Living in my small coastal town means blue seas and olive groves, but not much of the classic autumn scenery most of us imagine. I wanted to bring fall into my home, but local decor options were sparse. A visit to the neighborhood “Euro Store” yielded a disappointing little cluster of fake, squash-shaped ornaments attached to a vine of faux leaves. I removed the pumpkins from the vine, gave them a light coat of paint, and paired them with some real squash I found at the supermarket. The result is my take on fall decor for a place that doesn’t get a traditional autumn.
In my coastal town we have blue waters and many olive trees, but little in the way of traditional fall decoration. I left the local store a bit disappointed with a small bunch of fake squash. Wanting to celebrate the season, I painted them and combined them with real pumpkins I found at the market to create a cozy fall vignette.
You might remember from my previous post a drawer repurposed into a tray with a backgammon pattern. I used that tray as the base for this vignette, which helped create a contained, layered display for my fall arrangement.
I repurposed a drawer into a tray with a backgammon design and used it as the foundation of the vignette.
I gathered natural materials—pine cones, dry leaves and the pumpkins—and added just a few of the painted faux white mini-squash to contrast the richer, darker tones. The aim was a relaxed, authentic feel that still reads as seasonal even on a sunlit coastal table.
Using items from nature—pine cones, dried leaves, and real pumpkins—kept the vignette grounded. I introduced the painted mini-squash sparingly to brighten the composition.
To introduce a little festive shimmer, I threaded a couple of discreet gold garlands through the arrangement. The metallic touch brings light and contrast, especially in rooms that stay bright and warm long into the season.
A few gold garlands add sparkle without overpowering the natural palette.
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The finished vignette now sits proudly on my coffee table. Unless I head inland to higher elevations, I won’t see colorful autumn leaves along the coast, so this little arrangement brings the season to me. I’m happy with how it turned out—balanced, warm, and inviting. What do you think?
This vignette sits on my coffee table and brings a touch of autumn to coastal living. I hope you like the mix of real and repurposed elements—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If you like this vignette, feel free to share it with friends or save it for inspiration. You can also follow the #homeforfall hashtag on social platforms for more autumn decorating ideas. Subscribe to receive new posts twice a week if you’d like more seasonal projects and coastal DIY inspiration.
Below is a small collection of autumn projects from friends and fellow creators. Browse these for more ideas and variations on fall vignettes and seasonal decor.
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This blog is for entertainment purposes only; DIY tutorials are not professional advice. I love receiving your comments and make every effort to reply to each one.