I went all out decorating for Halloween this year — and I don’t mean just tossing up a plastic skeleton and calling it a day. I’m talking full spooky-mode: animated monsters, creepy crawlies, glowing pumpkins, and a DIY ghost or two haunting the yard. It was a big moment for me, because for the past couple of years, decorating anything — let alone transforming my space into a festive fantasy — just wasn’t an option.
You see, when I moved back home to tackle a master’s degree in journalism, I had to put nearly everything I owned — enough to fill a three-bedroom house — into not one, but two storage units. And there my belongings sat: boxed, stacked, and tucked away like buried treasure. Alongside my couches and cookware were my beloved Halloween decorations, collected and curated over many years.
So while I was juggling part-time reporting, graduate classes, and teaching college students — all at the same time — I was also living without the comforting presence of my quirky animated monsters, my collection of pumpkins, and all the cozy seasonal things that make fall feel like fall.
Fast forward to this year, and everything changed.
Not only did I find a charming house I truly adore — tucked away on a peaceful, almost Zen-like property — but I also decided to invest in a storage shed. My own storage shed. It might not sound glamorous, but if you’re a holiday décor enthusiast like me, you’ll understand the significance of being able to easily access your skeleton army or switch out wreaths without embarking on a half-day storage unit expedition.
It was like Christmas came early. (Halloween came early too.)
I’ll share a full post about this year’s Halloween decorations soon, but if you’re curious in the meantime, you can find some photos and costume fun on my Instagram. Spoiler alert: I made scary party snacks, had a creepy little get-together, and wore a costume inspired by a classic TV character. All of this, by the way, also marked the soft relaunch of my blog, which has lived many lives over the past decade. Consider this the blog’s official reboot — now with more glitter, ghosts, and garland.
But as any good seasonal decorator knows, once Halloween bows out, fall takes center stage — and it happens fast. One day it’s skeletons and spiderwebs, and the next, everyone’s already sipping cider and talking about Thanksgiving turkeys. And this year, I noticed something strange: the fall decorations at most local dollar stores completely vanished before Halloween even ended. So when I went looking for harvest-themed goodies — acorns, leaves, mini hay bales — they were already gone.
Still, I wasn’t discouraged. Because one of the great things about fall décor is its versatility.
You can bring it out in September to kick off the cozy vibes. Let it mingle with your Halloween decor through October. Then keep it rolling right through Thanksgiving. That’s three months of seasonal style with one solid theme. Talk about decorating ROI.
And if you’re clever — and a little bit crafty — you can even repurpose your Halloween decorations for fall. Didn’t carve that pumpkin? Great! It’s still just a pumpkin. Rotate a plastic jack-o’-lantern so the face is hidden, and voilà: you’ve got a festive orange orb that fits right in with your rustic gourds. I currently have one sitting on my front porch, part of a little pumpkin family cascading down my steps. From the street, it looks totally intentional.
Here’s another tip: thrift stores. They’re seasonal goldmines.
Years ago, I found a lovely fall wreath in a thrift store for a single dollar, and it still graces my front door each autumn. I’m a big fan of secondhand shopping — especially when it comes to seasonal items. Not only is it budget-friendly (hello, savings!), but it’s also sustainable. Reusing and repurposing items is a great way to keep things out of landfills while adding charm and character to your décor. A little imagination can turn even the most humble thrift store find into a conversation piece.
Some people turn their noses up at thrift shopping, but I say: embrace it! There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a $1 item and turning it into a design moment. You’re not just decorating — you’re being resourceful, eco-conscious, and creative all at once. That’s decorating with a purpose.
In the next couple of posts, I’ll be sharing a gallery of fall décor photos from this year — including my front porch setup and a few repurposed Halloween pieces now living their best pumpkin spice lives. And since I just finished decking the halls for Christmas (yes, already), a winter wonderland blog post is also on the way.
In the meantime, take a walk around your own home. What could you tweak, rotate, paint, or repurpose to stretch your seasonal decor just a little further? Maybe you’ve got a lonely pumpkin on the porch who’s ready for a second act. Or a faux leaf garland begging for a new twist.
And if you’ve created something cozy, clever, or just downright cute for fall, I’d love to see it! Email me so we can inspire each other to embrace every season — creatively and colorfully.
Until next time: stay thrifty, stay crafty, and may your fall decor be fabulous 🍂✨🎃
