The crisp cool air of Fall finally made its debut in Pittsburgh. It’s time to bring out the pumpkins and flannel blankets!

Decorating for everyone’s favorite season can be a little tricky when you live in an apartment. More times than not, there are restrictions on apartment decor. Things like limited space, nailing or taping items are a no-no because it pulls the paint off the wall, so on and so forth.  

What is the easiest way to get into the holiday spirit when apartment living leaves you a little restricted? We gathered a few Fall decor tips just for you and give a few Shadyside shops where you can find them.

1. Subtle Center Piece

You can’t go wrong with a centerpiece full of autumn flowers. Whether you do real flowers in a white vase or fake flowers in a pumpkin. Just make sure you stick to warm colored flowers like oranges, deep reds, purples, and yellows. So be on the lookout for Sunflowers, Asiatic lilies, Dahlias, Gerberas, Berry Branches, and even Wheat.

Toadflax is the place to go for unique items, home decor, and a wide variety of seasonal flowers. Just look at these gorgeous mums from last year’s fall inventory! Their orange color would add a pop of warmth to any room.

If you don’t want to go the flower route, you can’t go wrong with pumpkins and gourds. There are endless possibilities here. We’ll leave it to the professionals on this one. House Beautiful did a wonderful job of collecting 30 different ways to design a centerpiece for your dining table. Whether you have a table that sits 12 or 2, you’ll definitely get inspiration here.

It’s true you’ll find all sized pumpkins at any grocery stores including Trader Joe’s. Though if you’re looking to support local shops, head out to the Shadyside Nursery!

Another option is enjoying a Saturday morning shopping from the local farmers at the Farmer’s Market Coop. of East Liberty!. The vendors have it all including pumpkins, squash, corn stalks, Indian corn decor, fresh cider, and even a variety of Fall meat options.

2. Cozy Up with Patterns

Fall means the air starts to get a little chilly. Nothing beats curling up in a big woven blanket with hot chocolate in front of a fireplace. Here at Franklin West, a large number  of our character-filled  Victorian apartments even have fireplaces! Apartment managers encourage all residents to ask about fireplace safety before using.

Whether your living room is new or full of hand-me-down furniture, blankets and pillows are the perfect fall edition. Drape a hand weaved throw over your couch and pair it with a few plaid pillows.

Feathers located on Walnut Street in Shadyside holds all of your cozy home decor needs. They recently showcased a collection of Fall throws on Facebook!

3. Dress Your Door

From corn wreath to a wooden “Give Thanks” sign, DIYProjects has 21 awesome ways you can dress up your door during this Fall season!

Let’s get to how to hang these wreaths without damaging walls or leaving marks on your windows. You can get common adhesive hooks at your local retail store like Walmart. But sometimes those adhesive hooks don’t come off as easily as they are supposed to.

To hang an Autumn Wreath on your door, we recommend using an over the door, adjustable wreath hanger! They can be found on Amazon for no more than ten dollars. These hangers come in a variety of finishes so you’ll surely find one that looks best with your door.  

4. Nature’s Artwork

Our last apartment decor tip comes with bringing the outdoors in. If you’re into crafts, this is your section.

First, let’s talk about adding a little fall flair to your artwork. On your next walk through local parks, like Frick Park, snatch up a few colored leaves or pine cones. We know, we know.. it sounds weird but bear with us.

On a canvas or thin slab of wood, use the leaves you collected to create a beautiful fall art piece. Just a Girl blog has the tutorial. This one takes a little bit of dedication but it’s so worth it!

You know the pinecones in the store that smell wonderful but cost $30 for 10 little cones? Well, we have a debugging trick so you can decorate with pinecones while saving a ton! It’s as easy as going for a stroll during this lovely Fall weather and picking pine cones. Once you have all your pinecones, take these steps to get them decor ready:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees
• Line a cooking sheet with aluminum foil
• Spread pinecones on the sheet in a single layer
• Put the cones in the oven for no longer than 30 minutes

You’ll want to keep a close eye on the pine cones if you decide to dry them using an oven. However, if using an oven makes you a little wary, you can wash them instead. Here’s how to do it:

• Fill your sink with warm water and add 1/2 cup of vinegar
• Let your pinecones soak between 20-30 minutes
• After let the cones dry for 2 or 3 days
• Rinse the cones with fresh water again
• Finally, let the cones completely dry over 3 to 4 days

 

There you have it! From cozy blankets to pumpkin centerpieces and outdoor art, apartment decor may have a few restrictions but shouldn’t stop you from fully decorating your place!