I love fall. I love everything about it. Yes, I know in some parts of the country the arrival of Fall also signals that a long cold winter is near. But I don’t like to think that way. I don’t want to live in dread of a cold dark season when I can enjoy the gifts in front of me right at this moment.
I like to embrace Fall as something special that happens just once a year, from September through November. The sometimes still warm-enough sunny season when leaves are turning brilliant shades of orange and brown and red, nights are cool and cozy and the smell of pumpkins, cloves and cinnamon fill my kitchen. That is a great season!
I try to find something to love about every season, but Fall is definitely my favorite.
While we are still in summer mode around our house (school doesn’t start until next week!), I am starting to let my mind wander to all the things I love about Fall.
Here are 5 things you can do right now to embrace the season ahead!
1. Slowly transition from summer decor to fall.
I love to use subtle touches rather than go all out with theme or seasonal decor. Perfect fall decor for me would be a few leaves, pine cones, moss or apples gathered together in a simple centerpiece. I’ve written a lot about Fall decor, you might find some inspiration by scrolling through my Fall decorating category on my blog.
2. Do some early Fall yard clean up!
I shared lots of tips here for things you might want to think about now to prepare your yard & garden for fall.
3. Finish your outside painting projects!
Once the weather gets too cold you can’t paint outside any longer so give your furniture and accessories a fresh coat of paint while you still can! I recently painted a Goodwill owl by taking him outside on the lawn to spray paint, you can see how he turned out here!
Now is also a great time to get that front door painted so it will be fresh and pretty for your seasonal wreaths and welcoming guests! I’m speaking to myself here, I’ve been dragging my feet forever on deciding what color to paint mine. Here are some pretty door colors to inspire you!
4. Establish Fall homemaking routines.
I have several homemaking routines that I use to keep my life sane. My house is not perfectly clean by any stretch of the imagination, but the regular daily routines I’ve established help keep my house from getting out of control. Fall is the perfect time to just say no to CHAOS and get yourself going on a few simple routines that will make this season more enjoyable!
Here is a post outlining my daily routines:
Four Simple Homemaking Routines {How I Keep My Home Clean Enough}
5. Prayerfully set Fall goals and set up or organize your family command center.
Fall tends to be the season where kids go back to school and life goes back to a regular rhythm. For most of us that rhythm can be at quite a fast pace, so a command center (I use the chalkboard, in the photo above) and a few Fall goals can help ease that transition!
Here are a few posts to inspire you as you get organized for Fall:
When Good Enough is Good Enough
When You Think Your House is Too Small to Be Organized
God made Fall beautiful in so many ways, it really is my favorite season.
What is your favorite thing about Fall?
Every year (for the past five years!) I host a big month long Fall Nesting party at The Inspired Room. If you want inspiration for getting your home in order and pretty for fall and the upcoming holidays, join us at The Inspired Room anytime!
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I’ve always loved Fall! Now that we’ve moved from the Northern part of the US to the Deep South, I love it even more (the summers here take some getting used to…). I can’t wait for jeans and sweatshirt weather.
I turned all my calendars to September yesterday because I just couldn’t wait to see the beautiful fall scenes, and set a fall scene on my laptop’s desktop background, I am ready for my favorite season and welcome it with great anticipation.
I love fall candles, especially pumpkin spice and make sure I have lots of those around.
I long for the first crisp cooler morning….which will still be awhile here in north Texas.
You are a girl after my own heart! I’m very excited about fall!
I love Fall too. In fact I’m drawn to the colors of Fall in my decorating. I just can’t get away from the darker muted colors. But what I wanted to say before getting side-tracked is we just moved to a new house with lots of Maple trees and I’m so excited to see the colors in a few weeks.
Oh, you are lucky! I wish we had more maple trees around here!!
Out come the quilts, candles, sweats, soups, scarves, pumpkins …
Amen.
Fall is my favorite, too. I love the brisk weather, cool walks outside, lattes, sweaters, cuddling with blankets….
sounds like a perfect fall day …
An Autumn Haiku:
Sleepy autumn trees
Blush deep and then so slowly
Begin undressing.
;<)
I love fall, the colors, the smells, the slighter cool temperatures. Pulling my cozy sweaters out of the end of summer is one of my favorite things, apple cider, pumpkins… Ahh…can you tell fall is my favorite? I just posted out “Fall Fun” list today: http://marikocreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/fall-fun-list.html
I am a Fall luver. The cozy snugly times… Nesting , and fluffing.
