FALL DECOR IDEAS UNDER $30

I join most 20-something girls in this part of the world when I say that fall is my favorite season...though I’m a lifelong Floridian, I do whatever I can to savor the new and beautiful parts of every season, even if that means day-long drives to see colorful leaves and pick a few bushels of apples.

Since I can’t jet off every weekend to experience fall in new locales, I’ve done my best these past few years to bring fall into the place where I spend the most time--my home--in order to live the season to the fullest. Here are a few budget-friendly ideas to decorate and fill your home with seasonal goodness during the most wonderful time of the year!

1. A WELCOMING DOORSTEP | The first time I pulled up to my new house, before I signed a lease or even looked inside, I IMMEDIATELY pictured how adorable my tiny front porch would look come fall. A pair of pumpkins, two pots of mums and a wreath on the door are a recipe for instant charm. Trader Joe’s always has great deals on seasonal plants (and pumpkins!), and I’ve been using the same fall wreath for years (I actually made it myself in college!). I prefer neutral and natural textures for wreaths, especially when used indoors--fingers crossed I'll find a good cotton wreath this year!

2. A FESTIVE FIREPLACE | For the first time in my life, my home has a working fireplace--basically heaven for an interior designer with no money, as it’s easy and fun to dress up the mantel according to the seasons. A swag of garland (Hobby Lobby and Michaels have strands on sale all the time--get those coupons ready, guys), a few  candlesticks, and we’re ready for a cozy night in. I like to use ivory or gold candles with fun candlestick holders--I'll probably swap them out for white ones for winter!

3. CANDLES EVERYWHERE | Is it just me, or does fall have a distinct smell? I have a tradition of buying big candles from White Barn and leaving them burning nearly anytime I’m home--even if it’s still 95 and humid outside, the inside of my home essentially always smells like apple cider and pumpkin pie.

4. BLANKETS | Blankets are essential for fall, which is one reason why I’ve amassed a collection over the past few years...I love swapping out my lightweight summer striped blankets for the softer plaids of my fall blankets. I drape them on my sofa and armchair, and keep a basket in my living room with extras, easy to grab for a picnic or bonfire in the backyard.

Now, here's hoping the temperatures start to feel a little bit like fall, right?

WHAT IRMA TAUGHT ME

Though, as a Floridian, I’ve lived through probably dozens of hurricanes, this season has been one for the books--and has marked the first time that my life and home were significantly impacted by a storm. Two weeks afterward, though, I’m nearly back to normal--and able to look at those events with a fresh perspective. Here are just a few of the things that Irma taught me in these past few weeks.

FAITH

Natural disasters have a way of showing us our humanity--there’s not much we can do when they strike besides prepare, pray, and do our best to recover and help each other out when it’s over. Encountering shocking photos and reports of flooding from spots just steps from my home, I had no choice but to pray and be thankful that my puppy, myself and my loved ones were safe.

ACCEPTING/ASKING FOR HELP

This isn’t a quality that comes naturally to me, but sometimes there’s not a choice. I encountered acts of kindness that I’ll never forget, from the employee at a South Carolina Chick-fil-a who brewed me a fresh pot of coffee five minutes before closing, to my sister and brother-in-law who sheltered me for nearly two weeks, to my landlord hanging my soaking-wet clothing and shoes all around her own house to keep them from being ruined, to my Dad driving three hours to Jacksonville to help with an hour or two of yardwork. It’s deeply moving to know that these people didn’t think twice about helping out--and something to remember, as sometimes small gestures can leave a big impact.

GRATITUDE

When your home is damaged in a storm, it’s inevitable that material things will be lost--while I was fortunate to have a relatively small amount of flooding and damage to my home, I joined my neighbors in leaving a good deal of my possessions in a heap on the curb. It’s been a freeing reminder that life is about so much more than stuff...and that things like a roof over my head, a sunny day, and a cold refrigerator are gifts to be cherished (not to mention loving and supportive family and friends).

COMMUNITY

I heard it said somewhere that these storms have brought the worst of mother nature, but brought out the best of humanity. I’ve already witnessed neighbors helping each other out, made friends with passers-by asking how my home fared in the storm, and seen my neighborhood come together to support each other--both residents and small businesses. While I’ve hardly been here for three months, it’s already given me hope in a world that seems riddled with tragedy!

NEW WORK | FORGOTTEN COAST SERIES

It’s about time I update this old thing, huh? Plenty of updates and news to come (from my new home in JACKSONVILLE! And no, I didn’t foresee this move when I named my dog earlier this year...), but I wanted to share a little bit about the art I worked on during my last few weeks in Tallahassee.

If you’ve seen me in the last two years, you probably know how tough the grad school journey has been (sometimes I feel like the before and after version of me is similar to those before/after shots of presidents at the start and end of their term...ha!). So, naturally, some time (read: two solid months) was necessary to unwind, reclaim a normal sleep schedule, get anxiety in check, and actually do fun things!

I took a nearly two-year hiatus from painting during school--partly due to a lack of time, partly due to a lack of creative energy, partly due to a puppy who’ll pick up any and everything left on the floor. I was so excited to get back into it that I spent a few days exploring new subject matter and new techniques. Long story short, two years of not creating or selling many paintings means I had a lot of the same old same hanging on my wall for way too long...so I covered them in a light coat of white paint and got to work recovering!

