fall refresh, two ways.

September 22, 2016

fall refresh, two ways
Today is the first day of Fall and isn’t that a nice thing to think about?  I’m a sucker for season change. The shift in weather, the memory of past seasons coupled with the promise of a new year offering something just a little bit different. When the season’s associated with warm spices and breezy days and leaves crunching underfoot, well, then all the better. Yes, I’ll take all the clichés, please and thank you.

I contributed to a Lonny Mag piece earlier this week and gave a few ideas for how to freshen up a home for fall. No surprise, my tips don’t include buying much of anything new, but the story did inspire me to do a little two ways and expand on a few ideas you can use to refresh your space, either by making a smart investment or just investing a little time.

Check out the original story here. Get a few other ideas down below:

Brighten Your View, Two Ways:
+ Upgrade your curtains to something calm and cozy.
+ Wash the curtains you have, wipe away the water spots on the windows from those summer thunderstorms, and watch the fall sunshine stream in.

Bring in Fall Colors, Two Ways:
+ Add a warm touch to your entryway with a richly colored rug.
+ Collect freshly fallen leaves and get a lil’ crafty with some washi tape and a blank wall. 

Hang Up Your Stuff, Two Ways:
+ Bring home a new set of hooks to wrangle clutter and get things off the ground.
+ Clear off the hooks you already have and decide carefully what you hang back up. If there’s something you don’t use or aren’t currently wearing either pass it along to someone else or tuck it away for safe-keeping.

Keep Your Floor Clean, Two Ways:
+ Replace a grody or threadbare doormat with something clean and new and built to last.
+ Give your doormat a deep clean by shaking out the dirt, vacuuming it up, and giving her an old fashioned scrub with a sturdy brush and dish soap.

Swap Out Your Art, Two Ways:
+ Invest in a new statement piece to love forever.
+ Move what you already have around. Shifting an existing piece to a new wall will give a whole new look without costing a dime.

Upgrade Your Closet, Two Ways
+ Splurge on the new fall flannel you’ve been eyeing.
+ Give your dresser drawers a good once-over, make sure you love everything in them, do a little refold/reorganization to get them looking new again.

Cozy Up Your Bed, Two Ways
+ Go for that set of super-soft flannel sheets that reminds you of being a kid.
+ Pull the warm blankets out of summer storage, air it out in the sunshine, hit with a little lavender water, and drape it over your bed.

Set the Mood, Two Ways
+ Get a little spooky with a set of black beeswax tapers.
+ Set those apple peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cider to simmer on your stove and fill the house with the smells of autumn.

Set Your Table, Two Ways
+ Fill it with dark woods and gooey cheeses.
+ Haul out whatever you’ve got, invite your friends over for a pot of chili, pour goblets of red wine.

Control Your Clutter, Two Ways
+ Tuck unsightly bills out of sight with a beautiful leather wall envelope.
+ Get ahead of the holiday junk mail influx and get yourself off unwanted mailing lists now.

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29 Comments

  • Reply Emily September 22, 2016 at 11:12 am

    I always love these “two ways” posts! Thanks!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      So glad!

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  • Reply Mark September 22, 2016 at 11:58 am

    I cannot believe Fall is here already! Clutter clearing out is on my list but never fun ;(

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  • Reply Libby September 22, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. Thank you for a splurgy option but an equally satisfying free option.
    I especially love the leaves + washi tape idea. <3

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      You’re welcome (and thank you!)!

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  • Reply Joely September 22, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    Every comment, perfection! I will be implementing many of these ~ and I too love the leaves/tape idea! I always bring berries and leaves inside, now I know what to do w/them….and the cinnamon apple simmer…just makes me happy!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      Same! Nothing like a fall berry to add a little cheer!

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  • Reply Mary Kate September 22, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Ah, fall, my favorite season. Despite the current political climate I find myself increasingly more upset about, I am determined to enjoy this season. Keep the little simple reminders of the joys of fall coming, please!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      Will do!

