Home Decor

Fall is officially in the air

Jessica Crawford
Cotton & Co.

(10/2021) Without a doubt, Fall is my most favorite season. Spring, being a close second for me, but it doesn’t have the crisp, cozy, coolness that Fall brings. When life goes from the bustle of Summertime to the slow-down and relaxation that’s promised by the changing of seasons. When you walk outside in the morning, and the air smells like damp leaves and wet earth. Where the evenings are a bit chilly and campfires are in season. When it’s sweater weather and apple picking time. Where the leaves start to change, revealing their vibrant, striking earth-tones. When they drop to the ground and the kids play in heaping leaf-piles just as children should. Fall is just good for the soul.

Fall is one of my most favorite seasons to decorate for as well. If done intentionally, your Fall décor can carry you from September through Thanksgiving, when the time comes to decorate for Christmas and/or Winter. I personally like to do a couple of spooky Halloween inspired vignettes around my home. But put the main focus into décor that can last the whole Fall season. The Halloween vignettes are easy to adapt and take-down once Halloween has passed, so it doesn’t feel like packing up and setting up a whole season.

First, let’s talk pumpkins. When it comes to Fall, you really can’t have too many. I love to stop by our local farmer’s market near our home, and pick up an array of mini gourds and pumpkins. I also like to throw in a few of the specialty fall and winter squash and pumpkins. You know the ones; the ones that are so knobby and strangely colored and shaped, that they’re actually beautiful instead. Our favorite place to pick pumpkins locally is Baugher’s in Westminter. Their pumpkin patch is absolutely amazing. It’s planted with the traditional combination of orange and white pumpkins. But also incorporated into the endless acres of pumpkins are all the funky gourds and squashes too. The best of all the Fall squash worlds.

You can’t go wrong with a beautiful Front Porch display, utilizing natural elements that highlight the bounties of Fall. Straw bales come in so many different sizes, they make a great base for the display. Fill them up with a variety of gourds and pumpkins. And add some cornstalks and perhaps a seasonal wooden sign, and you’ve got the makings of a great, seasonal porch display. My children also enjoy hitting our local thrift store for the fixings for a one of a kind, homemade scarecrow. All you need is some flannel shirts, jeans, twine for binding and straw for stuffing. It’s a great, timeless activity and tradition to do with your kids. A good way to bond and spend quality family time together. We have a pew on our porch, a scarecrow is the perfect Fall touch.

In terms of indoor pumpkins, felt and velvet pumpkins are on-trend. The velvet pumpkins tend to be available in rich, bold colors. They give off a touch of a regal vibe, while adding a pop of color and texture to a vignette or tablescape. Felted pumpkins on the other hand, while offering a textural balance as well, are on the more whimsical side. I personally, equally love both. A trug or trough filled with pumpkins of varying sizes, coordinating colors, and textures would be an easy Fall display. Pop in a few carved mango wood pumpkins, you’ve got yourself and easy centerpiece, that will stand up to the next seasons, until it’s time to change over to Christmas and Winter.

Faux florals are highly underrated too. Gone are the 1980’s florals, that were gaudy and unrealistic. Made of awful synthetic materials that frayed and faded. The new age of faux florals are beautifully made and super realistic in color and texture. A large bouquet of Autumnal florals, berries, and leaves would be a great no-fuss-no-maintenance Fall display. We also have a permanent vendor in the shop that does hand-dyed and hand-arranged wood flower arrangements and stems. The beauty of her arrangements isn’t just in their actual, physical beauty. But also the fact that they’re ever-lasting and easy to keep clean with a soft paintbrush or canned air. She keeps her space in our store fully stocked and brimming with seasonal colors and arrangements. Her Fall presentation is no exception as it’s breathtakingly beautiful.

Fall is also the beginning of the cozy season. Arguably the most romantic of all seasons. Bundling up with oversized sweaters, in front of a fire, wrapped up in a soft and cozy blanket. We have all of the Sweater Weather essentials in stock right now. Our vendor Molly’s Meanderings provides our shop with seasonal women’s clothing and accessories. She’s recently been in and restocked her space with seasonal must-haves. Many of our vendors stock their spaces with comfy throws and pillows, perfect for elevating your favorite comfy nook.

I know that our family always looks forward to campfire season. Sitting around an open fire with friends, swapping stories, spending intentional time together, unplugged and outdoors in nature. Need some campfire essentials? We have custom benches that are wonderful for extra seats around a fire. We have an assortment of blankets, perfect for picnics or staying warm. We have local charcuterie boards, excellent for outdoor entertaining. We also carry a large array of local and delicious sauces and rubs, great for campfire cooking and entertaining.

Whatever you need to get you and your home prepared for the next season, we’ve got you covered. Need help with a space you’re envisioning in your home? Our friendly staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help make an idea come into fruition. We’re open weekly, and our team of vendors is amazing at curating and updating their spaces regularly, to provide a fresh shopping experience each and every time you come in. Stop on by and see what’s new!