When the temperatures begin to drop and the leaves begin to change colors, you know that fall is here and that Thanksgiving is on its way. In most cases, the dining room table is the main attraction when friends and family are gathered together for the holiday, but the decorating doesn’t have to stop there. Thanksgiving decorations can be spread throughout other areas of the house as well. Here are some ideas for your home that will help you get geared up for turkey day.
Start outside. This time of year, most of the summer blooms are fading, so be sure to take advantage of the fall blooms that are available. Mums are beautiful fall flowers that come in a variety of colors. Combine them, along with some pumpkins or gourds on your front porch for a warm and welcoming look.
Change out some accents. Sometimes all it takes is some color changing around the house to change the mood. Think about swapping out throw pillows, placemats, or drapery to something more fitting for the season. If that’s not an option, it can be something as simple as changing table centerpieces, candles or kitchen items like hand towels and pot holders.
Make a wreath. There are lots of materials you can find that will allow you to make a beautiful autumn wreath for your front door. Visit your local craft store or fabric supplier for materials like ribbon, yarn, burlap, linen, decorative paper, artificial leaves and silk flowers. You could even use outdoor elements like twigs, acorns, pumpkins, apples, cornhusks and pinecones.
Jazz up your mantle. The fireplace is usually a great focal point in any room, so why not use it in your decorating scheme? Try creating something to drape across or hang from it. For instance, you can make a beautiful fall-themed garland by cutting triangles out of a fabric like burlap and then hot gluing them to a piece of wide ribbon. For extra punch, add charms or stencils to the triangles to add graphics or spell out Thanksgiving-themed words. Another type of garland could be strings of autumn-hued wooden beads. If you don’t have much time to make your own garland, swing by the craft store for some faux foliage garlands, pumpkins, gourds and candles to dress up your mantle.
Create your own tablecloth, runner or placemats. There are often a lot of tablecloths and runners to choose from at the store, but sometimes, it’s hard to find exactly what you want. If you fall into that category, try making your own! A fabric store can supply you with all the fabrics you need to piece your project together. For something sophisticated, sew some lace or fall-themed ribbon to the edge of a solid-colored piece of cloth big enough to fit your table. If you aren’t handy with a needle or sewing machine, think about purchasing a hot glue gun to adhere your own trim. For something a little different, you could cut pumpkins or leaf shapes out of felt and affix them to a piece of fabric. By creating it yourself, there’s really nothing you can’t get out of your project.
There are great resources out there to help you get started on your Thanksgiving decorating project. The Internet is full of information websites like Better Homes and Gardens or HGTV are full of step-by-step instructions on how to get from start to finish. If you have a fabric retailer nearby, don’t hesitate to speak with an employee. Often times, they’ll be able to help you narrow down what fabrics will work best for your project. The great thing is that these decorations can be used over and over in the years to come. Have fun and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
