Simple Ways to Add Neutral Fall Farmhouse Decor

Fall hasn’t traditionally been a season that I have gone all out on decorating for. I might put out a few items on Halloween like lumenarias and pumpkins, but otherwise Christmas has always been my favorite season to deck the halls. Why not autumn? Maybe it’s because orange isn’t one of my favorite colors, or sometimes the decor seems to me to be a little too garish. I like my home peaceful and soothing. I’m definitely a neutrals gal! Neutral fall farmhouse decor is right up my alley, especially since my home’s design leans toward modern farmhouse.

Last week I finally painted our living room – a “domino project” because it made possible a few other projects, like putting up bookshelves and unpacking boxes of books from our garage. As I was moving boxes, I came across a few fall decor things that I had collected over the years, most of them in a neutral color palette. Now that we have a proper fireplace mantle and places to display things, I decided to actually put them out to enjoy them.

I thought I would share a few of the tips I used when I was decorating, especially if neutral fall farmhouse decor is something you enjoy as well.

a stone mantle with a white ceramic owl and a chevron pumpkin

Tip 1: Decorate for the Season, Not the Holiday

The downside to decorating for holidays is the short-lived time frame. After reading the Cozy Minimalist Home (affiliate link) several years ago, I became enamored with the idea of decorating for seasons instead of holidays. That way I could add small touches as a nod to the holiday around that time, but not be faced with switching out an entire houseful of decorations before and after.

Decorating for the season also allows me to take my time switching things up or putting things out. In Texas in September, it’s usually not cool enough yet to think about putting out blankets to snuggle up under. But, I can put out a couple of neutral pumpkins, put away the coral piece I use as part of my summer decor, and put out a white ceramic owl. This allows things to have a more casual, curated-over-time feel. (Plus, if I’ve temporarily forgotten where I put something, I don’t feel rushed to hunt it down.) It can appear in its own time.

For the fall, I also try to choose items that don’t feel out of place once Halloween has past. These items can stay into November and still seem appropriate around Thanksgiving. (And not as if I forgot to take down my Halloween decorations!)

a group of items on a side table: a lamp, neutral rope pumpkin, a white vase with wheat, a shadow box with a bird's nest, and a white bust of a woman on a cake plate

This attitude definitely ties well with my desire to have a home that feels like a casual, peaceful retreat. That being said, if you love fall or Halloween and want to decorate to the nines as soon as possible so you can enjoy it for longer – go for it!

Tip 2: Limit your Decor

If you are the person I mentioned above who likes to go all-out decorating for fall, you can skip this tip!

For the rest of us who want to slowly bring the coziness of fall into our homes, I recommend limiting where you decorate. While I definitely have my “hotspots” where things brought into the home just seem to collect faster than I can clear it (ahem, coffee table in the family room and the kitchen table), I still appreciate being able to look around the house and see calm surfaces as much as possible. Sometimes a few curated pieces in one or two places around a room have more impact than covering every surface possible with decor.

Also, don’t feel the need to put everything you have out. Sometimes certain items don’t speak to me one year, so I put them back in the storage box. If that happens with the same item over 2-3 years, that’s when I know it’s probably time to donate it to someone else who will love it.

Tip 3: Create a Vignette

I’ve always loved the idea of creating little collections, or vignettes – a group of items that might be related or tell a story. If you’re feeling stuck on what to place where, look at the items you have with an eye to how you might group 3-5 items together.

a hammered copper pitcher with dried branches, surrounded by a rope pumpkin, a white pumpkin and a wooden bead garland - all on bread board

My Neutral Fall Farmhouse Decor

I wanted to share with you how I’ve added neutral fall farmhouse decor to my home. Some items I’ve had for years, so I wouldn’t be able to suggest where you could find them (since I don’t remember either!). However, I’ll make a note of where I purchased an item in case they still carry something similar. It’s still mid-September, so not everything is settled, but this is where I’ve added seasonal touches to my home so far.