Our family Thanksgiving is at our house this year in spite of its half-remodeled state and I’m excited to host it. But I couldn’t do it without at least a little decorating. We have absolutely nothing hung on the walls, we’re walking around on awful 80’s carpet, the baseboards are off, there are building supplies stacked halfway to the ceiling, but I was determined there would be at least a pumpkin somewhere.
So I created four little vignettes – one on the mantel, two on the end tables beside the wood stove and one outside the front door:
I’ve been reading a lot of Houzz, Cultivate and YHL, so I’ve been soaking up a lot of style tips (not that I’m necessarily successful, but I’m trying). Many of these sites preach “less is more” and “casual simplicity.” So I tried to choose a few things that worked with fall colors, created varying heights and had personal significance and here’s what I came up with for the mantel:
My dad built the old red frame you see there. It’s made from driftwood that washed up on the beach near where I grew up (a designer would be so proud – sentimental value and repurposed materials). The books are bibles that I love, the basket came from a mission trip to the Philippines and the red bottle was a wedding gift five years ago.
And I do kind of love the little gourd as the sole official salute to Thanksgiving:
Remember when we first got the house and made all these great finds? I’ve finally managed to display a couple of them! I cleaned up the old black lantern and dusted the gorgeous Royal typewriter, plopped them on an end table, added a little pumpkin and I was done. And I think it looks great:
On the other side of our cute old stove, I leaned an adorable canvas I have been dying to hang but haven’t because we’ve been painting every wall in the house. I added three photo books of our family. From there I wasn’t sure. I threw in some fall leaves and a basket, then a warm brown scarf and some berries.
It just wasn’t working for me. So I reminded myself that less is more and took off the scarf and berries. Now I like it much better:
And outside, the kids and I studded a big orange pumpkin with brass tacks. We wrapped a little fall garland around the bottom and that’s our front entry decoration.
There are a few other touches scattered around here and there and there will be a few more on the day of our family dinner, but now you’ve seen most of my fall decor. Next year, I’ll decorate again, but hopefully in a substantially completed remodel!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. May the blessings continue to flow.
What do your decorations look like this fall season? Do you go all out or keep it simple? Feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page!
House and Ten 