A Homey Fall Farmhouse in Alabama

fall farmhouse dining room with rae dunn collection wallpaper

Photography by Jean Allsopp

Styling by Brendt Blanks

Today’s family farmhouses aren’t always occupied by farmers, but they remain bustling homes that pulse with energy and warmth. This is certainly the case for this Alabama abode, where blogger Brendt Blanks of She Gave it a Go resides in her fall farmhouse with her husband and their four children.

“While style is something I love and it’s important,” she says, “with a family of six we need spaces to function well for our family’s day-to-day needs.”

fall farmhouse kitchen with blue island and white cabinets — Bring color to your kitchen with splashy paint for the island. “I chose to have color added to the island just to have a slight element of something unexpected,” Brendt says. “Most of our home is neutrals, so this was something fun (which I think is great to do every once in a while).”

Growing With The Kids

In a family that’s raising children, change is inevitable. And that goes for the home itself, too. “[Our] needs are constantly evolving as our children grow,” Brendt says, “and I always want to create spaces that encourage our family to gather together, even if that means just having a sitting area (like in our kitchen) where our teenagers could do homework instead of in their rooms.”

fall farmhouse boys bedroom with wood accent wall — Mixed patterns are a hit for boys and girls, alike. “This is my son, Paul’s, bedroom,” Brendt says. “I wanted it to feel masculine yet playful. The sign was custom made to parallel words that we speak into his life daily: that he is brave, strong and not afraid.”

In the fall farmhouse, Brendt also cultivates a family environment with well-placed touches of masculinity, accommodating the gentlemen in the home. “For my son’s room,” Brendt says, “I focused on implementing the dark wood wall. You won’t see that anywhere else in our home. [I also] added outdoor-themed elements as well as the deer antlers.”

fall farmhouse master bedroom with wall paper white bed and vintage dresser — Use your bedroom to showcase your personal philosophy. “I knew I wanted an oversized art piece above our bed,” Brendt says. “Since our family believes in pursuing your dreams (hence ‘give it a go’ in my brand name), this one just seemed to fit right into our home and its values.”

Likewise, for the master bedroom, Brendt “steer[s] away from pinks, purples (and any other feminine colors) as well as blooming florals.” Instead, she favors greenery and includes pieces like eucalyptus stems. To round off the space, she features neutral colors that work for husband and wife alike.

fall farmhouse living room with sign above mantle white couches and dining room — Notice the lovely coordination between scroll, candlesticks, basket and trunk. Together, these items highlight the cohesion of the space as a whole, while drawing the eye to the room’s surprising focal point. “[The chest] is a sentimental piece,” homeowner Brendt Blanks says. “It is originally from my dad’s time in Japan many years ago and something he had saved that I inherited.”

Natural in Neutrals

In addition to cultivating a family-friendly environment, Brendt also keeps the farmhouse versatile and timely year-round. “I love swapping out seasonal decor in all of our main living areas, including the living room, dining room and kitchen as well as our master bedroom and porch,” Brendt says.

fall farmhouse entryway with bench dresser and gallery wall — Structurally, the entryway sets the tone for the rest of the home. And the Blanks’ farmhouse exudes warmth the moment you step through the front door. “I want our children to know they are loved first and foremost by the Lord and secondly how much we love them,” Brendt says.

To make this work, she chooses subtle tones for her statement pieces. “I always encourage people to buy their larger, foundational pieces in neutrals,” Brendt says. “It provides a great base to adapt to the various seasons. Neutrals allow you to not feel tied to any certain color scheme, but rather open the door to have various color options.”

fall farmhouse living room with white fireplace and quote on mantel — When it comes to choosing your signs, aesthetic is just as important as the message itself. Brendt adorns the mantel with a lovely wall hanging: meaningful words of Scripture that ring true year-round. Besides being perfect for Thanksgiving, the Bible verse appears on a beautiful burnt-orange scroll—a colorful ode to crisp autumn leaves.

Focusing In On the Fall Farmhouse

When it comes to decorating for autumn, Brendt follows three basic principles in her fall farmhouse. First, she incorporates greenery into her décor, alongside blacks, whites and grays. “I do consider greenery a neutral,” she says.

Simply Vintage Home at Christmastime

fall farmhouse decor on vintage table — A little wear and tear can add a lot of personality. Brendt discovered her “chippy paint table” at a local vintage sale, where she learned the item’s history. “The original owner said that surely [the vendor] didn’t really want to buy this old piece whose legs had probably been chipped and chewed by their dogs,” Brendt recalls. But Brendt adds, “the vendor and I both agreed. We loved it anyway.”

Second, she combines varied materials for greater impact. “One of the best ways to create depth and interest when decorating with neutrals is to have several different textures in the space,” Brendt says. “I use a variety of textures…in these spaces, including faux greenery, chippy wood, galvanized containers and painted pumpkins.”

fall farmhouse decor with sign on vintage dresser — The sign above this dresser easily sets the fall theme for the rest of this beautiful fall farmhouse.

Finally, Brendt takes her decorating cues from her personal fashion sense. “[Layering] is one of my favorite ways to decorate, especially in the cooler months when we all want to add layers of clothing,” Brendt says.

“Think of it in that way; whether you layer wood beads on top of a glass jug, faux garland around wooden signs, or stack galvanized pots with clay pots, it adds a wonderful dimension to your home.” She recommends “varying heights, sizes and materials and avoiding being too matchy!”

fall farmhouse gallery wall with blue bench — Brendt, who is “highly involved in the home décor Instagram community,” entered a giveaway—and won several delightful signs, “prompt[ing] a desire to create this gallery wall.” With the help of her haul, she crafted an encouraging and engaging space that combines Scripture, homey wall art and even a chipper chalk-painted bench.

fall farmhouse bedroom with 4 poster bed and blue mural — Elegantly feminine, this streamlined space features lovely florals and a heartfelt message. “My middle daughter, Abby, fell in love with this sign when she saw it,” Brendt says. “She enjoys having the Scripture in her room, and she loved the chalkboard look of it too! It contrasts nicely with the oversized peony wall decals.”

For another beautiful fall house tour, check out this Mid Century farmhouse in Tenessee! Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!