Fall Minimalist Motivation

Hello, friends, and welcome to fall! I have never appreciated autumn as much as those around me always did; but this year I have to say that I am excited about the change in season. As summer and its lack of activities dragged on, fall gave me an exciting hope for change. The summer is now in the past, and I am excited to let this fall relax me as well as inspire me to do great things. I am excited to make my home cozier and branch out as the hostess I have not been able to be for some time now. I also want to let go of any summer clutter that was not only unused this year but also forgotten. As I journey to make these changes, I hope to inspire you in the process. Thus, I have listed below three ways in which you can motivate yourself for fall and curate cozy vibes in your home. Enjoy, friends!

1. Cozy Minimalism

After listening to Desirae Endres’ recent fall inspired Minimal-ish Podcast, I was challenged to curate a fall ambience in my home using the five senses. I, like many other women, am tempted to buy all of the lovely decor that floods store entrances this time of year, so this challenge helped me to focus on what minimal moves will go the furthest to cozifying my space this season.

After careful deliberation, I acknowledged that I did want to make a few small purchases this season with the goal that most items could be used all year round. So, I started with touch and allowed myself to pick up a burgundy fuzzy throw and a soft orange pillow for my sofa. The blanket can be used everyday during both the fall and winter season and the accent pillow can be happily used all year round. For sight, I came to the conclusion that I would allow myself one true temptation that could be reused each year, so I purchased a single fake pumpkin. I understand that I could have picked up a real one, but I do like the idea of reusing my decor. As my nod to smell, I allowed myself to purchase an essential oil fall candle that has already been happily used up. Taste, a fun sense, was easily taken care of with a bit of apple cider, which left me with sound to fulfill. Desirae’s guest-host Myquillyn Smith (AKA The Nester) encouraged listeners to create or find a fall playlist, so I explored a few acoustic tracks that surprisingly struck my fancy.

Though I could have purchased nothing at all this season and attempted to cozify my space with things on hand, I found the 5 senses challenge to be my middle ground. I did not purchase bags of fall decor like years before but instead allowed myself a few simple pleasures. I hope you can find a balance this year, friend, when you think of ways to set your home in the season. Any improvement is growth, so don’t judge yourself by other minimalists. Be proud of your progress and allow yourself to be content with whatever you decide is best for you. I hope you enjoy the process!

2. Host Just a Few

Sharing meals brings others together in a unique and lovely way, so I want to focus more on that blessing of bonding. Limited numbers should not prevent us from enjoying a great party, so I am still exploring ways to get creative. My last dinner party was still a true party, though my husband and I only had one couple over for dinner and games. If you love hosting, be grateful for one or even two guests in your home, as this year has taught us to appreciate any human interaction. I am currently not able to have overnight guests, so I am appreciating simple dinners and game nights that much more and hope you will too. I look forward to finding people to invite over for a candle making event or even a crochet party, as I need encouragement to pick the hobby back up. Do you have cozy ideas for small setting parties? Please do share them, friend!

3. Shed Summer Supplies

As the seasons change, we are given an opportunity to assess which items specific to the passing season were used and which were not. Unworn summer clothes should make their way to the donation bag without causing any guilt, because they simply stopped serving you. If you feel a sinking feeling when you think of certain pieces, then they especially do not deserve a place in your home as they take away from your peace. A few of my summer paintings were never hung on my walls, so those will be given away without regret. Since this summer was pandemic unique, you do not need to get rid of items that you were not able to use. However, if you did not miss using said items (ex: badminton net, inflatable raft, etc.) then you can still let them move on to a better home. Simply allow yourself to shed anything that has sat around and not made you long for its future use.

I hope you enjoyed this little list of minimalist fall ideas and are able to implement some of these goals this season. Thanks for reading!