fall decor Archives - One Delightful Life

Any Kansan will tell you that one of the many reasons we love our “flyover state” is because of its ever-changing seasons. For me, a mental shift occurs when I see the towering wild sunflowers basking in the afternoon sunshine. And the shift in outdoor temperature signals one thing: time to decorate our home for autumn.

Because I love to decorate, I tend to incorporate new items each season and this season is no exception. My new fav addition this year is this hand-painted wooden sign on the mantel made by From Mama’s Porch purchased at The Vintage Rhinestone. It set the tone for the rest of the room from the Pumpkin Spice melts giving it a seasonal fragrance to the napkins on our dining room table.

I took a note from designer Joanna Gaines and turned my antique book backward this year and topped them with little ceramic birds. These little guys make a year-round appearance in our home because we (and by we I mean my pilot boyfriend) is obsessed with birds. Why? Say it with me…”because they FLY.”

Create height and layers in your decorating to give it dimension. Turning antique books backwards is all the rage right now. — Create height and layers in your decorating to give it dimension.

I’m a big believer in decorating with bargain finds or crafting items with a bit of do-it-yourself ingenuity. These plastic pumpkins were way too bright for the neutral earth tones of our home decor so I simply painted them with Martha Stewart acrylic paint.

I'm pretty sure real pumpkins don't come with bright neon yellow stripes. Am I right? — I’m pretty sure real pumpkins don’t come with bright neon yellow stripes. Am I right?

Cover the stem with blue painter's tape prior to painting. — Cover the stem with blue painter’s tape prior to painting.

I like how the brush's bristles made for a natural texture. — I like how the brush’s bristles made for a natural texture. Allow the paint to dry overnight, turn over once dry, and paint the bottom of each pumpkin. After they dry, remove the tape, and ta-da!

I added one of these pumpkins with some blinged-out gourds to an antique toolbox with picks nestled underneath it all. The rustier the metal the better, which contrasts well with our leather ottoman.

But I don’t limit my decorating to the living room. It spills out into other rooms of our home and of course, the front porch too. You know, someone once asked me if our dining room table is always set as if we’re expecting dinner guests any minute. Why, yes it is and I love it too. These cream-colored chargers came from the Dollar Store, plates on clearance from Pier 1, and I can thank my friend’s garage sale for the copper napkin rings.

What reminds you of fall? One of my fondest childhood memories is taking a hay ride with my scout troop pulled by a tractor through the woods with hot chocolate in hand.

If I inspired you to love fall as much as I do, give my new seasonal recipes at try including a delicious Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Cocktail and my Apple Cider Pecan Muffins with Walnuts and Caramel Drizzle Topping. Are these muffins for breakfast or dessert? Who cares! They’re that scrumptious.

It’s fall y’all! Have a thankful, fun season of celebrating.

Cruising down the aisles of trendy home goods stores, I’m always shocked at the sticker price for a simple picture frame. I love Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and World Market but my wallet doesn’t. As someone who likes to decorate for the seasons and change up my household decor, I refuse to pay high prices to display family photos. You can create the same gorgeous look for your photo frames without spending big bucks. All you need is a Dollar Store frame and a little spray paint!

Supplies Required:

$1 photo frame of your choice

Rust-oleum Universal Metallic Paint & Primer In One

Painter’s Tape

Cardboard or Newspaper

Step 1: Remove the inside glass, if possible. I was unable to remove the glass from the larger lime green frame on the right so I simply used painter's tape to cover it. Step 2: Lay out your Dollar Store photo frames on a flattened cardboard box or use newspaper on a flat surface. — Step 1: Remove the inside glass, if possible. I was unable to remove the glass from the larger lime green frame on the right so I simply used painter’s tape to cover it.
Step 2: Lay out your Dollar Store photo frames on a flattened cardboard box or use newspaper on a flat surface.

Step 3: Make sure you're working in a well ventilated area before spraying frames. If so, spray an even coat of your favorite color of metallic spray paint and primer in one. I LOVE this spray paint because it applies evenly and never requires a second coat. Easy! — Step 3: Make sure you’re working in a well ventilated area before spraying frames. If so, spray an even coat of your favorite color of metallic spray paint and primer in one. I LOVE this spray paint because it applies evenly and never requires a second coat. Easy!

Step 4: Allow your frames to dry completely before handling. These frames required 8 hours of total drying time. Step 5: Display your frames with antique books and favorite sitabouts on the fireplace mantel or on a tray upon your living room table. — Step 4: Allow your frames to dry completely before handling. These frames required 8 hours of total drying time.
Step 5: Display your frames with antique books and favorite sitabouts on the fireplace mantel or on a tray upon your living room table.

I prefer Rust-oleum’s metallic and hammered options of their paint and primer in one. It can be used on wood, metal, plastic, and brick. The best part of using this brand of paint? You can spray it continuously at any angle without the nozzle gooping up. (These frames were sprayed with the hue Aged Copper, which can be found at any big box hardware store.)

The frames pictured above only cost $4 and couldn’t have been easier to redo. They will look dynamite next to a few fall pumpkins and burlap on the mantel this season.

What DIY projects are you most proud of? Share your upcycled home decor tricks in the comments section below. I’d love to borrow your fun idea for my next project.

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It’s Fall Y’all: Decorating Your Home For Autumn DIY Style

How to Glamorize Dollar Store Frames