Fall in the South ( now live in North Central Florida ) is a lot different from NYC where I moved from. But I luv it here.
Visit my blog
http://www.simplymedesignsbygee.blogspot.com
to see my post on getting ready for fall.
Cheers, Gee
I am passionate about fall. 🙂 It is the best season EVER… especially with kids. So many fun fall activities!! Unfortunately, the high here is supposed to be in the 90’s all next week, so it won’t feel that way for a little while here yet… Sigh… (in Kansas City, MO)…. But I can dream, right? And make a fall wreath? 🙂
Thanks for the ideas!!!
Dana
Summer is always my most favorite months, but I always find myself looking forward to those cooler fall temperatures, decor, pumpkins, hot chocolates, sweatshirts…Maybe I’m a fall girl after all.
My favorite thing about fall is making rooms cozy and inviting… and making lots of my original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins to decorate with ;0) My blog has my ‘Fast, Cheap & Easy’ low-cost seasonal decorating ideas to inspire you, and you can also buy my pumpkins there: http://www.HOMEWARDfoundDecor.com
Your fall posts are my FAVE, Melissa! And not just all your mad fall decorating skillz, but also your tips and ideas for living more thoughtfully and organized. You are amazing!
Oh ya, can you share the link for those awesome velvety pumpkins? I remember seeing those before and I LOVE them.
Oh yes, they are from the lovely girls at Love Feast Table. http://shop.lovefeasttable.com/ But, I’ll give you a little tip. I’ll have a post up on my blog early in the week with a special discount code on those velvety pumpkins, just for my readers! YAY! 🙂
My hubby and I love fall the best of all seasons! The crisp air, long walks, wonderful colors that show off God’s handiwork, and the smells of baked goods & candles.
I’m not a big decorator, nor do we have trees in our yard, but heading into the Smoky Mountains for a look at God’s miraculous handiwork always amazes me!!
Fall is by far my favorite season. The crisp air, small town festivals, pies, hay bales, and pumpkin spiced candles make for cozy comfort in my life. I, too, sprinkle decorations here and there-just to pump up the coziness factor, and bring a little of the outside indoors.
God’s handiwork is amazing to me during the harvest time of year. Love your tips for organization. Makes it easy, breezy.
Happy Fall, all ~Debra
Fall is by far my favorite season. The crisp air, small town festivals, pies, hay bales, and pumpkin spiced candles make for cozy comfort in my life. I, too, sprinkle decorations here and there-just to pump up the coziness factor, and bring a little of the outside indoors.
God’s handiwork is amazing to me during the harvest time of year. Love your tips for organization. Makes it easy, breezy.
Happy Fall, all ~Debra
Just can’t get into that mode yet. It was 90 degrees today and SO un-fallish here. Plus I have adult kids, no school stuff to ready. Nice ideas though for later into Sept. for me.
As with seasons, we change, our surroundings change. I know that even with an empty nest and adult kids have their lives full, we can remember that, yes, it’s lonesome! It’s the time of year I look for antiques, shop for a favorite candle, decorate my heart knowing God doesn’t change! This year I have no home to decorate. But I will find an apartment, gather my things from storage! I’ll look for a Christian women’s night class, I’ll make new friends! Decorate my life from inside out. Fall means move forward to anticipate all the gifts we really do have!
I have always loved fall. God even allowed our wedding date to be peak color weekend in October in Michigan. Now he’s transplanted us to the southwest. For “color” we have to drive about two hours. Fall is the only time I get homesick like crazy. But I still decorate for it! And love knowing I’m where God wants me.
I LOVE the colors, the crisp edge to the air, the coziness, the fall decor in my home, and fires in the fireplace!
Fall is definitely my favourite season! To move from stifling temperatures and humidity of Southern Ontari,- to the crisp mornings and evenings of September, I feel I can breath and think again.
I have the joy of driving through mapled hills on my way to work each day, and it seems each morning brings new bits of colour. It’s like watching God add a new element to His canvas each time I make the trip. The change of the calendar to Sept. brings with it our anniversary – 20th this year! Yes, fall is indeed my favourite season.
Thank you, Melissa! I hung my fall wreath on my front door yesterday morning. I, too, L-O-V-E fall! Can’t wait to read through your ideas.
Fall is an awesome season–vivid colors and changing foliage. I also think it’s a great time to ask family members to list down things we are grateful for. God is faithful and good no matter what the economic or political situation is any place on this earth.