Fall Open Shelf Decor + An Easy Centerpiece
How to make your kitchen shelves functional yet easy to decorate for fall or any season. Plus an easy fall centerpiece too!
We’re all friends here – right? So I’m going to share a fact that may surprise you – I’ve grown weary of completely redecorating the open shelves in my breakfast room/kitchen several times a year. There – I admitted it!
Before I get into how I solved that dilemma though, I want to welcome you to the Brilliant Colors Of Fall Home Tours hosted by my friends at The Tattered Pew and This Is Simplicite. I’m honored to be among a group of talented bloggers sharing our fall decor this entire week!
If you’re an old friend, welcome back! If you’re a new friend, I’m Suzy, an empty nester living in North Carolina surrounded by my hubs and two fur babies who follow me everywhere.
I’ve spent that last few years completely redoing all of the rooms of our house that we completely remodeled when we moved into it six years ago. I’m still not finished and some of them I’m working on for the second time!
I have four rooms that I’m currently working on either decorating for the first time or updating how they were first done the first time around – our master bedroom, master bathroom, home office and dining room (I haven’t shared my plans for this room yet). I’d love for you to follow along by signing up to receive my newsletter and get my free e-book!
Okay – back to my shelves. After thinking about it, I realized that I’ve completely redecorated these shelves at least four (sometimes five) times each year since I added them to our breakfast room about five years ago. That adds up to close to twenty different looks!
Considering that I’ve tried to come up with a completely different look every single time – well, you can probably understand my shelf decorating weariness. 😀
So, when I redecorated my shelves (once again) for fall, I decided that enough was enough and I would try to accomplish two things:
- free up some of my cabinet space by making my shelves functional, as well as pretty
- do it in such a way that I can just add touches of the current season without having to reinvent the wheel.
Some of my cabinets are getting a bit crowded, so it made sense to make use of these shelves by storing some of those pieces here. I’ll be able to easily access them when needed and the fact that they’re white means they’ll go with anything. Win win!
After arranging all of the white items, I just placed a very few fall’ish items in strategic places. Switching these few things out, while leaving all of the white pieces in place, will make it a dream to update my shelves every season!
Even though the wooden cutting boards have a fall feel, I don’t think they’re fall specific, so they’ll likely stay here for other seasons too.
To give some interest and color to my breakfast room for fall, I added a simple centerpiece down the middle of our table.
I wanted to give some height to the display, so I made a riser by simply cutting down some boards that we already had, attaching them together on the back with metal straps (like THESE), gluing some blocks of wood on for the feet and giving it all a coat of stain. Super easy and basically free!
Adding that little bit of height looks so much better than if the whole display were just flat on the table.
The pretty green bottles add just the right amount of color and help to draw your eye. The terra cotta pots, white candles and flower sprigs that I used help to tie it all together with the fall touches on my shelves.
And last but not least, I added just a few pumpkins to fill in the empty spots. What’s fall without pumpkins – right???
Thank you for taking a little look around my breakfast room! I hope you’ll come back on Friday when I’ll be sharing what I did for fall in my family room.
Now make sure you head over to Kate Pearce Vintage to see what she has to share. Then browse the rest of the beautiful tours below!
Sharing with me today…
Wednesday
Worthing Court // Kate Pearce Vintage //
A Blue Nest // Caitlin Marie Designs // Inspiration For Moms
And sharing the rest of the week…
Monday
Sweet Pea // The Tattered Pew // My Thrift Store Addiction
Shiplap and Shells // Stone Gable // Dabbling and Decorating
Tuesday
The Happy Housie // The Aspiring Home // Mint Candy Designs
This Is Simplicite // She Gave It A Go // Vintage Society Co.
Thursday
Aratari At Home // My Wee Abode // Midwest Life and Style
Simply2Moms // Stacy Ling | Bricks ‘n Blooms // Open Doors Open Hearts
Friday
Up To Date Interiors // Simply Styled Inspo. // Love Create Celebrate
Noting Grace // White Arrows Home // Dans Le Lakehouse// Casa Watkins Living
I have enjoyed seeing how you decorate your breakfast room shelves ever since you guys added them to this room. I can definitely understand that you are tired of having to reinvent the wheel each season when you are changing out your decor. Your new system with the white pieces in place along with the wooden pieces is going to work perfectly for changing the look easily. I’m already thinking about how easily you can now decorate these shelves for Christmas.
