Easy Fall Centerpiece

If you stick around long enough, you'll notice something. 

We don't do red.

We like red. In fact, when we were engaged and beginning to pick things out for our happily ever after, we could agree on red. We did not agree on forest green. Or army green. Or "what about this green that isn't forest or army" that really was forest and army. Nope. But we could work with red. So that was our goal. Then we began to visit our friend's homes. Red. Red. And yep, you guessed it, more red. We even knew friends who were all painting some room in their house the exact same red. So that was it. No more red. 

When we did move in to our new happily ever after home once we were happily hitched, we went with oranges and lime greens and some brown to keep it grounded. Ok, lots of brown. Even at Christmas I had this "no red" rule. (That definitely helps keep your decoration spending in check -- there's not a lot you can buy that doesn't have any red!) Now our house is slowly changing to a lot of white (yay!) with greens and browns and blacks and some fun aqua and turquoise. {I can't help it. I like a little zing.} But the "no red" rule has stuck. So what's a girl to do when fall and Christmas approach? When every little thing has red? 

Stick with neutrals. 

They are guaranteed. And, in three more years when maybe I love yellow and only yellow, they'll still work. Talk about a good investment. 

Step 1: Pick out some good stuff on sale 50% off at your favorite HoLo (that's DI speak for Hobby Lobby) 

classy white pumpkins

all fancied up for the ball

these bird feather balls are my new favorite things

just pull them right off their sticks. you can always shove them back on if you need to.

this fern is very realistic looking -- 

and a little bit furry too

more classy neutrals

these are berrylicious

just rip off those ugly little leaves

Step 2: Find something to put those goodies in (I opted for this white plate from Marshalls-Home Goods) and start piling them in.

Step 3: Decide you don't like how it's going. Get out that fun basket-planter-thingy you got for 90% off at HoLo. Start re-stuffing. 

Oh, that's better. 

But look, I still have some goodies left. 

Hmmmm...what to do. 

I've got a super long table. Great for dinner for eight. Not so great for tablescaping. Round or square tables can really benefit from one thing in the middle. A bowl of fruit, some fresh flowers, whatever. Long tables need something tall or something long to file down the middle. This arrangement isn't tall (8 inches is not tall) so we'll go with long. 

Step 4: Pull out some dinner plates you don't use and toss pretty stuff on top.

Step 5: Put fun Fall Centerpiece(s) on your table. You're done! If you have a small 4-top round or square table, take those other plates and throw them around your house. Well, don't really throw them unless you're into sweeping up broken plates. But stick one on your bedside table, the guest bathroom, the coffee table. Wherever you need a little dose of fall. 

Then, if you want, you can invite people over to oooh and ahhhhh about how pretty they are. They will. Then they will beg you to leave them there for more than one week because they like them. Trust me. Everyone will be amazed at your secret centerpiece powers.