Thistlewood Farm https://thistlewoodfarms.com/ Remodeling a Vintage Farmhouse in the Middle of the Country Mon, 07 Sep 2026 01:54:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Fall Kitchen Decorating Ideas and The BEST House Conversations https://thistlewoodfarms.com/fall-kitchen-decorating-ideas/ https://thistlewoodfarms.com/fall-kitchen-decorating-ideas/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:00:22 +0000 https://thistlewoodfarms.com/?p=29809 Wooden “U-Pick, Cut Flowers, Strawberries” signs on shelves with white dishes, red apples, mini pumpkins, and autumn decor. Festive, cozy, and rustic kitchen display.Looking for creative fall kitchen decorating ideas? Here’s how I decorated my kitchen this year and a few party planning ideas, too. // package of apples // You’ll never guess […]

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Looking for creative fall kitchen decorating ideas? Here’s how I decorated my kitchen this year and a few party planning ideas, too.

Wooden signs with white, weathered lettering read “U-PICK CUT FLOWERS” and “STRAWBERRIES.” Small apples and a book rest on a shelf nearby in the background.

// package of apples //

You’ll never guess what I did this weekend (in addition to going to an amazing family reunion).

Never.

Ever. In the history of ever.

You’ll never find the answer to that question because it’s currently filed away under too much time on my hands.

The twins rolled their eyes at me. My mother rolled her eyes at me. You are probably going to hop aboard the eye-rolling bandwagon, too, once I tell you that I spent last Sunday evening making sure my lightbulbs in my lamps all matched from the outside.

Totally eye-roll worthy.

I get it.

But I couldn’t help it. The light bulbs were different colors. Some were bright white, and some were a soft glow, and some were super yellow. I couldn’t even with it. So I went up and down the stairs and walked in and out of the house, looking at the lights and going back in again and switching out the bulbs until they all matched with the soft, warm glow of light bulb coordination.

(Total aside: I’ve mentioned these light bulbs A ZILLION TIMES, but they biggest game changer for the front of your house. You can see them here.)

That’s the thing about houses. Sometimes a little change can make a big difference. Like adding a little orange (and a few apples) to my fall kitchen.

I had a full conversation with my house to get it ready for the BIG FAMILY fantasy football draft today.

Want to know what we chatted about and what the kitchen looks like now?

Bright kitchen with white cabinets, a gray island, and wood floors. The island is decorated with a fall-themed centerpiece featuring orange leaves and pumpkins. A chandelier hangs above the island.

// orange pumpkins //

A white vase with vibrant orange and red autumn leaves sits on a kitchen counter. The background shows a sink and window with natural light.

// fall branches //

Wooden “U-Pick, Cut Flowers, Strawberries” signs on shelves with white dishes, red apples, mini pumpkins, and autumn decor. Festive, cozy, and rustic kitchen display.

// package of apples // orange pumpkins //

I have about 25 people coming over to the house on this Labor Day Monday.

We have our annual live football draft for our family fantasy football league.

This kitchen is about to be full to the brim with football and pizza and ice cream cake and people.

And I’m not stressed at all. Not even for a minute. Not even close.

Why?

Because I had the best conversation with the kitchen.

A close-up of vibrant red and orange autumn leaves on branches with a small pumpkin on a white surface in the background.

Do you ever chat it up with your house?

I may or may not have mentioned several dozen times that I wake up my house every morning.

Truth?

I am in a totally committed relationship with my house, and house conversations are the best (and helpful, too).

So whenever I host a party, the morning of the celebration, my house and I unpack the evening ahead and ask ourselves several questions to get ready.

Are you curious?

Maybe a little bit?

Want to know what my house and I are discussing this morning?

A close-up of a woven rattan spider web with a rattan spider attached, mounted on a wooden frame against a dark background.

A white vase with vibrant red, orange, and yellow autumn leaves sits on a wicker tray with pumpkins and decorations on a marble countertop in a warmly decorated room.

// orange pumpkins //

1. How does the house smell?

And maybe even more importantly? How do I WANT the house to smell?

