This year I’ve been on a slow and steady mission to purge our home. I’m a messy creative with two small children so between toys and DIY supplies, our house can get out of hand quickly. The thought of adding seasonal decorations to the mix totally overwhelms me! Here’s a few ways I’ve learned to decorate with items I have or find so that I’m not creating clutter and living more in the moment to truly enjoy the abundance of each season.

Harness the power of color.

If you read my post last week about decorating when you’re broke, you already know that I am a firm believer that color is a powerful and cheap way to add character to your home. I love how this space feels like autumn but except for a few (inexpensive) fall touches like branches and pumpkins, that vibe comes entirely from the color palette. Shop your own house for pretty fall hues and don’t be afraid to rethink the tradition pumpkin orange and reds. Look for inspiration everywhere!

Get creative with door decor.

Even if you DIY a wreath, it can get expensive plus you have to find a place to store it most of the year. I love this simple silver platter painted with chalkboard paint because it could work from season to season.

Grab a vase and a can of spray paint to create a pretty display.

I love the clean look of branches in vases but pretty pieces like this can be pricey. Get the look by spraying thrifted vases with Krylon’s Sea Glass Spray Paint or use Rustoleum’s Mirror Effect Spray Paint for a mercury glass look.

Decorate with consumables.

Sounds crazy, right? Edible decor? I prefer to think of it as interactive decor. Filling a pretty basket or bowl with apples is inexpensive and doesn’t require a place on the shelf once the season is over. You could do the same thing with jars of nuts or kettle corn.

Take a drive. Take a walk. Gather!

Yesterday, we put the (wild) kids in the car and spent the afternoon wandering country roads. We saw so many beautiful wildflowers, fallen branches and black walnuts. You know what…that’s free decor. FREE.  Just don’t get hit by an old truck gathering “decor” and check yourself for ticks.

Get cozy.

I find that I am most drawn to fall decor with a cozy vibe. An easy and affordable way to get that look is using texture. Shop your own house for blankets to drape over the sofa or stack in baskets. Pick up a few inexpensive burlap, wool or even fur throw pillows. Set up a coffee and hot cocoa bar. Stack your favorite books on the table to grab when you have a few moments to thumb through the pages. The trick is to create fall decor that you’ll actually use.

Do you decorate for each season? How do you keep things simple?