Sep 12, 20203 min read

Decor Diary: Transitioning into the Fall for just $65!

Labor Day officially brought in the final weeks of Summer. Although it's still pretty warm in many places, things are cooling down elsewhere. That means the swimsuits and pool toys are getting packed away and the pumpkin spiced items are dominating the store shelves next to Halloween candy. It also means the colors red, orange, brown, and dark yellows make their presence known in nature and home decor, especially outdoors.

I'm not a big Halloween holiday person, so that's not a Fall decor theme I tend to lean towards, but I was inspired to work with the color orange for the first time ever after finding a couple of waterproof mats at FiveBelow this Summer. There was a blue option that was more geared for the season, but the orange version gave me Fall vibes. They were a nice length and super affordable at only $5, each. I could totally see them blending in nicely with my balcony furniture and freshening up the look from the gray reversible mat I've had for over a year now. It was time for something different and the mats seemed to hit the spot. I almost hesitated and didn't buy them because I'd just sorted out my Spring/Summer decor and wasn't really looking to add anything. But I'm so glad I decided to purchase them to save for later....as in NOW.

Currently, they're nowhere to be found at FiveBelow or anywhere else. When trying to find a similar item to link in this blog post, I ran into dead-end after dead-end. And when I found something remotely similar, it was $50 - $200. How I ended up with these for just $10 total was extremely fortuitous. My gray mat was purchased from Ross for $9.99. It seems the best way to get these mats at affordable prices is to snatch them up when they're on sale or clearance. Reversible for changing up a look and easy to wipe clean/mop makes these types of mats practical and versatile. I love them, but don't always seek them out. Majority of the time, I end up buying one after stumbling on it in a sale/clearance rack.

In any case, it all started with these mats, with a subtle geometric orange weave design against a taupe backing. Stored in my car trunk for 3 months, but always on my mind. It wasn't until I ran into DollarTree last month to pick up a few things that I discovered the faux Fall flowers were out in full force. Instead of waiting for later, I went ahead and grabbed a bunch of items I felt would coordinate with the mat design. Lo and behold, I found myself gravitating to more orange tones than I've ever decorated with before. I could see the design coming together as I made my selections, but you never really know how things will work until you put them together.

To say I am OBSESSED with this warm and cozy look is an understatement. And when I found the accent pillow covers I felt would be the cherry on the top of this visual eye-candy, I had no idea just how amazingly they would complement the entire ensemble. OBSESSED! I love it all so much. When you look at something you've created and can't help but smile to yourself, it's a job well-done.

What do you think?