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  • Reply Willow Westwood September 22, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    I just wanted to tell you how much I love these “two ways” posts. So often I leave blogs feeling like the only way I can implement whatever advice the writer is dishing out is by buying something–even budget design posts follow the same formula, just with smaller price tags and the accompanying low quality, trendy merchandise I don’t want or need. Obviously I know that I don’t need to spend a dang penny to welcome fall into my home, but it’s nice to be reminded of that once and a while and given lovely, attainable tasks to help me on my way. Helps with the consumerist deprogramming, etc. And of course the lovely, well-made, thoughtful objects you offer as suggestions to keep you in business and help those who are looking for that perfect set of wall hooks. Thank you.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks a million times, Willow! Happy Fall!

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  • Reply Janelle September 22, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    *sigh* I love love love these posts and the posts you’ve done this week. Thank you for inspiration that does not involve buying new things but still celebrates beauty. I’ve really enjoyed the pictures of toy storage and your daughters’ room! I just moved into an 850 sq ft home in rural Virginia with my husband and 4 little girls, and your apartment is my muse. Your taste is lovely.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      Thanks so much, Janelle. So glad to hear it!

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  • Reply mado September 22, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    echoing the other comments to say, two ways is the best, and totally exemplifies everything I love about your site. truly my favorite place on the internet.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle September 22, 2016 at 2:20 pm

      Oh boy. Thank you!

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  • Reply Kari September 22, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    Yup, I will second (or third, or eighth, or whatever) the love of these “Two ways” posts. As well as the philosophy behind everything you do. Thanks so much for the constant inspiration.

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  • Reply Mun September 22, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    I like the idea of filling the space with delicious aroma!

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  • Reply Zoe September 22, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    I so appreciate your spirt of celebrating what we al have already. Your blog has makes me feel like I live happily in a community of people who care about living quietly and simply on the planet. Thank you for writing. 🙂

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    • Reply Zoe September 22, 2016 at 5:54 pm

      *spirit and please excuse the typos.

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    • Reply Sophie September 27, 2016 at 10:19 pm

      It’s so true what you say Zoe. Erin’s blog makes me happy and content with my life, my family with what I have, makes me even feel glamorous in everyday life. I celebrate every slow step to make it simpler and clearer and more beautiful. I always had this tendencies but the blog makes me more aware of them.

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  • Reply jane September 22, 2016 at 8:20 pm

    Love this one! Happy Autumn! 🙂

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  • Reply Jocelyn September 22, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    Erin-
    I absolutely LOVE this post. I love that you give links of where to buy things (and I admit, I have definitely made some purchases based on your suggestion) but I love the idea of using (and reviving) what you already have. I think we definitely need to do more of this, we should be shopping our own collection of “stuff.” You totally inspire me to live a more simplified life, and with two kids (aged 2.5 and 9 months), simple and minimal sounds wonderful!

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  • Reply Bethany September 22, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    I love love love when you do the “two ways” posts! Your blog is just consistently one of the best places on the internet. Thanks for what you do!

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  • Reply Esther September 23, 2016 at 12:04 am

    Hi Erin, I’m a new reader of your blog. Your writing and the topics covered are such a joy to reach. Like this post, the ideas, even the links made me smile. Yay Fall!

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  • Reply Gigi September 23, 2016 at 12:05 am

    Your posts really evoke the beautiful sense of season. Thank you for reminding us of the precious small things in life!!

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  • Reply A Life Less Busy September 23, 2016 at 4:09 am

    Great post, love some of these ideas. Will just need to wait as it’s spring here now. 🙂

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  • Reply Kim September 24, 2016 at 10:04 am

    To echo the many — I absolutely love your two-way posts. Thank you for such a thoughtful one on my favorite season. To combine thoughtful, lasting purchase options with reminding us of the many free activities at our disposal…it’s perfection!

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  • Reply Cordelia September 26, 2016 at 7:54 am

    I love this post! Fall is the time when I start getting an itch to have something new, like new clothes and decorations. Since I have simplified both my wardrobe and decorations I have been at a loss of what to do. Last night I cleaned our whole apartment with cinnamon and orange essential oils in hot vinegar water and today I will reorganized our closet. Such a brilliant way to feel the feeling of something new with out spending money. Thank you for being committed to living simply and finding meaning in the little things like clean windows and rugs. It is a beautiful reminder for me to value that over material items.

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  • Reply Lynn | The Actor's Diet September 29, 2016 at 11:02 am

    Great suggestions for fall. I always think of “spring cleaning” but I guess I do like clearing things out before holing up for the winter. Mailing lists (and spam cell phone calls) are driving me crazy right now!

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