As the beginning of fall knocks at our front door, it’s an appropriate time to begin embracing all the decor, design, and cozy fun that comes with the season. However, as I’ve noted before, there’s an impetus to jump head-first into fall decor without recognizing the beauty of the transitioning period. For those excited to shift into fall colors, decors, and routines but don’t want to rush full-steam ahead, this article is for you!
Early fall tends to feel more summer-like than the cozier “sweater weather,” most imagine when the season officially changes over. Yes, summer tends to linger into fall a little bit (or maybe we realize that we are not giving up on summer just yet!) Hence, placing pumpkins and cornstalk bundles on your front step feels inappropriate when it’s still 75 degrees and sunny out. For this reason, I wanted to write a piece with some color/decor suggestions that will help you ease into the season with rustic charm, elements that are perfect for transitioning smoothly from one season to the next!
The term “rustic” or “rustic charm” has been adopted by mass-marketing machines throughout different industries, similar to “farmhouse,” and it can be hard to understand the original intention of the design term. As an interior designer/color specialist, rustic charm means connecting to rural living, rural countryside, and nature – using colors that express simplicity, warmth, and purity—making the best of items and decor that engage with nature and, for some, living off the land. Rustic charm represents a cultural respect and engagement with nature and agriculture.
For me, rustic charm is to fall, as beachside decor is to summer.
I feel that the rush to outfit the home with fall decor and lifestyle goods is driven by marketing pressure, pushing us all into the next season before we’ve had a chance to enjoy the one we’re in. If you’re like me, you don’t enjoy seeing Halloween decorations in July, nor Christmas lights in October – I like to savor each season, month, and holiday for its uniqueness. The rustic decor and color arrangements I can add to my home happily allow me to transition from summer to fall and align with my love of connecting with nature.
Rustic colors are reminiscent of, or represent, natural elements and even the man-made tools used to work with the natural elements. Think of earthy colors like rich, warm browns, pine greens, auburn reds, rusty oranges, and various beiges. Picture colors that mimic the weathered and worn appearance of aged wood, distressed metal, or weathered stone!
When I think of a picturesque rustic scene, I imagine walking a trail in the woods and coming upon an old farm in the late afternoon. The trees are still holding onto their summer greenery, but the tides are beginning to shift to the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall colors. It’s exciting to see the first branches reaching for the sky, with bits of yellow and orange on their leaves as if they are dipped in the paint colors of the season. The wooden fences and stone walls around the property combine the colors of fall with the warm grays of weathered wood, beiges, and deep rust of natural stone. The sky is still golden but fading into a purple-blue dusk. The sounds of nature are winding down from an active day, and I’m at peace.
That serene scene sounded nice, didn’t it!? Well, even if we can bring 1/10th of that aura into the home, we’ll have successfully incorporated rustic charm into our daily lives. Here are some strategies to gently include rustic charm in your home this early fall.
It’s a great time of year to work in layers of different textures throughout the home. Whether that’s through different clothing fabrics, woods, metals, linens, and blankets, do your best to add dimensions of textures that you wouldn’t normally include in the summer due to the heat. Textures add dimension and warmth to a space that can otherwise seem cold and sparse.
Picture a vase complete with asters, sunflowers, blue sage, and goldenrods at each corner of your home, giving just a slight pop of fall color without being overwhelming. Little hints of nature tucked into corners of your home complete the rustic charm feel. Use some old watering cans or buckets as vases to complete the look!
Early fall is a great time to set some visual contrasts in your home; you can use the “rustic and refined” dynamic. Do you have some fine china that hasn’t been used since New Year’s Eve? Bring it out and set an outdoor patio luncheon, complete some plaid placemats, sunflower-themed centerpieces, and fine stemware full of red wine! Create some alluring contrasts between refinement and countryside charm!
There’s no right or wrong way to embrace the changing seasons; do whatever inspires and excites you! Just don’t let any person, magazine, or department store tell you when it’s time to embrace this heartwarming season; I suggest you go at your own pace.
If you’d like to discover some rustic color palettes and more fall-inspired arrangements, check out my helpful Color911 color app – there’s something for every taste, style, and design goal!
