[fast, cheap & easy] seasonal changes

here's the thing.... your rooms should reflect the way you want to feel

 

me? i adore the comfy, cozy feeling of being wrapped up in a soft ivory cashmere sweater...

and i want my rooms to make me feel that way in fall!

so i focused on using warm neutral colors, brown golden woods and leathers,

lots of texture, natural elements, and an aged look

i called the result 'tattered n' torn'

some of the 'fast cheap & easy'TM things i did in this room:

the OTTOMAN

is covered with a thick but soft woven cloth remnant 

that feels like a cross between linen and burlap. 

[i think it's called 'osnaburg', actually....]

i had this remnant for years and did NOT want to cut it up.

so I literally just threw it over the ottoman.  to keep it on there, 

i grabbed a bunch of leather belts from the closets (his, mine) and laced them all together.

wrapped it around the sides of the ottoman and cinched it tight. DONE. 

[find old leather belts at thrift shops for about a buck each]

a SIDE TABLE by the sofa is made from stacked suitcases.

[you can find these pretty leather ones at vintage shows, 

BUT you can always get UGLY blue and green vinyl ones cheeeeep at thrift stores,

and PAINT them brown or cream, then swipe some antique stain on them 

to make them look like leather!]

the MANTEL and several tabletops are populated by  an assortment of clear glass bottles and vases 

[i get mine at thrift stores for about $2 each. when i need a big one, Ross or TJ Maxx have reasonable prices and selection]

i filled those jars with all kinds of things in my pale neutral palette:

game pieces: scrabble tiles and letter holders, jenga tiles, bingo cards, dice, dominoes

natural elements: rocks, seeds, acorns, faux white pumpkins, bleached leaves, small pine cones

the EASIEST thing about this look?

it's just a meandering collection of 'finds' that are given importance.

nothing is made to 'go together'
it's just similarly-toned EVERYDAY MATERIALS, gathered and displayed.

i simply pulled it all together in a way that was fresh and inspired for fall.

are you with me? 

is it looking totally DO-able now? YOU CAN DO THIS!