If you’re like me, you are looking forward to autumn and all the wonderful things that come with it. Spiced lattés, sweaters, s’mores around the fire pit, rocking away on the porch, and beautiful outdoor color, to name a few. To start the season off right, I’m joining some friends for a blog hop and sharing a glimpse into our home. Here are 5 vintage accents for a classic fall dining room. 
The hop today is hosted by MaryJo from Master “Pieces” of My Life and Susan at From the Bay to the Beach. I hope you find something inspiring so you try something different as you begin your fall decorating.
5 Vintage Accents for a Classic Fall Dining Room
What is considered a classic decorated home? Some describe it as an elegant style with symmetry and balanced proportions, made with high-quality materials and enduring pieces. Well, I don’t think that’s completely accurate. You can easily achieve a classic aesthetic on a budget.
Our not-so-formal dining room is a good example. As you’ll see, it’s not fancy, and it doesn’t have high-quality materials. Actually, I don’t particularly want those things. I prefer to buy the “enduring pieces” from Facebook Marketplace or at an antique store. I agree that it’s smart to purchase high-quality materials, but usually, that quality comes with a higher cost. Because I get bored with things quickly, I feel I shouldn’t pay a lot for something I know I’ll get rid of eventually.
A hand-painted tole tray is always great inspiration for color.
So my title mentioned 5 vintage accents. Let me show you what they are so you can see how they made our dining room one of the most used spaces in the entire house. I always choose an inspiration piece first. It truly guides what I do. Certainly in vibe but mostly in color. The first vintage accent piece is the black Tole painted tray. The colors scream autumn to me. What I love the most is that by placing it on the console table. it covers up a lot of the orangey wood top.
Mantel print is from Hobby Lobby.
Vintage accent number two is the old mantel found on Facebook Marketplace for $75. It’s 8′ by 5′ and is the showstopper when people walk in. I’m on the hunt for some pretty fabric to replace the painter’s drop cloth curtain I made. It’s there because if we ever move, I’m taking the mantel with me, and seeing the chair rail molding looks odd.
What color should I paint the hutch?
On the opposite side of the dining room is the 1950’s hutch I found for… drum roll please… $50.00 four years ago! If you’d like to read about that amazing day, click here. It’s been in the family room, then the entry, but this is where it will stay. It is a “dining” hutch after all. However, I’m not loving the white paint. I could use some help deciding. What paint color do you think would look good? TIA!
Just look at the colors in the painting spread out over the entire hutch.
JusThe hutch isn’t vintage accent piece number three. It’s actually holding numbers three, four, and five. After moving the shelves around, the timeless painting was the first thing I placed. The colors work with the tole painted tray. It is hand-painted, signed, and was another steal at $25.
I’d been eyeing this small Italian vase for over a year. It is never on sale, but then, out of nowhere, it drops to $9. No way was I passing that up. I can’t believe no one else snatched it up before I did. In my eyes (and heart), it is stunning. It’s also perfect to bring out more of those lovely deep fall colors.
Vintage cookie and biscuit jars bring in added warmth.
At the top of the hutch are the warm-toned vintage cookie and biscuit jars, along with a sugar and creamer set. They all bring out the colors from the tole tray and painting. I needed to fill up the top shelf, and what better way than coordinating books. Books are one of the best ways to help with height and create fullness.
Soon I’ll add real flowers and use this for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.
This is vintage item number five. Isn’t it something great? It’s an old ale pitcher. I’ve searched for longer than I’d like to admit, trying to find information on it, but I cannot find the same thing. Similar pitchers don’t have a lid. What I do know is that I wouldn’t want to fill it with beer and try to pour it. It’s already super heavy!
Look at more of the gorgeous fall colors! I didn’t include these fun autumn cuties in my 5 vintage accents, but I’ll definitely use them a lot. My Mahjong friends and I love snacking, drinking, and chatting during our weekly games.
So just to recap, I chose an inspiration piece with the colors I wanted to use. Then I gathered several items I thought worked together. I styled the mantel first, then the hutch, and then the console table. The last decor piece was the jar full of leafy fall stems for a centerpiece. I feel this is the first time our dining room complements the rest of the house. It has traditional, timeless elements, whimsical items, and vintage charm all rolled into one.
