Decorating for Fall Holidays

Dining Room Table Decorated for Fall

I had another blog idea set for today to go with the garden topic that I started on Monday thinking next week I’d write about Thanksgiving but…. how did Thanksgiving sneak up on me?

So, today’s post will be dedicated to decorating for the fall holidays! I consider Halloween the start of what I call “The High Holidays” which includes the trifecta of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and my all-time favorite Christmas! 

Andy and Bella are both big on Halloween and I love the fall season, so I take the opportunity to combine Andy’s Halloween decorations with my fall decorations and then when Halloween is over the fall decorations stay up with an addition of a turkey and a couple of pilgrims which may or may not be completely appropriate in this day and age but mom gave them to me and I see them as representative of Thanksgiving. Some traditions die hard, what can I say?

Since Halloween isn’t my thing, I’m going to focus on what I do when I decorate for fall. I get my inspiration from several sources, including cooking and home décor magazines including a magazine called “Entertain & Celebrate: Fall Harvest” where I saw a beautiful table display that included blue and white vintage Chinese vases, ginger jars etc… combined with fall decorations of varying shades of orange. This was color theory in all its glory in table decorations… brilliant! I already had the Chinese ceramic ware so all I needed to do was combine it with my faux fall leaf garland and other sprigs of orange, red and yellow leaves and I was on my way. I also incorporate mini pumpkins, various kinds of gourds, as well as specialty pumpkins in white, varying shades of orange and the warty pumpkins that add such lovely and unique texture to any display. 

Last year I picked up new beeswax tapper and column candles that were a little darker than the standard honey yellow beeswax candles. These candles are strictly for show and never for burning. I also include fall scented votive candles and several other scented column candles that are for burning and bring a warm and inviting smell to the house.  I also upgraded our fall wreath which is proudly displayed on our front door and picked up additional outdoor garland that accompanies the wreath on the front porch railings.

Fire Place Mantel Decorated for Thanksgiving

This year I added my newly created Antler candlesticks and homemade candles to our mantel decorations and expanded our outdoor decorations to include our patio area around the firepit. Here we have more of the orange, red and yellow amber leaf garland wrapped around the pergola columns and side railing, and orange lights draped along the top of the pergola. I have a small table between the two love seats that surround the firepit and have a halfmoon wreath and candle placed on the table to make it more festive. Last year I used pumpkins and mums to decorate this area, but both were taken out by the frost, so Andy suggested perhaps we look into the faux pumpkins, so they’d last longer. Surprisingly these decorations are expensive, so I plan on building that collection up slowly, by purchasing them when they are on sale and a few at a time. This fall we have an addition of a faux white pumpkin and a medium size orange pumpkin both purchase at 50% off the original price. 

I realize some people might think spending money on silly decorations seems a waste of money but honestly this period between Halloween and New Year’s, the time I lovely call the “High Holidays” is my favorite time of the year. I can celebrate the seasons as they move from one to the next with festive decorations utilizing my artistic sensibilities and create a joyful atmosphere in our home that harkens back to holidays past while creating new memories of the present.  For me, decorating for the holidays speak to our senses of sight, smell and even taste! It really is the most wonderful time of year.