Style, Decor & More: 2015 Fall Home Tour! {Decorate On A Budget!}

2015 Fall Home Tour! {Decorate On A Budget!}


It seems like only a short time ago I was preparing last year's Fall Home Tour and here we are again! With Halloween only ten days away and my personal goal to have had this post up in September, I am running behind schedule. {smile} There have been so many places to go and things to do that sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day. But let's focus on the positive! Our Fall Home Tour 2015 is LIVE!


For those of you who don't know me or don't follow my blog, you will soon discover that I love decorating on a dime. Who doesn't love a deal, right? Sure, I splurge from time to time, but usually I choose thrifty (not spendthrift) ways to decorate my home. 

One of the most inexpensive ways to decorate is to use what you already have. Vases, candlesticks, bowls, theme-colored pillows, lanterns, etc. I added lanterns because I've wanted a great big lantern to set at the base of my fireplace this year, but I'm still searching. I've seen other bloggers using them in their fall decorating and I love the cozy look and feel. Lanterns can also be decorated to change with the seasons and can be updated all year round using spring florals, fall leaves and winter berries! 

Another great way to save on decorating is to work with what nature gives us! It doesn't get any better than FREE! My latest obsession has been decorating with hydrangeas! I've always loved hydrangeas, but never realized how much I would enjoy having them indoors! The other day I counted 17 hydrangea bushes & trees around my house. There's an overabundance this year and since I've learned how to dry them, I've been placing them throughout the entire house. There are so many reasons to love hydrangeas! They're hardy for one! I still have a few bushes that are producing fresh blooms in October! They also bloom all summer long! In fall, I cut their beautifully dried blooms and enjoy them indoors all winter long. They will last until spring and then I can start over again in fall.  If you don't personally have hydrangeas, ask a neighbor or family member for a few blooms.  This is the time of the year when many people cut back their shrubs in order to prepare for winter and if they are like me, they'll be happy to give you some dried blooms.

Warning: You are going to be tired of hydrangeas by the time you finish the home tour!  

Along with dried hydrangeas mentioned above, nature also provides us with pinecones, acorns, and leaves. If you are lucky enough, you may even have berries in your backyard! Place these organic findings in an apothecary jar and set on top of a mantel or coffee table for a festive fall feel. As Christmas time approaches, tie a red ribbon around the jar (or a color to go with your theme). A blue or silver ribbon can be used for Hanukkah. See...Super easy! 

I drove out to Amish country to pick up my mums and pumpkins, but noticed that our local grocery store had both available at reasonable prices. $3.99 for a very large pumpkin - not bad. If you have young children who will eat the pumpkin seeds, even a better deal! :)

Note: Even if you are told the mums you purchase are not hardy, plant them anyway. In the past I've been told they won't survive the winter and even with the deep freeze of last winter, mine have come back! They're a little scrawny, but they survived!

Now, I know the outside is lacking decor, but I don't like to spend time decorating the outside of the house. We are set way back off the road and quite frankly, other than the postal carrier and a few of my husband's clients, nobody really sees it.  

I am proud of the wreaths I made last year (see below). They were very inexpensive to make using JoAnn Fabric coupons! 

To decorate the porch, I removed the dead petunias and replaced them with, you guessed it, hydrangeas! Then I added pumpkins and mums from Amish country and voila! No fuss and it still looks welcoming nonetheless. 



Come on in...


Foyer

When guests do come to visit, the first thing they will see when they enter my home are the festive fall goodies arranged on a chest in the foyer. I'm loving the velvety chocolate pumpkin in the upper left corner. I purchased it on sale a few weeks ago at TJMaxx for only $6! There are gorgeous plush pumpkins on Etsy too, but much more expensive than this cute little pumpkin. I thought to embellish it with pearls...maybe next year.  Everything else (except for the three small pumpkins) are from past years. All bargain finds, I can assure you!


Music Room

Yes, more hydrangeas on the mantel in the music room. I picked them a few weeks ago after they had already dried on the stem. Drying Tip: If you have fresh hydrangea blooms, you can place them in a cool area, such as the garage. Add very little water to the bottom of a container and let the hydrangeas sit for a week or two. As they dry, they should keep their color and last through the winter months.


