Modern farmhouse is a very inviting style.  If we look at your home from room to room, simple changes can garnish oohs and ahs and compliments galore. This decorating style is about muted colors and rustic decor, but also about minimalism. Removing things will be as important as the things we add.

Let’s look at your living room first. Because the color scheme here is pale grays and whites, you need to take away all bold colors. Rugs, art, and lampshades can be removed and replaced in those farmhouse colors giving the room the muted look. Because these colors can work with almost any sofa, we are eliminating the need to purchase new furniture. Replacing decorative pillows with larger throw pillows with stripes, tassels, or arrows gives the room a feel of comfort. Everything is taken from the shelves and mantle, and fewer items take their place. The focus here is mixed wood and metal, distressed and farmhouse items like wood candlesticks, a windowpane mirror, and a small plant (real or faux).

Moving into the dining room, you will again remove all bold colors.  If you have a wooden table, you can leave it or paint it black or white. If you need a wooden table, buy secondhand. Chairs need to be different from the table. You can easily add slipcovers or thick chair pads; either work. Just keep those colors muted or striped. If you want to purchase a dining bench or 2 chairs for the ends, you can accomplish the look without the expense of buying all new chairs. Sheer curtains and a single large print with a scripture, hymn, or song lyric finish the room.

Remove all the clutter from your countertops in the kitchen. You can leave your wooden or metal spoon rest, cutting boards, and cookbook stand. Add a tiered serving tray for the finishing touch. The curtains and area rug are, again, in the pale colors, leaving the emphasis on those few rustic décor items.

The bedroom will have two options. For the first, you will change to a tall padded headboard or a metal bed. This will be the focal point of the room so go for cream or gray, just go for the opposite color with the bedding. A wood bench will be added at the foot of bed. Option two is to paint your wooden bed, white, black or gray with the contrasting bedding. Keep the muted, simple colors going and the minimalist décor. Remember the large throw pillows and framed quote from the living room? Do the same here. Add a  corner chair if there is room or a large basket for smaller spaces.

You now have a modern farmhouse feel. Just remember to keep those bright, bold colors put away. Minimize the number of items on shelves and countertops. Rustic simplicity without the shiplap!

First, clean the gutters. Channeling gallons of water a year away from your home, gutters can become clogged with fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris. Be sure you are inspecting as you clean, or hire a professional company to do both. Gutter guards or added mesh can help keep them clear. If your home needs new gutters, now is a great time to protect your home and enhance the curb appeal.

Next, you want to check all doors and windows in your home. By replacing caulk and weather stripping, you can lower your energy bill. An easy way to look for drafts is to hold a candle close to the frames and look for the flame to flicker. This is a simple, cost efficient repair all homeowners can do.

As you prepare for cooler weather, your home’s furnace should be checked. You should change your filter; this not only helps your unit run efficiently but also keeps the air quality in your home high. Keep in mind, all homes are different, and filters need to be changed frequently based on your individual home. You will also want to hire a professional to service your system to keep it running smoothly through fall, winter, and spring.

The final suggestion is to prep your fireplace. Your wood burning fireplace should be cleaned once a year by a professional chimney sweep. Ask them to check the chimney masonry, cap, damper, and firebricks, and do those repairs now. Electric or gas fireplaces need cleaned and fired up to make sure they are working correctly. Service companies will be easier to schedule now rather than in colder months when they are busy with heating emergencies. Don’t forget to check your smoke and CO₂ detectors as well as the fire extinguisher.

Now, it’s time to grab a cup of coffee or cocoa. Let’s light the fire. You can sit back and relax in your warm home!

It is the first of September, and you can feel it in the air⁠—fall! With all the joys it brings, it also means fall cleaning if you are a homeowner. I enjoy cleaning my front porch, so I can put out my autumn décor. It’s such an easy way to celebrate the changing of the seasons. 

To start, remove everything from the porch and door and sweep them down. This includes the ceiling, walls, windows, railings, floor, and door. You will want to include front windows and garage doors. Remove the window screens and scrub those down before cleaning the windows and replacing them. The last cleaning step is to pressure wash or wipe down all surfaces. Now, you have a clean, fresh space to decorate.  

Now, it’s time to choose a color scheme. This is a personal choice and can be the classic orange and black, but cream and purple, green and yellow, or white and blue can all work too. You can start with what you have and build on that or pick your colors and purchase new supplies. I have a large cream pumpkin that says “welcome” I hang on my door every year; I can mix and match my colors with it.  

Some items to include are a large striped or solid outdoor rug, your smaller themed door mat, a door hanger of autumn colors or pumpkin theme, and one or two larger decorative pieces–maybe a large planter with mums, a stack or group of artificial pumpkins, or a porch sign.  You should see it all coming together and can add or take away pieces until you have your desired look.  

There you go, a fall themed porch. I love pulling up to my home every day with my pumpkins greeting me.  Plus, with my cleaning done, it will be an easy transition after Thanksgiving to my Christmas porch!