Fall Decorating – The Dining Room

I am really liking  the whole plaid vibe this season and have been especially impressed with Target’s Threshold line of pillows and throws, not to mention all of their brass and copper accessories.  So, plaid was my jumping off point for adding some seasonal color to my dining room.

Inspired by  the Target line, I  cut up an old plaid blanket that I have had forever,  which was the perfect size for making two 20 inch pillows.  I literally “wrapped” the blanket around each pillow and sewed two side seams.  This made an envelope-style closure and I kept the blanket fringe as an interesting detail. Love ’em!

For the window seat, I used my existing PB brown pillows, sewed up one sweater pillow and then brought in two pillows from Target – the off white plaid, and the gold geometric.

 And to be honest, it took several trips to Target to get the right combination of pillows for the dining and living rooms … It is not as easy as Emily Henderson makes it look!

I tidied up the book shelves a bit, adding another layer of interest by hanging a  small oil painting from the shelf.  After all, fall is all about adding layers, right?

I also added two narrow shutters to each of the bookshelves, on the sides that face inward towards the window seat, to “warm up” this side of the room.

Restraint was the key word for my fall mantel.  I have realized that simple, graphic pieces work best with a textured background like  a stone fireplace.

So I did a little chalk art, copying something I saw on Pinterest by searching “fall chalkboard”.  And, added my antiqued faux pumpkins, feathers, antlers and reindeer moss.

Down the center of my table is an old runner that I purchased from a flea market a few years back.

I like using rugs as table runners because they tend to be wider, longer and thicker.  Of course, I washed this baby in the bathtub before bringing her to the table!

On top of the runner I layered a long old wooden box – another yard sale find. In the compartments I mixed some pillar candles, along with some faux gourd candles that I have had forever … stashed away in the box with the old plaid blanket I mentioned earlier!

What really made the difference with this centerpiece was adding the reindeer moss around the candles.  The greenery softens the hard edges and ties in with the moss I used on the mantle.

And yes, that is another Target pillow on the dining chair in the foreground.  This one is a muted gold velvet with a graphic arrow design.

The area at the end of the room by the mirror is still a work in progress.  The suitcase on the luggage rack is a placeholder until I can find something that fits the space better –  I am thinking “brass with wheels” but we’ll see what comes along!

Debra