Whether we want to admit it or not, fall is right around the corner. The time has come to bid a bittersweet farewell to summer and with that goes our outdoor gardens. But, this doesn’t mean we have to nix nature altogether. Freshen up your rooms with indoor plants and terrariums. They are low-maintenance, affordable, and perfect for small spaces. Chicagoan and Peruvian native Marco Chavarry, owner of the charming Ravenswood shop Alapash, is known for his hanging and tabletop terrariums that combine easy-to-care-for plants and traditional landscape influences. More hands-on about your plantings? Sprout Home Chicago is currently offering classes for people interested creating a custom mini landscape for their home (but if you lack a green thumb, potted terrariums are also available for purchase).

Give your walls extra eye candy with these colorful, affordable prints from Amanda Catherine Designs. Amanda Catherine Designs is the brainchild of Amanda Helmer, a student at The School of Art Institute of Chicago. Her quirky, quotable and motivational prints can be purchased on her Etsy shop.  Now, go out and have the best day ever.

These fabulous finds from the Land of Nod may or may not be kid-tested, but as far as we’re concerned, they’re grown-up approved. That’s right—we want them for our more mature spaces. Which is not to say we wouldn’t use them in the youngins’ rooms; they have enough style to move around the house. Who says kids get to have all of the fun?

1. Licorice Rope Rainbow Pendant 2. Modern Clip Lamp (Gold) 3.  Buckle Mirror 4. Geometric Lamp 5. Scalloped Sheet Set (Grey) 6. Up and Atom Chandelier 7. Strapped for Storage Bin 8. Knit Medium Storage Bin 9. Store by Numbers Cube Bin

Maybe you need to tell someone you like-like them, but don’t know how. Perhaps you’re excited for something but think the word “stoked” more appropriately sums up your emotions. Or quite possibly, you just feel like sending someone a card that says, “HAPPY!” because well, that’s what you are. If any of the above tackles how you're feeling, check out the new local greeting card company Brain Surgeons & Rocket Scientists, run by recent San Francisco transplant Aimee Lehto Schewe. Available on Etsy. See ya later, Hallmark.

If you’ve ever had your heart set on an entertainment center in leafy green (pictured here), Real Orange, Sun Yellow, or Wildflower Blue, New Jersey-based Contempo Space has got you covered and then some (this piece is offered in a whopping 24 colors). Falling between Ikea and Poliform on the price spectrum Contempo Space offers custom closet systems, home offices, bedroom furniture, and room dividers with modern flair, complete with drawers and compartments galore to help even the most disorganized tidy up. The custom-furniture company recently added a delivery route to Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Elgin, Arlington Heights, and the surrounding metro area. Bonus: the delivery team sets up the fully assembled furniture upon arrival.

For some, fall means back to school or the changing of leaves. For us in the design world, it means a nice excuse to switch up some décor to fit our mood and the weather. Our friends at FLOR embrace fall this year with a new selection of graphic patterns, seasonal solids, and re-mixes of old FLOR favorites. We wouldn’t mind lounging on this Craft Work rug in Arrowhead. The pink, green, and yellow help us hold on to summer while the darker tones give us that get-cozy for winter vibe.

Not all of us are so lucky to have a killer view of Lake Michigan or a scenic forest outside our bedroom windows. But if you’d rather wake up to something other than a brick wall, Urban Source has got you covered. Their new digitally printed roller shades are printed to order with your choice of scenery (you can choose from their selection, including the treescape shown here, or bring in your own design). And if you’ve got more than one window in a row, fret not, for the designs are laid out to span as many windows as needed. A faux view is better than no view!

We all know bottled water hurts our wallets and the environment – but deciding on an alternative can be tricky.  We came across the One Touch Water filtration system, an eco-friendly (and cute) device that taps into your municipal water system. It then processes the water through four separate stages of filtration with advanced purification and ultraviolet-light technology. There aren’t any bottles to change or store, and you don’t have to wait for a deliveryman to enjoy an ice-cold glass of water. And with multiple colors to choose from, you can add a pop of pigment to your kitchen or office. Win, win, win.

As they say on Game of Thrones, “Winter is coming.” And in Chicago, no truer words have ever been spoken. If your porch and patio days are numbered, why not spruce up your interior with some great new lighting? We’re on board with these sophisticated yet casual fixtures from Troy Lighting, which range from rustic to contemporary and could surely find a place in any home. We’re particularly taken with the starburst design of the Copperfield, made of wrought iron and metal mesh shades with a burnished copper finish.

The street fests are dwindling. The Air & Water Show is behind us. And SOFA isn’t until November. But fear not stimulation-seekers, for a quick jaunt up to Evanston this weekend will fill the events void in your schedule and lead you to the annual American Craft Exposition. Held at The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion on Northwestern’s campus, the expo features work by established artists, as well as pieces from more than a dozen up-and-coming talents whose mediums include metal, glass, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, fibers, leather, wood, and more. The expo runs through the weekend (Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).