We want to do all the fall things — apple picking, cider making, pumpkin carving. We really do. But so often, the busy season of life gets in the way, and before we know it the autumn winds have blown past us and we’re straight into the holidays.
The thing is, making memories doesn’t have to be a big production; we can carve out simple moments with our family and friends that will make this season one for the books.
Target’s fall collections for the home are an easy and affordable way to bring all the fall feels into every room of the house – front porch, included. Baking loaves of pumpkin bread to hand out to the neighbors, cozying up with fleece blankets and pillows for family game night (with popcorn!), making a big pile of leaves and jumping into them. There’s no better time to cozy up around the table with the people we love most, so let’s bring a new intention to this season and make fall count!
Scroll on for 7 stress-free ways to make this fall your best ever…
1. Deck Out Your Front Porch.
Give guests a warm welcome with a front porch that says “Fall has arrived.” When in doubt, a seasonal wreath and pumpkins piled high do the trick every year. I also grabbed these Metal Glass Lanterns from Target to give the entry a warm glow all season long.
shop the look: faux olive trees, lanterns, wreath.
on Camille: duster cardigan, tank, and jeans
2. Bake Muffins Full of Seasonal Flavor to gift to Neighbors.
Seems simple, right? But there’s truly no better way to spread joy to loved ones than with delicious baked goods, made with love by you. With the scents of pumpkin and vanilla wafting through your house, you’re guaranteed to feel all the fall feels, and thanks to seasonal baking goodies like this oven mitt and kitchen towel, it’s easy to look the part, too.
pictured: Openweave Runner; Set of 4 Pumpkin Appetizers Plates; Melamine Salad Plate Pumpkin
3. Have a Family Game Night
Take a break from back-to-school and crazy fall schedules with a night dedicated to getting cozy with the family. Target’s plush blankets and pillows, my homemade caramel popcorn, a crackling fire, and a large cozy area rug make it easier than ever to set the scene. Just add a few classic games, (cards, dominos, or the one my kids can’t get enough of – Candy Land) and you’ve got yourself a night that everyone will remember. You could even invite another family to join in on the fun!
How amazing are the colors in this rug? Something about the warm hues and chunkier weave just draw you in to gather on the floor around the coffee table. We got it in a 5′ x 7′ size so that it’d layer easily over my existing seagrass rug, and so that it doesn’t take up too much space in storage once the season is over.
also pictured above: Brass Round Tray; Golden Wheat Round Placemats 4 pack
pictured: Threshold Lumbar Embroidered Pheasant Pillow; Threshold Chunky Cable Knit Throw in Ginger; Opalhouse Square Embroidered Hummingbird Pillow
4. Add Fall Vibes To your Bedroom
Give your bed a cold weather makeover by mixing seasonal patterns, prints and colors, and layering bedding from Target’s Threshold collection. This is especially great to do in a guest bedroom if you’re expecting visitors over Thanksgiving like I am. While I’m in love with everything about how this space has been transformed for Fall, my favorites have to be the Velvet Bolster and the Oversized Lumbar Embroidered Sunflower Pillow from Opalhouse.
on Camille: sweatshirt, sweatpants, cozy socks
5. Ignite the Senses of the Season
It’s often said that scent is the sense most closely associate with memory, which is why this time of year more than any other, I look to seasonal aromas to give me that sense of nostalgia and home. Possibly the easiest way to make fall count is to fill the house with seasonal scents, using stovetop potpourri, pomander balls, and candles from Threshold.
pictured: Applewood + Amber Single Wick Candle; Queen Ann’s Lace Stem; Hops Stem; Norwich Round End Table
shop the look: Orange Dogwood Wreath, Brass Footed Bowl
Making pomander balls couldn’t be easier, and is a great activity for kids. All you have to do is poke cloves into fresh oranges in whatever design you desire. Piled high in this Brass Oval Footed Bowl, the oranges smell and look amazing, and it a craft that’s sure to become an annual fall tradition.
Even easier (but just as fragrant) is one of my favorite ways to bring the scents of the season into my home: stovetop potpourri. To make your own, throw your favorite produce and spices into a pot with water, and simmer over low heat until the water evaporates. Some classics that I always have on hand this time of year include citrus, apple, star anise, clove, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaf.
6. Fire Pit
You know when the weather is just cool enough to cozy up with a blanket, but not so cold that you can’t bear to be outside? I call that “bonfire weather,” and this year I’ll be using that time to get the most out of my outdoor spaces. This Wood Burning Firepit from Project 62 is modern looking and easy to use, making it the perfect focal point for our seating area. There’s just something about a fire that makes everyone want to gather around with a hot drink and really connect with one another.
shop the look: P62 Polywood Adirondack Chair; Rattan Basket
on Lily: Perfectly Cozy Lounge Sweatshirt
on Camille: Henley Rib Knit T-Shirt
on Hannah: Long Sleeve Open Layered Cardigan
7. Have Friends Over For Cider
Remember: entertaining doesn’t have to be a huge production. I promise, the conversation and laughs will flow just the same, whether you have a whole roasted turkey or a simple cheeseboard. Since this time of year gets pretty crazy, I’m focusing on the lower-stress gatherings that I can throw together last minute. A couple girlfriends, pot of hot cider, and a few seasonal nibbles are all it takes to have a memorable fall get together and catch up with the people I care about.
pictured: Mugs from Threshold Carved Lines Dinnerware Set
Happy fall, y’all! Let’s make it count this year by savoring the little moments and sharing good food and heart-to-hearts with the people we love.
