Ahh, fall: It’s the time of year I look forward to the most. From crisp, chilly days and warm colors to seasonal fragrances and spooky decor, the season lends itself to the perfect mix of cozy and fun. 

But “fun” and “cozy” aren’t always the easiest looks to incorporate both simultaneously and seamlessly into your house. Let’s face it: Orange and black everything and pumpkins galore just don’t fit into everyone’s home decor. 

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This year, I wanted to bring that warm playfulness of fall into the home without throwing off my entire aesthetic.

After scouring the internet for ideas, I came up with three projects that, while simple, brought all my favorite fall elements together in one place. 

Not much is cozier to me than tealights. This little project truly does it all, combining the coziness of candles with dashes of spooky and fun.

To make this ghost, you first need to create a form to drape the clay over. I scrunched up a piece of foil to form the base (making sure it was wide enough to fit my candle).

Then, I formed a sphere with another piece of foil, and I stuck a toothpick in the middle of both foil shapes, adjusting the height to my liking. From there, it was simple to create the ghost shape by rolling out one block of Sculpey polymer clay into a thin circle and placing it over the foil form. The folds of the ghost come naturally — you just need to shape them in the way you want.

For the final touch, use another toothpick (or tool of your choice) to punch out holes for eyes and a mouth. Then, pop it in the oven, and in about 15 minutes you’ll have your own little spooky light-up friend.

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A few notes on this: For one, you won’t want to use a real candle beneath polymer clay, so if you opt for Sculpey, make sure you go with battery-operated candles.

And two, be wary of the brand’s “translucent” clay.

My final ghost had some air bubbles after I baked it, which I haven’t experienced with other colors. I like to think the bubbles give it character, though. 

If you’ve read my past columns, you know I’m a sucker for a good scent.

Fresh, homemade potpourri allows you to not only create a scent to your liking, but also display it in your favorite bowl or vase (I’m also a sucker for functional design — this is a win-win).

For this fall potpourri mix, bake thin slices of apples and oranges at 175 degrees F until they’re dry (about three to four hours). Then, add pre-mixed mulling spices, star anise, cinnamon sticks, pine cones, bay leaves, and the dried fruit in a bowl. Sprinkle it with essential oil scents like cedar wood, orange, cinnamon and any of your other favorite scents, and mix it all together.

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Whenever you need a scent refresher, you can add more essential oils on the potpourri to keep the fall vibes going all season long.

Consider this the easiest DIY you’ll ever do.

You only need a few things: battery-operated candlesticks (I bought some from Amazon that are wax-coated, which add a realistic touch), batteries, and a pack of clear elastic cord.

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Simply tie the cord to the candles — I made my knot directly beneath the flame — and hang them from wherever your spooky heart desires. I already had a driftwood centerpiece in my living room that I hung them from, but any mantle, shelf or even ceiling could work with some clear plastic hooks and double-sided tape.

Make sure to get candlesticks that come with a remote so you don’t have to turn each individual candle on and off. Instead, with just the push of a button, bada boom: You’re a wizard, Harry. 

Email your questions to Theresa "Tess" Bennett at homewithtess@gmail.com and keep up with Tess on Instagram @homewithtess

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