Family Room



The mercury glass gourds were sitting pretty on display at my local Homegoods store and their sparkle immediately caught my eye. I looked at the price tag and in the cart they went. Their glam impact in the family room is well worth the price of $12.99 each! I noticed that the gourds appear smaller in the photograph. Just to give you a size reference, the tallest gourd is 13 1/2" in height. 



After Thanksgiving (or possibly earlier), I'll be searching for a sale on fall pillows!


Kitchen 


The kitchen table is set with fall decor from the yard and I've brought in more hydrangeas to dry. Notice I've added only a small amount of water to the vase and in the evenings I'll place the flowers in the garage to keep cool. (See drying tip above). It's been a few days so far, and they look pretty good! 

Note the amber crystals on the chandelier in the background! These colorful prism drops are very inexpensive on ebay and add a festive feel to any room. I also have red prism drops for Christmas time! 
   

The tiny golden pumpkins were added to the tabletop this year and are another TJMaxx fab find. I can't remember exactly how much I paid, but I know a set of 3 were under $10.      

I keep it simple on the table in the kitchen using pinecones and leaves found in the woods in our backyard. Adding natural elements to the decor is not only great for the pocketbook, but adds a pleasing balance of organic beauty and texture. 

The centerpiece is a large pumpkin I purchased a few years ago, placed in an urn which usually serves as a fruit bowl.



I almost forgot the Cinderella pumpkin! My daughter and I are obsessed with anything and everything Cinderella, so this was my version of what I thought a Cinderella pumpkin would look like.  I used self-stick rhinestone appliques from Joann Fabric. The entire applique sheet costs around $3-$4 with a 50% off coupon. The rhinestones are difficult to remove and should last for years to come!

Well, that's how I decorate on a budget. I would love to hear your decorating ideas too! Please feel free to share with us in the comments below or email me at styledecor1 at gmail dot com! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Update!  Reader, Kathi Denaher, suggested burlap as an inexpensive material to use for budget-friendly projects, such as creating a table runner, making burlap pumpkins and more! Thanks, Kathi! I love working with burlap and completely forgot to mention it!
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21 comments :

  1. You have a beautiful home and I'm dying to see more of your kitchen.

    Burlap is inexpensive and can be used for pumpkins, table runners and other diy decor.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Kathi! You are right. I forgot to mention burlap! I'm going to add it to my post right now!

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  2. Nice photos. I like to fill up my vases with pinecones and acorns. We have a park down the street where we find great big cones and acorns. The kids have fun hunting for them and it keeps them busy for quite some time.

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    1. Yes. Love using pinecones and acorns too! I didn't have too many this year. Not sure why?
      Thanks so much for stopping by, Melanie!
      Have a great week!
      nancy

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  3. Fall style decor looks so amazing and stylish just amazing :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Oksana! (Love the name Oksana - so pretty).
      I hope the fall ideas inspire!
      Have a great week!
      nancy

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  4. Thanks for the tips! You have a lovely house.

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    1. Thanks so much, Deborah. I hope the ideas have inspired (if just a little).
      Have a great week!
      nancy

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  5. Wow, everything is so gorgeous! I especially love the mercury glass gourds! So pretty!

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    1. The gourds are my favorite too, Kassie!
      Thanks so much for stopping by!
      nancy

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  6. What a beautiful home, and you did a lovely job decorating it. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by, Kara!
      Have a great week!
      nancy

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  7. What a beautiful home and decorations!

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    1. Thanks so much, Sarh. I home you were able to get a few decorating ideas! :)
      Have a great week!
      nancy

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  8. Love your decor ideas. All of your decorations are so cozy and inviting.

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    1. Thanks, Jeannie! I appreciate your kind comments. Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

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  9. Looks very simple and inviting! I understand you not wanting to do much outside. We are on a private road and every house is 2-5 acres away from each other, so why bother? I often cook corn and save the husks for some fun wreath and napkin ring crafts. I use pinecones a lot too! We have way too many of those!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Suzi. Great idea using corn husks for wreaths and napkin rings. I've got to try that! Love that you have 2-5 acre properties in your neck of the woods! Nice and private! :)

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  10. I love the decor and style that you feature, and keeping it on a budget is a great idea. Thanks for the pointers.

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    1. I hope it helped inspire! Thanks for stopping by, Jerry!

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