This project was one of the first times that painting was a personal experience for me--old paintings held old memories, new subject matter reflected the changes that’ve taken place in my life since moving to Tallahassee--in each of these paintings, the hues and patterns of old paintings peek through and form a base for the multiple layers of color and texture used in each piece (acrylic paint, pastel, crayon, marker, pen…#leftovercraftsupplies).

Florida's Forgotten Coast is a truly special place--only a short drive from Tallahassee, the area is full of quiet beaches, nature preserves, friendly folks and places that are reminiscent of what Florida used to be. Pristine nature, gorgeous scenery, relaxing vibes--and the best oysters I've ever had! It's like going back to another time, and many spots became a quiet escape from the stresses of life and grad school. 

It was a really fun process to create these paintings, relive old and new memories, and explore new places--good and bad--as I painted. You can view a few of these pieces in my shop--I hope you enjoy!

FIVE SIMPLE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME FOR SPRING

The last two years of my life have been the first time I’ve experienced real, almost-true seasons, by Florida standards at least. I know summer all too well, my love of fall knows no bounds, I’ve gotten a glimpse or two of winter, and have newly grown to love spring as a Tallahassee resident.

As an interior designer and, you know, an extremely sentimental human, I love to decorate my home with subtle nods to the seasons. While I definitely go all-out for Christmas (see some photos here), I’ve learned to love and appreciate the other seasons as well--the fact that they’re not permanent and beautiful in their own respect.

Deep thoughts aside, here are a few ideas to spruce up your home for Spring!

via pampashop

1. THROW BLANKETS  |  It’s no secret that I love a good throw blanket. I drape them over the couch or armchairs according to the season, and then stash the out-of-season ones in a cute basket in my living room for guests to use when they visit. I like the colors and patterns of this one as a good winter-to-spring transition--Target and Homegoods are also great places to get blankets at a reasonable cost!

via Studio M

1. FRESH FLOWERS  |  I know I know, for spring, groundbreaking...but flowers are to spring as Christmas trees are to winter. You’ve just gotta do it. I’ve made a habit of grabbing the cheapest pretty bouquet to kick off my weekly Trader Joe’s run, and arranging them throughout my house in little jars or vases. I recently picked up potted gerbera daisies in a buttery yellow and coral pink for a longer-term floral investment...we’ll see how that goes.

2. WREATH |  I’ve yet to purchase a spring wreath, and I’ll be real--I miss how happy my door looked with a wreath during fall and christmas. I’m eyeing this one and this boxwood number--I’m not big on fake florals, and I think a natural looking, light and green is bold and fresh enough to stand on its own! I’m also considering a DIY with a grapevine and some eucalyptus…

3. OVEN MITTS + KITCHEN TOWELS  |  Sounds weird, but one of the first things I swap out at the start of a new season are my oven mitts and kitchen towels. I like to grab particularly pretty seasonal oven mitts and towels on sale at places like Sur la Table and Williams-Sonoma--pretty sure I got my spring and Christmas ones for $4 a pop!

4. SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS  |  Another silly little thing--but it’s so fun to change these around throughout the year and keep them out on the dining table. I suggest the Pilgrim Pair (a timeless classic that I’m pretty sure everyone’s parents have on their Thanksgiving table) to start--fun ones are always hiding out at thrift and antique stores when you’re ready to grow your collection :)

THE VALUE OF A DAYCATION

This past weekend, I took a day trip to Apalachicola with my mom and youngest sister, who were in town to visit me, but mostly to meet my puppy before he grows up (but who can blame them?). We bopped around Tallahassee on Friday and Saturday, where I showed them around a few of my favorite shops and eateries--the opportunity to help the pup with socialization has me eating al fresco all the time and it’s the best!

We decided to take a Sunday afternoon trip to Apalachicola, a little seaside town about an hour and a half southwest of Tallahassee. If you’re not familiar, the city is known for its oysters--and for good reason--ours tasted like they were plucked from the bay and immediately placed on our table. As a native of the so-called “Sailfish Capital of the World,” I love some quality seafood--it’s hard to come by in the landlocked capital city.

Since Jackson came with us, our ability to pop in and out of shops was pretty limited, and most of the town shuts down early on Sunday (including Oyster City Brewing Company, where I was hoping for a brew or two!)--yet, I still returned back home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I think sometimes a change of scenery can be like a little reset button for a worn-out spirit--as for me, a trip to the coast refreshes me almost instantly. There’s a peace and excitement in watching ocean waves, eating dinner with a view of the bay, and even driving over a bridge that spans salt marshes. And I mean, a puppy playing in the waves and chasing seagulls doesn’t hurt.

A daycation doesn’t even need to take place in a city outside your own--I visited a new-to-me park last weekend with my sister and brother-in-law and felt refreshed after a walk around the lakes and woods. It doesn’t take much! 

Here are some of our favorite restaurants and spots in Apalachicola--the town is small enough to explore in an afternoon, but I'd jump at the chance to spend a weekend eating oysters on the half-shell and walking Jackson along the boardwalks!

Boss Oyster: Beautiful views (it’s right on the water!), amazing oysters, and great fish dip.

Oyster Bones: Cute little pet store--good for bringing your dog (and buying nautical-themed dog treats)

Oyster City Brewing Company: We didn’t make it here, but walked by and it looked super fun! I love brewery atmospheres and have this at the top of my list for my next visit.