Nifty Decorating Ideas for Autumn

Autumn is all about the bounty of the harvest, the changing of the seasons, storing up resources for the winter and making hearth and home a cozy spot when winter blows your way. It is the time for bonfires and dancing and hot cocoa.

If you live in California like I do, where we don't have a predominant autumn, we almost have to create the illusion of autumn. But for most of the US, fall is the time to chop and store firewood, cover fragile plants or bring them into the greenhouse or home and get storm windows and such ready.

Remember fall includes both Halloween and Thanksgiving, so many of your decorations can do triple duty. For example, if you like pumpkins, they will last the whole season if you don't cut them open. Indian corn is a nice accent and you can usually find it at grocery stores or farmer's markets. Stock up on apples, oranges, and other colorful produce in autumn colors and display them with your pumpkins and squash.

Also, you can replace your normal tablecloths and even your drapes if you are ambitious in the glowing colors of autumn. Get the kids to help you make a scarecrow. Or have your own candle making party and make some layer candles in the colors of the season.

Or get some plain white inexpensive pillar candles, brush diluted white glue over them, and roll in gold or orange glitter. Just be extra careful keeping candle flames far from any dried botanicals, or autumn could get a little too exciting. If you are worried, try clear white Christmas lights instead.

Autumn colors are famous, so visualize them in your mind when you go out gathering things to give your home autumn flair. If you are on a budget, candles and decorations galore can be found at the dollar type stores. If you are lucky enough to live in the country, you can gather your own grapevines, corn stalks, gourds and other yummy autumn accents. Baskets in natural colors work well for all those smaller pumpkins and gourds and fallen leaves. There are plenty of websites on making your own baskets, or pick up inexpensive baskets at thrift store or department stores.

When Halloween arrives, intersperse your spooky décor in with the autumn display. After the 31st, remove the Halloween things and replace them with Thanksgiving items like a papier-mâché turkey or a cornucopia (horn-o-plenty). Count your blessings and the abundance in your life and celebrate in the colorful joys of autumn.