/vase. I really like the sideboard/chest in your living room. Everything looks like fall, in a very unique way.
Your house is so, so pretty Paula! You have everything arranged so tastefully. That is not one of my strong points! I love the box with the gourds in it. 🙂
Paula,
Your home looks beautiful! The texture of gourds is pretty awesome and each one is unique!
I agree…this evening it felt like 10pm, but only 8pm…is that too early for bed?
Wendy
Paula, your home is so pretty! I really like all of your fall touches around your living room. I really like your plates. Are they family heirlooms?
Beautiful home! And that chest in the living room is awesome!!! 🙂
so if I ever come visit your home, I’ll be tryin’ to squeeze your gourd box and those gourds into the mini-van :))….just so you know :))
Thank you for the beautiful tour of your living area. It is so warm and inviting. What a treasure you have in the gourds.. I adore your toppers and old plates… hugs ~lynne~
How cute is your home! I love your decorations!
xo
That’s a great idea to use the Christmas ornament as a fall decoration! I have a similar one.
So beautiful! Love the “Christmas decoration”…it sure looks like it belongs there!
I love the wreath over your fireplace and all those gourds are gorgeous!
What a gorgeous home you have! And I love the decor, it’s simple and beautiful… nice job!
I’m loving your fall decor!!
Fall is my favorite time of year. Your livingroom looked lovely!