When Fall arrives, we know that it is time to savor. Pumpkin patches, apple orchards, temperatures quickly dropping and days getting shorter. Only a few weeks are left before snow will start to fall and trees become bare. Now more than ever is the time to decorate your home with what autumn offers: natural, unrefined items that represent the season in all of its glory. By adding a little creativity, you can give your Thanksgiving decor a rustic and organic look your family and guests will adore.
1. Acorns
Using acorns as a filler in a votive or vase or painting them in fall colors are creative and quick ways to bring something seasonal to your table or mantel. An important tip when bringing outdoor items into your home: Bake or freeze them first to kill off any tiny bugs.
2. Burlap and Twine
Touches of burlap around the home will add a rustic and stylish twist. From creating a table runner or wreath to wrapping twine around empty wine bottles, it's an easy and affordable way to impress your guests.
3. Cinnamon
Not only are cinnamon sticks beautiful, they add a spicy fragrance that perfectly identifies the fall season. Add them to an unscented candle to fill your home with their warm scent or create a bowl of fresh potpourri for a centerpiece that can be simmered on the stove after dinner.
4. Corn
Wild corn (also known as Indian corn) doesn't have to be kept outside! Use it as garland along a table or wall and the kernels to add weight at the bottom of a vase to create an organic theme.
5. Cornhusks
And don't stop at just the cob. The husks are perfect for a raw and natural touch. Create a wreath for your door or wall, wrap a vase or votive or even make pompoms to suspend from the ceiling.
6. Leaves
Perhaps the most easily-identified object of fall is the leaf. When their colors change, it not only signifies the season but adds warmth to the crisp and biting sky. Make use of what gets raked from your yard and add them in your home!
7. Pinecones
Pinecones can be identified as an item for both fall and winter. Adding them in your home means they don't have to be taken away after Thanksgiving and instead can be used for the rest of the year.
8. Pumpkins
There is more to pumpkins than just carving - they don't have to be gone after Halloween! Create a theme by painting them with accenting colors or use lace and doilies to give them a feminine edge. Be sure to follow this step for preservation first - don't let hard work go to waste!
9. Wheat
Use wheat tops to add both height and beauty to your table. Adding these instead of flowers creates a natural and earthy environment perfect for giving thanks.
10. Wood
While wood doesn't have to be the main focus, adding touches of it throughout your decorations will add warmth and character. Investing in staining a handmade box for a centerpiece can create something that doesn't have to leave with the season. Instead, change what you add to the inside of the box with each season or holiday. If you have access to wood wall shelves, these can be a perfect rustic accent for displaying holiday goods.