Fall is a Season to Savor
Decorate, Congregate, Celebrate!
 (ARA) - Fall is here … and with cooler weather comes the perfect time to reflect the spirit, beauty and richness of the season, while adding warmth and comfort to your home decor. If the thought of decorating for the season -- making that transition from summer's bright splashes to autumn's earthy flashes -- sounds a bit daunting, don't let it stop you this year. All it takes is a little creative inspiration.
There are simple ways to spice up your home décor every few months, mixing items you already own with a few key seasonal pieces, or finding new ways to display those special mementos you've collected over the years. "Hey, I can do that" ideas for warming up your home this fall are as close as your Hallmark Gold Crown store.
Incorporate Seasonal Icons
- Warm up your home décor with fall colors such as deep red and vibrant orange. Drape a hall table (or any flat surface against a wall) with a textured fabric such as burlap or muslin, or simply use a vintage table cloth in warm colors. Place a mirror or large framed photo on the table, resting against the wall, and surround it with ceramic pumpkins and an oak leaf garland. To complete the display, light small ceramic pumpkin candles to reflect in the mirror, bouncing warm candlelight through your room.
- Want to feel like you've just returned from the local orchard with some of fall's bountiful fruit favorites? Now's the perfect time to bring those old bushel baskets up from the basement or out of the garage. Wad up newspaper to fill the baskets and then arrange apples, pears and pomegranates (purchased at your local grocery store) as the top layer. Place the baskets just inside your front door or on the fireplace hearth for an instant reminder of autumn's harvest.
Fall Decorating Shouldn't be Confined to the Living Room
- Even though the kitchen usually ends up being the home's most popular gathering spot, too many homeowners put this room last on their seasonal decorating lists. Make it your priority this year by stringing a fall-colored ribbon through an autumn leaf wreath and hanging it on a cabinet door. Using a tack, secure the ends of the ribbon behind the cabinet door, out of sight, so that the ribbon is draped over the top of the door. Carry your autumn touch to the table with a centerpiece that's the center of attention. Encircle your favorite Yankee candle with a second smaller wreath. Select a candle scent that brings to mind a fresh pumpkin pie, or hot spiced cider.
More than Decor, Create an Ambiance
- On cool autumn nights, a glowing fireplace is a welcome treat around which family and friends love to gather. Make this the home's focal point as well, showcasing a gorgeous seasonal display. Hang a small acorn wreath on either corner of the mantle, then drape an autumn leaf garland from end-to-end and through the wreaths. Hang a larger sized autumn acorn wreath on the wall above the mantle to complete the grouping. To add a pop of color, place a few candles in deep reds, oranges, or golds, on the mantle, then sit back and enjoy your take on the season.
Andy Newcom, a 22-year Hallmark Cards veteran, is a photo stylist for Hallmark greeting cards, specialty products and CD covers. When he's not at work, he can be found at home in his garden or putting finishing touches on amazing floral designs that he creates for weddings and other events. Andy's flair for creativity has been featured in several national publications, including Country Gardens and Do It Yourself magazine. Read more tips from Andy at www.hallmark.com/experts .
Courtesy of ARA Content
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