How I Decorate For Fall Get-Togethers

A few weeks ago I declared that fall is my favorite color. And, having just gotten back from a family trip to Italy, I can definitely say fall is in the air. Literally. While the days may still feel like summer, that slight chill in the air when night falls guarantees that we’ll be breaking out the sweaters in no time.

I was just getting back into the swing of office life after our trip when my boxes of fall décor from my shop arrived at my house. Since it’s my first fall collection, I was obviously excited to unbox and see all the goods in my dining room where most of our get-togethers happen. Let me just say the contents of the boxes did not disappoint!

I mentioned in this post that I wanted to bring a California twist to my collection and what that meant to me was really leaning into earthy colors and classic patterns that celebrated the season in a new way visually and that were a little bit more mix-and-match complimentary than hoedown or harvest. I also wanted some text and graphic reminders to sow the seeds of ushering in a season that we don’t experience as deeply as our friends in the rest of the country. Hazel’s learning new words every single day and it’s so cool to have her see and read words all about my favorite season of the year.

So does the Roth Family go full in on warm beverages after autumn hikes or flag football in the yard? Why yes, we do! That’s why I knew I had to have some awesome mugs that not only could be easy to hold and keep our cider warm, but that would also encourage Hazel’s giggles and learning about what fall is all about now that she’s a little older! Oh and, we’ll be lugging a lot of these pieces to our new family home in Arrowbear Lake, California. It’s called Hazel’s Cozy Cabin (of course!) and you can read all about it in HGTV Magazine’s October issue that I had the pleasure of guest editing. You can also see all the details of our cabin renovation on a HGTV special episode Saturday at 9pm.

This pillow makes me smile so much. I mean who doesn't want to lounge on an oversized pillow touting one of the favorite phrases of the season? It’s big. It’s bold. And, most importantly, it’s super comfortable. I decided to use it on the vintage bench in my dining room and it definitely makes it the best seat in the house. I’ll have to really ring the dinner bell to get whoever is sitting there to move to the actual dining table.

Oh, and did I mention… this one is reversible!

As much as I love a great statement pillow, I also appreciate a good old fashion plaid and this pillow really illustrates that the cozy season has arrived. I was really excited to add this particular window pane plaid pillow to my collection because it’s a classic that works well into winter and with any design style in any room of your home.

While I was working up some fall design vignettes in my own home, it struck me that these three patterns and textures really work for me and show off that California twist I mentioned earlier. The combination of the light and airy scallop-patterned pillow with the classic plaid and the very European grid pattern bring together elements I always strive for in my projects - visual interest, compatible contrast and alternating scale. The grid pattern cloth is actually a table cloth, but it could easily work as a cotton throw in a warmer climate, so I’m all about working it into this particular mix.

Do you remember when Brett and I went on that Soup for 30 Days diet last year? Well, I can tell you that although soup every single day for thirty days was a lot, I still always do a soup starter when I have family or friends over. I made sure to find the perfect little bowls for the season for my favorite pumpkin soup recipe. Of course, when they’re not full of soup you can find one filled with caramels on my desk. Everyone needs a pick-me-up around 3pm, right?

As you can see, I’m all stocked up with table linens and napkins that I can mix and match. I always love a creative table that's not too fussy. So you can usually find me out front clipping some bushes for a little natural touch at my place settings. And mixing and matching runners, tablecloths and napkins always works for me because it brings a homey, no-fuss design to every meal.

One thing a lot of you guys always ask me about is family-style meals and how I serve them. Meet your new best friend - my Nutmeg Trivets. They're fun and fuzzy and Hazel is obsessed. They make great trivets for all those warm holiday dishes you show off on your table and they’re perfect for jumpstarting your tablescape design if you need some inspiration.

I started using them as mini-chargers under my new soup bowls too. Feel free to steal this idea.

I’m so inspired by my new goodies and taking a quick break while I adjust to California time. 9 hours is no joke and the jet lag is real.

Soon it will be hot apple cider with the family, but for now I’ll keep my new favorite mugs my little secret. You should do the same.

Here’s my Hazel-friendly warm cider recipe in case you need one! Happy Fall everyone!