Truth?

People will forgive a lot of dust if the house just smells good.

It distracts them from the occasional cobweb.

A white textured bowl filled with water, containing apple slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves, sitting on a wooden coaster on a marble surface.

My house and I decided the scents were on point.

It smells (and will smell tonight) absolutely amazing.

And it’s all because of this.

I added a mini simmer pot to my candle warmer. I just added a cup of hot water, apples, cinnamon sticks, and cloves, and let the candle warmer do all the rest.

All the ingredients came as part of this kit. You could make at least 10 mini simmer pots with this kit.

You can see the simmer pot kit here.

And I found this candle warmer on sale with a coupon here.

A wicker tray on a countertop holds pumpkins, apples, pinecones, candles, and autumn leaves, with small white decorative greenhouses, creating a festive fall centerpiece in a bright kitchen.

// package of apples // orange pumpkins //

 

2. Is there enough food?

My mother is giving me a standing ovation for this conversation if she happens to read the post today.

I’m ordering pizza (BTW Costco has the BEST pizzas for the best price if you have a big group).

But the house and I discussed that we needed salad and fruit and some other healthier options so I added those to my delivery order.

Drinks kind of fall under this category, too.

My mother’s rule? Buy enough food to feed everyone and then plan on two or three extra people.

A wall-mounted rack holds decorative serving platters, plates, and wooden cutting boards arranged neatly on three shelves against a white wall.

//scallop plate rack DIY //

3. What tasks can we give people who show up early?

This is never a problem I have because I’m never early.

But in shocking news, there are some people who actually show up before the planned time.

What?

I told the house we should save a few tasks to give those people when they arrive early. People always ask what they can do and I like to have a few things I haven’t done so they can feel helpful.

Like putting the drinks out or arranging the silverware or making sure we have ice in the cups.

Those are good early people tasks.

A bright kitchen decorated for fall with pumpkins, leaves, and autumn accents on counters and shelves, featuring dark lower cabinets, white upper cabinetry, and a chandelier above a marble-topped island.

// orange pumpkins //

A marble countertop displays autumn decor: artificial red and orange leaves, a shiny pumpkin, a red apple, pinecones, and a small orange pumpkin; a cozy, softly lit living room is visible in the background.

// package of apples // orange pumpkins // rustic pumpkins //

4. What ambient noise will we have?

A party feels like so much more of a party if there’s a little noise when the guests show up.

My friend sent me the best playlist I’ve been playing lately that features a lot of Dolly Parton songs and John Denver songs that will be perfect for the party.

My house and I may have even sung a few already today.

A farmhouse hutch decorated for fall with pumpkins, white dishes, a vase of autumn leaves, baskets, and rustic wooden signs reading “U-PICK,” “CUT FLOWERS,” and “STRAWBERRIES.”.

// orange pumpkins //

5. Do we have enough fall decor?

Since we are officially in the BER months?

I wanted to add a little fall to the kitchen.

I’m mixing apples and oranges and bright, happy fall leaves together in these two party rooms—the kitchen and the back living room.

Let me know if you have questions about any of the decor, and I tried to link everything at the end of the post.

I asked the house if it thought I had enough pumpkins, and it assured me I did (and then mentioned that too many pumpkins wasn’t really even a thing).

See what I mean?

My house just gets me.

A kitchen hutch displays white dishes, pitchers with apples, and wooden accents. To the right, a white wall holds a wooden cutting board and a vase of red-orange autumn leaves beside a small pumpkin.

// orange pumpkins //

Here’s one last party conversation.

When you’re getting your house ready for the party?

Don’t stress.

Don’t overthink it.

Don’t overfall your house if it all seems a little too much.

If making your own salsa and printing out a party game and making sure all your light bulbs match seems too overwhelming, just order some pizzas from Costco and call it a day.

That kind of getting ready for a party leaves plenty of time for the important things in life….

… making sure you get Dak Prescott for your quarterback. 🙂

Fall kitchen decor items:

Disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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