Achieve that fall curb appeal

How to tastefully decorate for fall

By Krista Ivanov

Ahhhh autumn. It’s everyone’s favourite season, or at least most say it is, and it’s one of the few times of the year that you get to dress up your home. Decor-savvy folks go all out, festooning their front doors with enough fall festivity to cause you to slam on your brakes as you drive past. Then, there’s the rest of us who just want to pay homage to the season.

Fall decorating ideas

Basically, all you need is one or all of the following three items to boost your curb appeal this fall.

1) A wreath. This circular beauty can be found everywhere from home shops to hardware stores. They can be pricey, but do last for many years if properly stored. Warm colours are a necessity, so stay away from whites and pinks.

I spied this beautiful dried-flower wreath by Laura Besaw from MegumaMeadows.com. Besaw is a floral genius from Conquerall, Nova Scotia, who uses grapevines, leaves and flowers to create these natural wreaths.

A beautiful dried-flower wreath by Laura Besaw from MegumaMeadows.com. Photo: Krista Ivanov

2) A pot of mums. You can’t miss chrysanthemums this time of year as every grocery, hardware and plant store is bursting with them. They’re not too expensive and come in a cornucopia of colours from rusty crimson to dusky purple. A pot of mums on the front step is a welcoming sight, and all you have to do is remember to water it.

You can up your game by purchasing, or creating, a more complex arrangement using grasses, leafy plants and, of course, sunflowers.

3) A pumpkin. Be they round, tall, huge or small, the humble pumpkin takes centre stage in the fall. After Thanksgiving, it’s a bonus to be able to carve your pumpkin into a jack o’lantern for your next outdoor venture, the Halloween display!

Displaying just one of these items will prove to your neighbours that you’ve got the spirit of the season. Combine two or more to move yourself to the top of the local Facebook page.

Rosa Rugosa Seaside Market and Restaurant in Hubbards uses this pumpkin/floral combo, making it even more rustic with a wooden barrel and a bench.

Be they round, tall, huge or small, the humble pumpkin takes centre stage in the fall. Photo: Krista Ivanov #pumpkins #fall #autumn #fallhomedecor

You can even use nautical touches to ramp up your appeal. I dropped into The Vintage Crow in Hubbards and spoke to its inspirational owner, Alison Campbell, about her fabulous display of wares. She found and restored these old crates and has filled them with buoys and mums to celebrate the season.

Use nautical touches to ramp up your appeal. The Vintage Crow in Hubbards Nova Scotia has filled restored crates with buoys and mums to celebrate the season. Photo: Krista Ivanov. #mums #chrysanthemums #falldecor #autumn — Use nautical touches to ramp up your appeal. The Vintage Crow in Hubbards Nova Scotia has filled restored crates with buoys and mums to celebrate the season. Photo: Krista Ivanov. #mums #chrysanthemums #falldecor #autumn

Other fall front-porch staples include a wheat sheaf, haystack, apple basket, outdoor lantern, gourds, and a scarecrow.

As you admire your dashing new curb appeal, don’t forget to autumnize your backyard or deck. That’s your main view, so add a pumpkin or some mums there. If you live in an apartment or condo, decorate your balcony. Inside, create a vignette on your dining table or on a coffee table or bookcase, and add some string lights to make it glow in the evening.

Never pass up on a chance to escape the ordinary, especially in these trying times. Capture the warmth and splendour of everyone’s favourite season inside and outside your home.

Pay homage to the season with fun and fabulous fall home decor, including the use of grasses and leafy plants. Photo: Jillian Ivanov

Krista Ivanov is a writer and real estate agent who makes her home on beautiful St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia, complete with pumpkins, mums and a wreath.