Who says fall decor needs to be orange and red? Let’s decorate for Fall this year with teal and buffalo check.
In our home, teal functions like a neutral. My family jokes that everything I touch ends up with a hint of teal, so it made sense to carry that through to my fall decorating. This season I chose to skip the usual oranges and reds and created a warm, layered autumn look using teal, buffalo check, and metallic accents.
This is the first time I’ve dressed the house for fall since my renovation, and it felt great to dig through my collection and reinvent the look. I’ve decorated with teal before, and it likely won’t be the last time I use this unexpected fall palette.
Teal Fall Decor
You won’t find teal pumpkins at a pumpkin patch, so a little creativity helps. Over the years I’ve collected pumpkins from stores like TJMaxx and Target, along with pieces from local shops. If you can’t find pumpkins in the color you want, buy foam or plastic pumpkins and paint them with chalk paint—this avoids the quicker decay you get when painting real pumpkins.
Decorating an open concept space
Because this area is open-concept—kitchen, dining, and living—it’s important for everything to feel cohesive. I repeated teal, buffalo check, and black metal accents in the hardware, lighting, and furniture to tie the spaces together. Choose a theme or a color scheme and carry it throughout the entire area.
I balanced the dining table’s mix of patterned and solid pumpkins by bringing similar tones into the living room. Small details matter: a vintage brass candlestick on the table echoes the brass pumpkin on the shelf behind it, creating visual harmony across the space.
Creating visual interest through layers
I like to begin a tablescape or mantel arrangement by grounding it with a textile—here, a runner that closely matches the dining table’s tone. Think of this as the first layer. From there I add pumpkins of varying sizes and a faux eucalyptus garland to introduce texture and movement.
Mixing old and new gives a collected, lived-in feel. I enjoy gathering vintage candlesticks and woven baskets—items that add height and dimension. Tall candle holders are an easy way to create vertical interest and a layered composition.
Plants bring life and freshness into a room. It’s rare to enter my home and not see several plants greeting you; they help soften arrangements and connect indoor spaces to the season.
With a cohesive palette, thoughtful layers, and a mix of textures—teal paint, buffalo check textiles, brass accents, and greenery—you can create a fall display that feels both modern and cozy without relying on traditional autumn hues.