When I first saw your table, I was admiring the riser that you used and was thinking that I could make my own, then I found out that you did make it. Love it and love the way you styled it with terracotta pots, candles, green bottles, and mini bread boards.
It was a pleasure to enjoy your post!
I just love how you decorated your breakfast room shelves and ai LOVE that riser! I watched your video when you made it and can’t believe what a difference it makes when you decorate your table! I wish I had your talent, but at least I can copy your ideas!!
LOVE all of the colors you used. Beautiful and inviting
I have a nine square bin shelving unit on my kitchen wall and after several years of doing seasonal decorating I settled on all white pitchers, urns, plates ect and just add a few items to reflect seasons. Still have the fun of change up but not all the heavy work.Christmas is the most intense since I add lights and fresh greens. Has worked well for me. For fall I have added some little pumpkins and leaves scattered about and a dried foliage arrangement to the large urn and some pheasant feathers to a pitcher. Done!
I’m sorry but I laughed out loud at your dilemma of creating different looks on your shelves. In our kitchen we have two large sets of black industrial shelving to hold our collectibles. I never have to worry about it looking fresh as our 8 grandchildren who visit numerous times weekly re-arrange our shelves every time they visit!!! 🥴. We have a lot of old collectibles and they want to know the story behind each piece and of course, they NEVER put them back in the same place !!! It doesn’t bother us though as we love all those grands so much.
I’m sorry for taking so long to reply – I just found out that there was a technical issue on the backend of my blog that was preventing me from seeing comments. I thinks that’s just precious and I’m glad you laughed! 😀
Hi Suzy, I love the tips you shared for styling open shelves, and your fall centerpiece is so pretty! Pinning & I’ll be sharing on IG, too! Happy Fall! Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Suzy… I love how your have reinvented your open shelving to be seasonally-friendly! Great ideas, that I think I just may be adding to my home, as well! So glad to be hopping with you on this tour! Pinned!
The shelves are so smart and functional. I love the simple white dishes you added and the few fall touches are just the perfect touch!
Suzy I always enjoy your blog posts because I feel like I’m talking to an old friend! I also love that I always learn from you…everything from your shelf styling dilemma (hilarious) I can so relate, to how to make the centerpiece and riser! So smart! Thanks for sharing with us this week!
I absolutely love your open shelving Suzy! You’ve styled everything so beautifully. I especially love the bread boards and green bottles. So fun to be touring with you this week.
Suzy, I love how you styled your shelves! Your collection of boards is so impressive … beautiful job!
I love your beautifully styled fall shelves, Suzy! And the whole dining room and table decor is so festive for fall, as well!
The open shelves look amazing and I love all the fall touches you added!! It was so nice to hop with you!!! Have the best weekend!!!
I love your shelves and how you have decorated them! Getting so much inspo for our new shelves we’re installing so thank you <3
I love how you style your shelves, it always inspires me! And your centerpiece has be thinking about changing up my coffee table!
The shelf styling and table centpiece are so pretty. Love the riser! What a great idea. You have such a beautiful home.
I love what you did in this room. I’m amazed it looks so good even though the wood colours are all different. I love the decorations it’s not too much. I was wondering why you opted for the open shelving.
I’m sorry for taking so long to reply – I just found out that there was a technical issue on the backend of my blog that was preventing me from seeing comments. I originally had a gallery wall above the sideboard in my breakfast room, but always felt that the wall looked to flat because it’s a relatively wide/large room. I felt that the shelves added some much needed dimension.
I love the warm colors you brought in for the season!
I always love seeing your home decorated for the season and this fall styling doesn’t disappoint! Your home is so beautiful! Loved being a part of this home tour with you!
Hello Suzy! I enjoyed your fall home tour! Love the color combinations, looks lovely. I know how you feel about your shelves. I have bookshelves I decorate and change them out a few times a year, but lately keeping my decor more simple. Have a blessed week.