The weather may be cooling down, but fall decor is heating up. A new season with its swirling leaves and vibrant color is an excellent inspiration to freshen your space and stow away or re-style drab decor in your house and kitchen. And because it’s DIY, you'll barely be spending an extra penny. Here are six do-it-yourself ideas to welcome fall with open arms—and a full checkbook.
Winsome Wreaths
Wreaths aren’t just for the holidays. Any front door, closet door, dining room mirror or kitchen wall will be better for being bedecked with a fall wreath—and they come in tons of styles for every taste. For a rustic look, try incorporating burlap into the wreath. If your tastes run more along the classic, try this eminently autumn style made with last year’s artificial leaves. For those of us who love Halloween, check out this frighteningly creative wreath. And finally, for the recycle-holics, have you ever thought about fall decorating with paper bags?
Work the Cloth
The color, pattern, and texture of fabric hugely affect the atmosphere of a room. If your sitting area is looking a little shabby, try changing the upholstery on a chair or two. Or how about new seat covers for your dining room chairs? Here is a how-to guide for some snazzy chair makeovers. But you don’t need to head to JoAnn’s for pricey fabrics—for dining chairs or cushions, use old flannel or even burlap for a cute autumn look.
Pumpkins that Pop
Yes, pumpkins are a little obvious. But they have so much more potential than being a sphere of orange in the middle of a table. Try decoupaging the outside of a pumpkin with favorite pictures: a DIY album and fall decoration all in one. Or if your front door needs a little dressing-up, cut out the top and center of a large pumpkin, put a pot of mums inside, and put one on either side of your welcome mat. If you’re throwing a party, use a pumpkin as a drink cooler: again, hollow out the middle, put a clear glass or plastic bowl inside, fill it with ice, and put punch or bottled drinks inside. And if real pumpkins just really aren’t your jam, whip out a hammer and make your own out of a 2x4!
Cozy Blankets and Pillows
Unless you live in a place like the Sienna Plantation Community in Texas where the weather never gets cold, you will be throwing some extra blankets on your bed as the thermometer drops. Why not dress up the bed to make it more seasonal, too? Instead of buying a whole new set, try matching a deep red or yellow throw with similarly colored pillows in imitation of this look. Or grab needle and thread to create these adorable felt-covered pillows.
On the Wall
A blank wall holds infinite possibilities. For a new look, try taking down a few pieces of tried-and-true art work and stashing them away until next season. Replace them with a fresh idea, like these stunning framed gold leaves. Or take a peek at these free fall printables. There are many places that can print these out for you in any style like those at www.printingpeach.com and they can print anything in a quick high quality manner.
Paint the Season
Every home has surfaces that could use a little color—maybe even of the orange, red, yellow, and deep green variety. The back inset of a bookshelf or bathroom shelf is one overlooked space, or the risers on a flight of stairs, or even the space between the counter and the kitchen cabinets! Wood furniture is also often easy to paint—whether it’s an old buffet, an end table, a desk, or even a chair. Here is a quick guide of when to paint a certain piece of furniture, and when not to.
Now that your house is fit for fall, how about some cider to celebrate?
