“If you wait until you have enough money to decorate and make your home your own, it will never happen.  If you wait until you can afford to buy everything new, you are missing the point.  It is the old, the new, the hand-me down, the collected, the worn (but loved things), in your home that make it your own.”  ~  Stacy Risenmay

October is one of my favorite months.  Decorating our home for fall means summer is over and cooler weather is on its way. .  I love the beauty of this season and I’m thankful to live in an area where there is a change of seasons. And like many of you, I love ‘pumpkin’ anything……pie, bread, bars, pumpkin spice lattes, etc. Not only pumpkins but apples, too, help celebrate fall at our house.  One of my favorite outings this time of year is to ride to the nearby Brushy Mountains and pick up apples at one of the orchards there.

Most of you have probably done a little fall decorating already but I wanted to share something I found on the Internet from Julea Joseph about decorating a table top that will help you now and when you start putting out your Christmas décor or, for that matter, any season.

“Any flat surface is a great area to seasonally dress.  Here are a few tips on making the vignette look fabulous:

• Room’s purpose and style…..fancy in fancy areas, casual in the casual areas.
• Room’s function…a large arrangement on a family coffee table isn’t going to work if your room’s function is TV watching.
• Scale and proportion….whatever the area, make sure that the “stuff” is in scale to the surface or area you are placing it in. For example, a large mantle needs large accessories.
• Create highs and lows…use books, cake stands, easels, hurricane vases, apothecary jars to create highs and lows in your display.
• Group your collections in odd numbers.
• Try to break symmetry ….don’t be too matchy matchy.
• Add something unexpected in the mix…..to create interest.
• Don’t get lazy…hang what needs to be hung, use a tape measure when needed. Take the extra step.
• Bang for the buck….use one spectacular piece, with ‘knockoffs’ around it and it will make the ‘knockoffs’spectacular, too.
• Don’t go overboard….too much of a good thing isn’t always good.
• When planning a centerpiece for a dining table (when a meal is served), try not to go over 14” tall so guests can comfortably converse across the table.”

It’s October and time to look forward to the upcoming holidays.  Ready to start a decorating project or just freshen up your home with the things you have?  Now is a good time to schedule an appointment with Redesigns by Ava. Call 336.345.2929 or email ReDESIGNSbyAva@salemglencc.net

Thank you for reading my article each month.  I do hope that it helps you make wise decorating choices so that you can create a beautiful home.  It is my pleasure to share what I have learned with you.