front porch 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.