Fresh, Fun & Festive Fall Decor Ideas

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.

The changing color of the leaves signifies Mother Nature is winding down for a peaceful winter’s rest. As the squirrels and chipmunks frantically seek out secure hiding places for their foraging treasures, its time to start infusing your home with the warmth only the coming fall season can bring.

Today, let’s look ahead at a few festive fall décor ideas for your home…

Capitalize on Nature’s Bounty

The great outdoors is teeming with natural décor just waiting to be discovered. Of course, corn stalks, pumpkins, hay bales and scarecrows are the typical approach for the fall season, but let’s look a little deeper, shall we?

A simple basket of pine cones can become a beautiful focal point with a few simple modifications. An over-sized decorative bow and a few drops of scented oil (try cinnamon or pine) will transform these humble castaways into a fragrant and welcoming centerpiece. If you prefer to add a little bling, roll their tips in craft glue and sprinkle with glitter for an effect that will take you through the upcoming holiday season.

Beautifully colored fall leaves can be used to in all sorts of ways. Collect fallen maple leaves to create decorative wreaths. Or, simply gather fall foliage and vines to make beautiful ornamental centerpieces for a table or mantle, or to frame doorways and windows.

If hauling in armloads of dried leaves, bark, pine cones, and branches isn’t your cup of tea, try your hand at photography instead. Don’t worry… you don’t have to be a professional photographer to get great fall pictures. Seasonal reds, oranges and yellows against a vibrant blue sky presents a great contrast in tones – which makes it easy to create stunning works of art with just a little practice.

Explore the Colorful Contrasts

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Snowy winters produce a stark white landscape, while summers produce a brighter color palette that sometimes washes out to pastels in the sun.

But during the fall, there is a myriad of rich colors in every shade of red, yellow, orange, green, gold, and brown. You’ll even find rich, deep purples to mix in the blend. Decorating with these colors naturally makes you feel warmer and cozier, which is perfect as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, and cooler.

The trick to creative fall decorating is to keep your eyes open to all the colors you have available. Rather than bringing in leaves and other outdoor elements to decorate, consider using them instead for inspiration.

Bring home paint samples and match them up to that tree outside. Bring home fabric samples that transport you to a glade awash in fall colors. If you have a chestnut brown sofa, scatter bright yellow, red, orange, and gold pillows around.  Don’t forget to add a bright blue pillow, too.  After all, the fall sky offers a beautiful contrast with its cool shade of blue mixed in with the richer colors of the fall foliage.

Decorative Harvest Ideas Await

Of course, fall harvest foods are great for a family feast, but don’t forget to also use them for decorations around your house.

Keep your eyes open the next time you visit the farmers market or roadside stand and take a second look at the crops. Many garden plants don’t just produce delicious produce and herbs, but also provide a glorious display of flowers and seed pods.  When these vegetables and herbs ‘go to seed,’ they produce what can be a very lovely decoration.

Don’t be afraid to experiment a little – maybe consider planting one section of your garden with your regular vegetables and herbs and just letting them go to seed to see what you get.

The autumn months are a wonderful time to use Mother Nature as inspiration to liven up your home. The colors and textures of fall are so naturally warm and welcoming – just look out the window and you’ll find all the creative inspiration you need…