Once the kids start going back to school around here, I start getting an itch to get the fall home decor out.
But it really is a wee bit early for the pumpkins and owls to be making an appearance, so I decided to go with a back to school theme.
Top 5 Items To Use In A Back To School Vignette
- lunchboxes and thermoses
- chalkboards
- flash cards
- yellow number 2 pencils (is there a #3 pencil?)
- books
This is on the shelves in my living room that I put up to "conceal" my lovely HVAC vent.
The last time you saw them they were sporting a summer theme with my DIY Nautical Patriotic Banner.
Now it's been a LONG time since I've been back to school, but I assume they still have chalkboards in the classroom.
Or is all done on fancy Smart Boards now?
Kids nowadays will miss out on all the fun of cleaning erasers for the teacher.
Of course my handy dandy plaid school lunchbox had to be in the vignette.
I had grandiose delusions of drawing a map of the United States on this chalkboard, but opted for taking the easy way out and hanging some flashcards from an old measuring tape instead.
This is the rest of the area. Darn HVAC vent!
(You can see what this area looks like now in my Colorful Summer Home Tour post from 2020).
Why yes, I do have a Skotch Kooler in my living room! That's probably more summery than fallish, but it's plaid, so it stays.
And actually, it was part of my Vintage, Rusic, Industrial Holiday House Tour last year too. I make my thrift store finds work overtime for me.
Yesterday when I was putting this together, I posted a photo on Instagram and Facebook asking for people's thoughts because I was sort of stuck.
I had gathered the lunchbox, pencils and a few other things, but it seemed to be missing something.
So I asked and I received so many good suggestions. A couple weird ones (it is the internet after all), but tons of great ideas!
I ended up adding an apple (fake) on top of the wooden chalk box and some more books to the chalkboard side of it.
I would have loved to add a globe, since that was a popular suggestion, but my globe was way too big.
And believe it or not, I only have one globe. What is wrong with me?
So my tip of the day is if you are stuck and can't figure out why something doesn't quite work, just ask the internet. They'll tell you.
Update: A globe has been acquired!!!
What's your favorite way to decorate this time of year to fill in the awkward gap between summer and fall home decor?
Or do you just go straight to pumpkin town?
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Susanna-Cole King
I'm belated I know, but I love this! But seriously, if you were a teacher, I'm sure you'd have the best decorated classroom. Also, I hope your poor arm is feeling better! I broke my arm about the same, when I was 7, which was really just the beginning of a long stream of clumsy injuries for me, haha.
Pam
Ah, thanks! It is feeling better now. Now that I can move my fingers a little bit, I don't feel so helpless too so that helps.
Emily @ Two Purple Couches
I struggle with the in-between seasons decorating dilemma, too. I love this back-to-school idea, especially the measuring tape monogram! Did you make that or find it somewhere? Very cool!
Erica
This is the cutest idea! I still have my 4th of July stuff up 🙂 It's been a really busy summer and who says you can't be patriotic year round?
That Skotch cooler fits in perfect! I see those in a lot of tailgating pics on Pinterest.
~Erica
melinda
Apparently I can't spell either or it is my
Kindle's fault.
M : )
melinda
How cute is this. Whyvdid I nkt think of something
like this? I gues I am so busy "going back" that it didn't
cross my mind.
I think you should add some crayons too. 🙂
When does your son return to school?
M : )
Melissa's Antiques
First of all, let me compliment you on your writing style. I love how it feels like you're talking directly to me. And some of your remarks truly crack me up -- A girl after my own heart! Your vignettes are beautiful. I have a few in my house and I honestly don't really change them. I may add a piece here or there or some tinsel and ornaments at Christmas... but that's about it. I'm pretty lazy with my home decor. 😉
Brenda Kula-Pruitt
Every day, I wake up and tell myself that I'm going to get a lot done in here. Then suddenly it's the end of the day, and nothing got done. (Is there a way for you to increase this font? I can't hardly read what I'm typing!) Why do builders put those vents in the stupidest of places? They're probably laughing all the way to the bank. And I wanted you to know that every time I see a plaid school lunch box, I think of you.
Brenda
Pam
I keep changing the font and it keeps changing right back!!! I'm going to have someone look at my blog this week and do a little bit of "tech" work, so I'll see if they can fix it for good.
Morning Waters
I had that same plaid lunch box when I was a child and recently found another one on Ebay with the thermos! Its now plays a part when I dress up our vintage travel trailer. I always get requests to sell it when we go to the vintage trailer rallies. Sorry its NFS ; > }
Pam
Yay for the thermos!!! I've found a few more of those plaid lunchboxes at yard sales and they never have the thermos in them. I guess they must have broken easily back then!
Michele @ The Vintage Vixen
I love your back to school vignettes!!! I decorate for fall right after Labor Day. It's my favorite time of year so I extend it any way I can!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
stephanie
It is SO cute, I was so excited to see that scotch kooler used in a fall vignette, I have one too that I use on my front porch but could never make the plaid work for a summer vignette so planned on using in for fall along with a vintage plaid thermos. Thanks for the inspiration.
sue
Ugh to the back to school decor since I teach and hate to see the summer end. Yeah, I'm greedy, I admit it! More, more said the baby! Chalkboards? Hah, hah, white boards and interactive boards to use with a computer, more likely.
Hey, what about trying to stencil something onto those vents? I know part of you wants them to blend in...but they are vents and they really can't go away. So, I was thinkin' and I thought symbols for the four seasons, sun, leaf, flower, snowflake...or something. That's a first thought, perhaps others have some ideas, too.
Initials? A saying, like, PEACE or LOVE?
Hmmm, what think thee?
Pam
Stencils sound interesting! I went for YEARS without ever decorating that wall because I just wanted to not draw attention to that vent in any way. And then I decided to just ignore it. So now it's time to pretty it up a bit!
Kim Kenward
As much as I hate to see anything related to school (and I work in academia at a university) this is brilliant. I'm going to borrow the flash card bunting idea for my fireplace mantle.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
This is so fun for early fall! I've started flipping my decor over to fall with color changes...we already have ripe apples and orange Chinese Lanterns in the garden...so it is TIME.
Kirby Carespodi
I'm sorry, but my suggestion of wine was not "weird." Believe me, we teachers go thru a gallon of the stuff a week. So maybe the bottle should be empty. *sigh* Four more years!
Pam
Hey, that one actually made sense. Wine makes the world go around 🙂 How about a wine bottle on top of the globe???
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life
I love it. How fun and what a creative vignette. I think it is perfect.