Warm Fall Touches Made Simple
Seasonal decorating can be as simple as noticing what’s around you and giving it a place to shine.
Here at Henington House, a familiar welcome sign takes on a fall personality with muscadine vine gathered from our own yard. I actually let that vine grow SO I can prune it in the fall and use it for decorating! Those wandering stems, curling tendrils, and changing leaves have a lovely character all their own.
Wrapped into a wreath and tucked into itself, the muscadine vine needs no wire at all. It simply hangs on the same hook as the welcome sign, bringing a little of the garden right to our door. A pumpkin resting on a chair nearby adds another touch of the season. The afternoon sunshine does the rest.
Nothing complicated. Just a few simple things coming together to say, “We’re glad you’re here.”
It’s easy to overthink seasonal decorating—to imagine every room needs a transformation or every arrangement needs one more thing. But often, a small touch is enough. Give an old favorite a new location. Set a pumpkin on a chair you already love. Tuck a clipping from the yard around a frame or across a mantel.
And as you go about your days, keep your eyes open. A fallen branch with an interesting shape, a handful of pinecones, or a few pretty leaves might be just what you need. You don’t have to know exactly where something will go before you recognize its possibilities.
Start with what you have, add a few things you gather along your way, and leave a little room for the beauty of your home itself. Every surface doesn’t need filling.
The same is true when you’re welcoming guests. You don’t have to finish an elaborate decorating project before inviting someone over. A seasonal touch at the door and a comfortable place to sit can make a lovely beginning.
Let decorating be part of enjoying the season. Step outside, clip a little something, move a favorite piece, and see what happens. Some of the most charming touches come from simply using what’s already within reach.
With a warm welcome,
Catherine Strange
Henington House & Gardens
Historic Neighborhood, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
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