Ah, fall. Cooler temperatures, cozy scarves, and pumpkin spice–everything.
This year, I want to be conservative with my finances and my space, but still fully relish this delightful season. If you also watched Marie Kondo’s Netflix special and were inspired to de-clutter, you’ve learned to thoughtfully consider what you add to your life and home. So, here’s to embracing the season . . . while being financially savvy and mindful of how much inventory I’m signing up to store at the season’s end.
1. Multiple Uses: 
Invest in items that work for more than one season. These pine cones reflect autumn, but they’ll also support Christmas and winter displays. (And are free for those of you fortunate enough to live near pine trees!) Evergreen topiaries can be dressed for any occasion. Bowls or trays in neutral colors or a material that coordinates with your style (think: wood, brass, silver, copper, mercury glass, galvanized tin, etc) can flow from one season to the next by changing what you put inside. So, shop with flexibility in mind.
2. Embellish Existing Elements: 
This teapot of greens gets a few autumn colored companions (from the Dollar Tree), and it’s ready for the season.
Most of the year, the wreath below adds some much needed green to my desert spaces. By wrapping a beaded garland around it and adding some leaves, it says, “Hello, Harvest!”
Find a wreath with a basic, non-season-specific leaf for your base. Add garlands, floral picks, or ribbons appropriate for the season, and you also put to work Tip #1!
3. Repeat after me: Repetition!
One of the reasons store displays or magazine spreads look so pulled together is because they employ the design principle of repetition to create theme and a defined style. You can do that! 
Find an inexpensive item you can tuck in and around your more unique pieces to pull them all together. Pine cones, acorns, pumpkins, ribbons, tea lights—there are so many options. In your home store or online look for “vase fillers.” These bagged beauties specialize in small but abundant pieces that naturally repeat. And repetition reveals intentionality in your design.
4. Color Cues:
Consider using the colors already present in a room to translate the season. Fall isn’t restricted to yellow, orange, and brown anymore. You can find autumn-themed treasures in every color scheme these days. The result is a harmonious environment that echoes the season, without shouting it. How does this save money? When you coordinate with your current color scheme, it’s easier to pull from inventory you already have to support your theme.
In this white and gray example from my dining room, I’m using place mats, plates, napkins, napkin rings, and a tray that are put to work year round. The pine cones, acorns, and mini pumpkins are the only season-specific items (and small, taboot), but they pack plenty of punch by gathering them into a central focus point.
It is possible to scimp on purchases without scimping on joy! Now where’s that apple cider . . .
Happy Fall!
We like to pass around a bowl of letters and say something(s) we’re thankful for that begins with the letter we draw out of the bowl. This simple activity is appropriate for almost any age, can be deep or light-hearted, and requires nominal prep. You can also use scrabble tiles, magnet letters, flashcards, etc.
To keep young guests occupied before the meal, ask them to be traveling artists! They can trace their hand or one of the adults and turn it into a turkey. We also supplied some fun stickers because what turkey doesn’t want a mustache?
Bright colors, mixed with neutrals say, “I see you Autumn, but I’m squeezing out every last ounce of summer’s brightness before we go!”
Centerpieces don’t have to be elaborate. Needing something fast and that didn’t require leaving the house, I pilfered the shrubs for plant life. Stemless wine glasses made for quick casual vases and also kept the arrangement low, to promote conversation.
