Western Fall Decor Without the Kitsch
Velvet pumpkins, dried wheat, plaid and a crackling candle: how to bring fall into a ranch house with warm texture instead of clutter.
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Fall decor can go wrong fast: too many scarecrows, too much orange. The ranch-house version is quieter. It borrows from the harvest (wheat, pumpkins, plaid and wool) and lets texture do the work.
Pumpkins, but softer
Velvet faux pumpkins in rust, orange and champagne gold (a set of 16 in assorted sizes) look rich on a mantel or down the middle of a table, and they come out again next year.
Bring in the harvest
A bundle of natural dried wheat (300 stems, about 16 inches) in a crock or a tall vase is the simplest fall arrangement there is, and it says harvest without a single cartoon leaf.
Scent the room
A crackling-wick candle adds sound as well as scent. WoodWick's Humidor candle, as the name suggests, leans toward the den rather than the bakery, which suits a leather chair and a cool evening.
Plaid at the door
A caramel buffalo-plaid rug (3 by 5 feet) at the front door or back entry brings fall color right where people come in.
Layer the blankets
This is the season for wool. Fold a camel-check merino blanket over a chair and a Pendleton Yakima throw over the sofa arm.
Keep the palette warm and tight
Stick to rust, camel, cream and a touch of gold. One wheat arrangement, one group of pumpkins and one plaid accent per room is plenty; the point is warmth, not a theme.