New seasons always sneak up on me but never as much as this fall did!! With so much chaos in our house this year (yep, I’m looking at you, you time-suck of a kitchen!), I’ve been behind on everything, including decorating for fall. So instead of going full-on fall this year, I’m keeping things super simple and sticking with just a few fall favorites while I get our house back in order so that I’m ready to go full throttle on my Christmas decorating (the holidays will be here before we know it)! Today’s post happens to be the perfect fall theme for me because my “My Five Favorites” friends Pam of Simple Details and Jennifer of Dimples & Tangles are joining me to share our five favorite fall essentials, the home and fashion favorites that we couldn’t do fall without!
And joining us as our guest host is Laura of Duke Manor Farm who has the most lovely country home that looks especially gorgeous all decorated for fall! If I had Laura’s adorable wheelbarrow planter (can you believe that she made it?!), it would most definitely be on the top of my fall essentials list – love it!
So glad to have you join us Laura! Now let’s get going with my five favorite fall essentials! (post includes some affiliate links – full disclosure statement {here}):
A Fall Doormat & Front Door Wreath
By the time the end of summer rolls around, my front porch is always looking pretty rough so a fall spruce up is in order! This year, I added this super cute “Hey there pumpkin” doormat found {here} (I’m not sure which is cuter – the doormat or sweet Hope!):
And I have {this} peony, dahlia, & pinecone wreath on my front door – love the gorgeous fall colors!
Other fall wreaths that I’ve had in past years that are still available include this rose hips wreath found {here}:
and this faux hydrangea wreath found {here}:
A Fall Jacket That Transitions Into Winter
I’m always cold. When most people have a comfort zone around 70 degrees, I’m perfect at 75-80. I have a ridiculously overstuffed (and not so pretty) North Face jacket that I wear when it’s the coldest of the cold winter days but throughout fall and most of winter, I like to have a warm but stylish jacket to throw on. I’ve been wearing the same one for almost 8 years now because I love it so much but the lining is ripped and it was time to finally say goodbye so I went on the hunt and found a new jacket that I love:
I can’t go anywhere without getting compliments on it! It comes in several great color options that I had a hard time deciding between but I ended up going with the black with white checks (big surprise…) that you can find {here}. These are my other favorite color options in the same style coat:
Fall Florals – Real & Faux
I’m a sucker for flowers any time of year but have a special love for the deep, rich colors of fall florals, including fresh bouquets like this beauty in {this favorite wood vase}:
and faux bouquets too! If you had asked me five years ago whether I’d buy faux flowers I’d have answered with a big “no way” but fauxs have come a LONG way in the past few years. I now have several faux bouquets sprinkled throughout my home! My newest faux flowers are these faux cranberry hydrangeas (found {here}) that I bought for the pitcher on our kitchen open shelving that I had live flowers in previously (UPDATE: my hydrangeas just went on big sale today plus use code FRIENDS to get an extra 20% off plus free shipping!!):
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My friend Annie stopped by yesterday and asked me whether they were real – they’re pretty good fauxs! Faux florals are definitely not cheap compared to real flowers but you end up saving money in the end if you use them month after month. Full ones like my hydrangeas are a good route to go because it doesn’t take many to create a full looking bouquet (I used four stems for mine).
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Here are a few other pretty faux floral options:
Fall Scents
Fall scents are the best – pumpkin, cinnamon, clove… I love to fill my house with them! I’ve never met anything pumpkin that I didn’t like so this fall I bought the Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap and countertop spray in pumpkin, thinking it was a sure thing. But you guys, it’s the grossest, not-at-all-pumpkin smell. I was wondering if I was the only one who thought that so I asked my fellow IGers on Instagram Stories and about 2/3 of people agreed that the pumpkin scent was a big disappointment. So many of the people who hated the pumpkin scent said to try Mrs. Meyer’s in Apple Cider instead so I ordered some and they were so right – love, love, love it!
It’s a cross between green apple and spiced apple and is my newest fall must-have scent. Around here you can find it at a few grocery stores and hardware stores or you can snag it on Amazon {here}. I also had several people say that the Mum scent is a keeper too – that will be my next one to try!
Cozy Throws & Blankets
I keep throws and blankets on our sectional, sofas, and bed year-round but fall is when I bring out the super plush and cozy ones! My two long-time favorites (and Hope’s too!) are my crazy soft Barefoot Dreams throw (you can find it {here} in two colors at a rare half off! Snag some for holiday gifts!) and {this super cozy ruched faux fur throw} that comes in two sizes:
For a less expensive option I love {these plush blankets} that come in a ton of colors (I have it in Grey Frost). Also check out {this oversized Moroccan throw} – for under $30 it’s a crazy good deal and so pretty for at the foot of your bed or to cuddle under on the couch! I just bought a second one!
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There you have it – those are my five favorites for fall! I’d love to know if you have a fall favorite that you think I would love but might not have discovered yet – leave it in the comments if you do! And be sure to hop over to my friends’ blogs to see what fall favorites they have to share!
Pam – Simple Details
Jennifer – Dimples & Tangles
Laura – Duke Manor Farm
Thanks as always for stopping by! If you’re new here, I’d love to see you back! The easiest way to follow along is to subscribe for weekly email updates of new blog posts {here}!
Happy fall,
Your floral centerpiece is drop dead gorgeous! I love Mrs. Myers scents… but you’re right, pumpkin can be a tricky scent. Love your cute new coat, too!
Thanks Jennifer! If you love Mrs. Meyers, definitely try the Apple Cider if you haven’t already – it’s great!!
Kris,
Thanks for saving me—I almost picked up the Pumpkin Meyers counter spray while at Target the other day. Phew, I’ll go back, they had the Apple and I think that would be fun to add that little extra for the autumn season.
I bought the throw you recommended from the Nordstrom’s sale, the affordable, plush and soft throw has become a favorite.
xo,
Karen
Karen, step away from the pumpkin – lol! It really is so weirdly chemically smelling! And I’m glad you love that throw – I love mine too!
I actually contacted Mrs. Meyers about the pumpkin scent. It was terrible. Smelled like chemicals to me. I chose the Apple Cider too. They did reply back thanking me for the feedback and offered a coupon for another product. The pumpkin was a BIG MISS this year.
Lauren that was smart and I’m so glad that they offered up something in return. I agree it was a HUGE miss! Can’t imagine what they were thinking with that one!
I included the Mrs Meyers Apple Cider all purpose spray in my latest Grove order and hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst. …Good news is – I agree with you! I have seriously contemplated tasting it (what is wrong with me!?) because I am convinced it is actually just apple cider. LOL! I’ll be so sad when we run out!
Ha! I totally get it! It just smells so yummy!
My absolute favorite Ms Meyers scent is the Mum! I think it smells great and I like the color of the bottle too. That’s my go-to fall. I’d buy it all year if I could.
I will have to try that one next! Thanks for the tip!
Im in love with Meyers Fall scent as well.
I think I need to stock up!!
you are right about faux florals. they are not like they use to be. your’s look so real. thanks for sharing your fall favs
They really have come a long way! Thanks for joining us today Laura!
I knew this could be dangerous! I love your new jacket ~ you look so cozy & stylish!
Thanks Pam!!!