Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The temperatures cool down a bit, the taste of pumpkin is added to everything, and the autumn foliage is absolutely stunning. Consequently, I love decorating my home to match the season. But there’s one problem with that. I’m busy. I have a job and kids, and honestly, I just don’t have the time or talent to make my house look like something out of a magazine.
At least that’s what I thought. I remember running across things in August and thinking how cute I was going to make my house look this fall. Then time just slipped through my fingers. Now here I am with just a few weeks left, but this time I have a plan, and it’s not hard or time consuming.
All of the projects below take less than 15 minutes and you can even do most of them with your kids. So, turn on some music, sip a pumpkin latte, and start decorating. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party, or getting festive for your kids, these ideas are simple and will really set the fall spirit; and some of them will even carry over into next month when the ghosts and goblins are gone.
1. A Creepy Crawly Approach – These adorable little spiders will set a playful, spooky mood as trick or treaters come up to your front door. To make these, simply buy some Styrofoam balls and spray paint them black. Next, add a few black pipe cleaners and bend to make some legs and your spiders are ready to go. Place some climbing up your steps, sitting on top of a pumpkin or two, or maybe even climbing up the side of your house. The kids are sure to be fascinated with your creepy crawlies. For some added color, you could paint their bodies different colors or add colorful, fuzzy legs. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
2. A Spooky Welcome – While you’ve got that black spray paint, grab a grapevine wreath and paint it black while you’re painting. Try adding a colorful bow, a few bat cutouts, or a smiling pumpkin and you’ve got yourself a real attention getter to welcome everyone. If you used a different color on your spiders, you could always paint your wreath to match. Some of us like brighter, colorful décor, and others prefer a darker, spookier look. Whichever you prefer, the options are endless!
3.Festive Floral Display – Mums are a fall favorite and we see them decorating porches every autumn. But the pots they come in from the store can be rather drab. To dress them up a little, try wrapping them with some colorful Indian corn. Bundles of the corn can be picked up at most supermarkets and aren’t expensive. Grab a roll of pretty fall ribbon, or some twine, and you’re ready to perk up that pot. You might need an extra set of hands for this one too, so grab a buddy to help. Stack the ears of corn on end around the sides of the pot until it is covered, then wrap the ribbon or twine around the corn and tie tightly. Now your mums have even more fall color, without the cost of buying a new pot!
4. Spell It Out – Most of us have a few Mason jars laying around, and if not, they’re cheap to buy a few at the store. To make this cute indoor décor, simply paint the jars a few colorful fall colors of your choice, wrap in burlap ribbon, use a marker to write the letters of FALL on each jar (or use a stencil if you’re not confident in your drawing skills), tie a bow of twine around the top, and fill with a bit of fall foliage. These little jars make a great addition to a fireplace mantel, hallway table, or about anywhere else you might want to put them. Not to mention, they will work for the entire season and not just Halloween. Who doesn’t love décor that can pull double duty?
5. Get Thrifty – Do you have an old set of candlesticks sitting in the cabinet that you don’t use anymore? If so, we’ve got a cheap and spooky new job for them. Use that spray paint you bought for the spiders, and give your old candle sticks a new coat of paint. Next, grab a few mini pumpkins and sit them on top instead of candles for a new twist. If you’re feeling really festive you could even paint your pumpkins with some glitter or mercury glass paint. Don’t have any candle sticks just sitting around? Don’t worry! Go look at your local second-hand store or thrift store. You can almost always pick up a few there at a bargain price.