Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice: 8 Artful Autumn Projects

There’s a lot to love about autumn — the relief from hot summer days, the change of scenery from green to golden-brown, and all the fun activities. This season encompasses my two favorite holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving. There’s nothing quite as fun as giving candy to little witches and cowboys, or whatever other imaginative creature manages to make its way to my door, and the spirit of Thanksgiving is something that I’ve learned to appreciate a lot more as the years have passed. But by far, one of the best things about this season is all the wonderful projects and home décor ideas.

Autumn doesn’t have to be as over-the-top as winter or as understated as summer. Warm, neutral colors like browns, oranges, and beiges are great for décor, while personalizing the style is as easy as adding a bit of blue, green, or gold. Pumpkins, a staple of the fall season, come in all shapes, sizes, and even colors, plus you can use them in many projects and recipes. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many unique and interesting themes that go well with this season; if you need inspiration, just take a look on Pinterest.

In case you haven’t noticed yet, this is my favorite season so I am very happy to offer some ideas for a more authentic and artful autumn. You don’t need much to make the most of this time of year — just a few simple touches can bring in all the warmth of autumn right into your home.

 

Eight Artful Autumn Projects

1. Seasonal Hutch
“As the summer months begin to fade and the cool breezes of fall approach, I often turn to more neutral tones reminiscent of the harvest. Incorporating seasonal pumpkins — in this case, white babyboos— is an easy way to once again change the look of your display.”

~By Lucy Akins from the pages of Somerset Home.

One of my favorite things to decorate with seasonally-themed items is my living room hutch. It’s an often overlooked and underappreciated place, but with just a few special touches, it can bring a whole room together.

2. Jars of Spice
Spice racks make a wonderful display piece for any kitchen — but if you want to take a more rustic approach, ditch the organizers and display your tasty seasonings in darling little mason jars. You can take this a step further and add a bit of twine and a beautiful Cosmo Cricket Show Topper. Pick rich, vibrantly colored spices and put them out on your counter, or next to your stove. They’ll add warmth and functionality to your kitchen.

~Photograph by Staci Austin-Ducharme from the pages of Artful Blogging.

3. Find Inspiration Everywhere
“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”

~Louisa May Alcott

Whether you travel cross country to walk along the beach for the first time, or simply take a stroll out to your mailbox — look at the world with a hopeful heart and see the possibility that exists in everything. From broken seashells to the smallest dried leaf, nature has an abundance of beauty, and it’s there available to us all. This is a lot more apparent — in my opinion — during the fall. Collect any bits and pieces that interest you such as leaves, pinecones, stones, or anything else that catches your fancy, and then use them in your projects or display them out on a plate.

~Photograph by Jeanette Neels from the pages of Artful Blogging.

4. Cinnamon Pumpkin Candles
“What do you do when you can’t control the impulse to buy cute little pumpkins every time you visit the grocery store? … You might be thinking, “Duh, bake a pie!” Nope. Here’s what you do: You make pumpkin candles!”

~Stephanie Gerber

After seeing how easy it is to recreate these little candles, I absolutely agree with Stephanie. Making candles is a great and unexpected way to use your pumpkins, all you need for this is some wax pellets, a double broiler, a handful of wicks, some cinnamon sticks, and a few other materials. You can find the step-by-step instructions in the 2014 autumn issue of Somerset Life.

5. Thankful Harvest Affaire Laminate Placemats Project
This project is simple but incredibly thoughtful. Cut out some kraft paper to use as placemats and then write “I’m Thankful For…” on the top right hand corner. You can embellish these placemats with stamps, stickers, leaf die cuts, or anything else you want. Use these during your Thanksgiving dinner and have your guests write down things that they are grateful for and then share once everyone is done. If you use permanent marker, you can even let your guests take them home as a lovely party favor.

6. Stovetop Potpourri
Throw a few slices of apples, some fresh orange peel, a couple of cinnamon sticks, and a handful of cloves into a pot of water and then set it to simmer on your stovetop. That’s all you need to create a wonderfully aromatic experience for your friends and family. The smell will fill your home with the sweet-smells and warmth attributed to autumn get-togethers. Just be sure to watch your pot carefully — you don’t want the water to completely evaporate and burn your pot.

~Photograph and project by Haeley Giambalvo from the pages of Somerset Life.

7. Harvest Affaire Wrapped Pumpkin Muffins
There’s already something very comforting about freshly baked muffins, but you can go a step further and add a little rustic charm by wrapping each one in some wax paper and a piece of natural hemp cord. This beautifully presented treat is the perfect snack to arrange in a basket and give to a friend along with artfully packaged jams, or you can take them along on a mid afternoon walk.

8. Telling a Story with Timeworn Pieces
Vintage décor items are already quite beautiful and they always exhibit a unique charm, but I think they really come to life during the fall. Maybe it’s because autumn already feels so antique and timeworn, so it works to compliment vintage objects. Twigs, berries, and other autumn foliage are all great options for sprucing up an old vase, while setting a uniquely colored pumpkin next to it can pull it all together. A display like the one featured above doesn’t have to be expensive, but the results can be rather stunning.

~Photograph by Maria Marcusse from the pages of Somerset Life.

 

These eight projects are easy to replicate and will make your autumn feel more artful and definitely more enchanting. Let us know if you’ll be trying out any of these projects or if you have something else in the works!

 

Need More Artful Living Ideas?

Craft your living space to suit your tastes with the unique home décor accents inside this artful collection. From antique wares and display pieces to vintage finds and feminine wearables, you can also find memorable gifts that will surprise and impress on occasion.

Click here to visit our Home Décor Collection.