Shabby Fabulous Fall Decor Revealed

After a week or so of teasing you with a few pics of my Fall decor, here is the first of several posts! Check back in a few days for more.

From the preview I had lots of comments on my collection of clock faces. I must confess they are not real clock faces. I printed them on card stock and cut them out! Shhh! Don't tell! Do visit my Pintrest page for links and credits to the clock face images I used.

See the nifty books? They were throwing them out at work. I took a box full home.

More of those faux clock faces. Love.

The pretty and simple swagged garland is the ratty fabric they sell in the Halloween section at most stores. It is really versatile because of its great texture. It would be an excellent back drop for a beach vignette or as garland on a shabby chic Christmas tree.

Here is one of the vintage papier-mâché crows I picked up at Class & Trash over the summer. 

I love all the texture going on! When decorating for Fall don't feel you have to use lots of orange, rust, brown, and burgundy. To the contrary, shades of cream, white, and touches of black can really showcase some of the best of the season with out being so dark, especially in a home with Cottage or Shabby Chic style. We can't have those dark colors intruding on our pale color schemes now, can we?

Tips to create this look:

1. Anything goes! You want varied texture and color without going over board. Stick with cream, tarnished silver, rusty metal, and shades of white. 

2. Include some sparkle. Even junk chic deserves a little bling.

3. Incorporate garden elements--urns, statuary, etc.

4. I mixed some natural dried hydrangeas with artificial ones. Using some real blooms in with the artificial trick the mind to think they are all real.

5. Most of all, use what you already have. You don't need to go out and buy new for every season. Shop the house, garage, basement, attic, etc....you may be surprised what you come up with!

The pumpkins and hydrangeas are all artificial. I love the look of fresh flowers, but practical, they are not.

I'll be back early next week with more photos of my Fall decor, as well as more decorating tips and photos from the Fall open house at Through the Garden Gate!

~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage