The older I get, the less I want to decorate for the seasons. It’s not that I don’t want to celebrate the changing seasons, it’s just that I no longer feel the need to have seasonal decor in every corner of my home. To this end, I’ve been trying to purge the seasonal bins in the attic in an attempt to get down to only what I love.
This year instead of using lots of fall color on the mantel, I just wanted to go “simple” with green and white.
I started with a few pumpkins that I picked up at a flea market. Then I added a few other items, most of which were from other parts of the house.
I have a nice collection of vintage books in various colors that is always a good starting point for any vignette.
I added a faux fern from the kitchen and a white pumpkin in a pot to draw out the left side.
To add height and balance to the right side of the mantel, I used two different candle holders of varying heights. One with a candle and one with another white pumpkin.
A moss ball and a sheaf of wheat finish off the right side and add interest with texture.
For convenience, I would love to eventually have a collection of faux pumpkins. But in my opinion, they are way too pricey, even on sale. You could justify the price over time, but the majority of them don’t even begin to compare with the variety and look of a real pumpkin.
When I first laid out this display, I used an antique oval mirror with a dark wood frame as a backdrop. A few weeks ago, I switched over to this chippy vintage off white window frame.
I bought this window frame some years ago with the intention of selling it at a show. But instead, all this time, it has only sat in the attic. I found it in the midst of my purging mode, and decided to try and sell it on Facebook. Along the way somewhere, I decided to try it on the mantel instead of the mirror. To my surprise, it brightens the room much more than the mirror, and I realized I love it there. Needless to say, it is no longer for sale on Facebook, and I’m looking forward to using it at Christmas.
I’m always amazed what I find when purging. I try to look at things and ask myself, “Do I love it”? I try to see it with new eyes, and can I use it in another way or place? If the answer is no, then it goes on Facebook to sell, in a yard sale box for next summer, or out the door to Goodwill.
It’s so easy to keep accumulating things. If you’ve set foot in the stores lately, they are already tempting us with all new Christmas decor. I find that asking myself these questions always leaves me feeling better about my decisions of what I keep, what goes, and what I bring into the house. I don’t know about you, but I find that I usually feel better when things are going out of the house than when they are coming in.
You do a beautiful job with your mantelscapes, Cindy. You have an artist’s eye. Is that green pumpkin real? I’ve never seen one in a dark green like that. As to accumulating decor, I’m of a similar mindset – I’ve been steadily, if slowly,reducing my Christmas decorations year-by-year and this year the few Halloween decorations I have didn’t see the light of day (or night).
Thank you Kris for your kind comments.
The green pumpkin is real. I don’t know what kind it is. I bought two of them since they match the green, white, and wood decor of my living and dining room. They are big and solid.
I am trying to hard to pare down. Not the easiest thing to do, as there is a part of me that things I will need it for later. I need to pretend I’m moving and can only take limited items with me to get really down to the bare necessities. Getting rid of things makes me feel like weights are being lifted off my shoulders. Why do we let the media convince us we need to buy more, when really happiness is found in less, and having only what we need?