fall decorating – KAREN MILLS

5 Steps for Creating Fall Decorations Using Found Items…

October 24, 2023

How to Use Fall Foliage, Pinecones, and More to Decorate

Since I’ve been too busy with interior design projects the past few years to have time to share my design tips on local television every week or two, I wanted to share some fun ideas today for creating fabulous fall decorations.

Determine your color scheme. In this example I chose typical fall colors including green, orange, and red with brown and white as neutrals. For the pine branches, I normally trim from my own pine trees so I can also have the wonderful smell of pine inside.

2. Gather natural items from your backyard, woods, or home. If you don’t have enough real items available to do all your fall decorating like me, then consider adding realistic looking decor or other items that reflect your personal style. In this table setting, I incorporated a couple of my favorite themes with found items at home including a real shell napkin ring and a fashion forward coaster. I also layered in three placemats I had at home to create an interesting base for the table setting. Then I tucked in berries to add texture and another pop of color to the existing orange napkin and white plate in my table setting collection.

3. Began with taller items first at back of your fall decoration. Or center taller items if your decoration will be viewed from multiple angles. In this kitchen, I began with the tallest item at the back, the tiered plate and then added additional items to enhance it. But you could also layer in additional items that are mid-height to create a fuller look.

4. Fill out your decoration with foliage or other decor. In this tray I began with a bottom layer of petrified wood I found outside, and then layered in pinecones. But you could also introduce pine leaves.

5. Add final touches with pops of color. In this tray I introduced fall leaves and berries.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 3 Tips for Fall Decorating Using Existing…

November 14, 2019February 13, 2020

Mix together unexpected elements to create interest Here I created a one of a kind place setting using items I found around my house – a layer of two chargers and a place mat stacked on top of each other with a fossil napkin ring, berries, and a fashionista type coaster that makes a statement all its own.

2. Repeat an Accent Color to Add Emphasis In this example I used things I had around the house starting with a rustic crate with evergreens and then layered pops of bright color with a beautiful pumpkin and fall foliage along with a couple of real mangoes.

3. Create a vignette or grouping of fall decor items on a tray or in a container to give it more importance. Here I used items found in the woods behind my house along with berries and glass vases.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: Fall Decorating Ideas From Your Backyard

September 28, 2018September 26, 2018

Tips for Creating Fall Arrangements Using Items from Your Backyard and More

A couple of weeks ago I did a live TV segment on Fox4 TV where I shared tips for fall decorating using natural items from outdoors from the perspective of an interior designer. Of course the foliage hadn’t started to turn yet here in the mid west so I had to inject some rustic color foliage from the store to create the look of what can be done.

To recreate this lovely fall decor piece start with a container you have around the house that coordinates with your home. Then cut some evergreen branches and fall color leaves from nearby trees along with other interesting additions you find along the way.

I added a couple of mangoes that I already had on my counter for additional color along with a beautiful white pumpkin that my friend Marilyn Beebe decorated for me a couple of weeks earlier.

Here’s another of Marilyn’s fun creations.

Here’s a closeup of the fun tabletop decoration we did. First I grabbed a clear vase and filled it with barren branches I got from the woods. Then I placed the vase of branches on an existing tray and filled the bottom with pieces of a decaying log and pine cones I discovered while traipsing through the woods and topped it off with leaves and berries.

For more great fall decor ideas and design tips sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

Plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on Facebook or Instagram here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: Falling for Autumn Red

September 22, 2017

As fall descends upon us I’m drawn to it’s beautiful rich colors, especially autumn red. Vacationing in Breckenridge, Colorado last week was a reminder of how much I love autumn with its brilliant changing leaves beginning to create an explosion of color on the mountains, hills, and valleys.

So this week I’m compelled to write about autumn in all its splendor, and how to apply it to our spaces. Read on for great ideas for injecting red into your home whether its in a temporary fashion like fresh flowers, fruit/vegetables, or decor or in a more permanent way with wall coverings or furniture.

Here in this entryway, the red platter, leaves, and stunning artwork showcase simple ways to introduce autumn red into your home.

In this living room, we placed red toss pillows and a custom blown vase to add a fall feel to the room. The dark wood furniture and taupe drapes also add to the autumn ambiance.

Other simple ideas for introducing fall re could include red delicious apples in a bowl or clear container, a warm throw, an area rug with red or decor items layered into your room.

For more fabulous ideas on how to introduce autumn red into your decorating, read my latest article from Houzz here titled 6 Ways to Inject Rich Autumn Red in Your Living Room.

Plus become a fan of our weekly interior design blog here

And become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of Living Large, Karen Mills, on Facebook here!