Autumn Themes

As the hazy, lazy days of summer draw to a close, it’s time to get ready for falling leaves, crisp autumn nights, and bountiful harvests. The colors of nature are at their most vibrant in the fall, and fall decorating is all about bringing that vibrancy indoors. You need look no further than your back yard (and your kitchen) for the inspiration to transform your home from cool summer retreat to a warm and welcoming place to put up your feet as the nights grow colder.

Colors and Scents

The autumn leaves are your first stop when picking colors for fall decorating - the brilliant red, orange, and yellow of the foliage will instantly create a autumn “feel” in your home. You can also introduce brown - like the branches of maple trees or branches of berries - into your design, and though the green may be disappearing outside, moss green makes a great addition to your fall décor.

Autumn encompasses two holidays - Halloween and Thanksgiving - each with its own “color scheme.” Black and orange are, of course, a must for Halloween decorating, while cranberry red, brown, and yellow will complement your Thanksgiving table with style.

Continue your theme by complementing your autumn colors with autumn scents. Try scented candles, like Autumn Wreath or Sage and Cinnamon from Yankee Candle or place potpourri around your house in apple, cinnamon, or cranberry scents.

Edible Art?

Look to your kitchen for decorating ideas. Pumpkins are for much more than jack-o-lanterns. Mini pumpkins can be used in wreaths or in centerpieces, and larger pumpkins can be hollowed out and used as temporary vases. Gourds and Indian corn are also great for fall centerpieces. Cranberries, acorns, nuts, and cinnamon sticks all have a variety of uses in wreaths, centerpieces, and mantle piece displays.

Project Ideas

Here are a few fall project ideas to get you started:

Pumpkin and Gourd Candle Holders

Using mini pumpkins or gourds, cut the tops off and scoop out the center. In the flesh of the pumpkin or gourd, create a well large enough to hold a tea light. These candle holders are best used for special occasions, as they will likely only last a few days.

From Do It Yourself.com

Pear Centerpiece

Using a shallow dish or platter as your base, arrange pears in different sizes and colors together with apples, nuts, and berries. Cut leaves out of shiny paper in fall colors and scatter around centerpiece. Branches can also be added, if desired.

From Better Homes and Gardens

Halloween Candles

Cut Halloween designs silhouettes, like ghosts, witches, or black cats, out of orange and/or black paper. Put a tea light in a tempered glass pillar vase. Wrap the paper around the vase to create a warm glow.

From Giving Gallery

More Ideas

Pheasant Feather Wreath from Better Homes and Gardens

From Better Homes and Garden

• Grapevine Wreath
• Cranberry Candle Holders
• Pheasant Feather Wreath
• Mini Pumpkin Wreath
• Kumquat and Mum Centerpiece

From Martha Stewart

• Pinecone Napkin Holders
• Pumpkin Light Catchers
• Cranberry Flower Frog

From Southern Living

• Pumpkin and Pansies Centerpiece
• Halloween Wreath of Pumpkins