As the days get shorter and the light gets dimmed, it’s only natural that we want to snuggled up indoors and enjoy a cosy blanket, a hot drink and friends. While it can be fun to buy new items to reflect the seasons, you don’t need to spend a fortune to bring the look and feel of the alternation of seasons into your home. Here are 16 project ideas (most of which are quick and extremely easy) that make use of whatever natural elements you have on hand, from feathers you find to firewood.
Tuck a feather into each set of vases and it becomes a poetic centerpiece for a table or bedside decoration. The most fun and rewarding way to collect feathers for your vase is to look for them during a walk in nature – although if the search is fruitless, you can always find them at craft stores.
Fill the unused fireplace with a neat pile of firewood and look warm and cozy even without the glow of the fire. For this, you can buy perfect round birch logs, but ordinary firewood looks more rustic and real. Before bringing wood into the house, be sure to inspect the wood for signs of bugs.
Whether you need to stock up on some firewood for this winter or just want to add some rustic charm to your space, filling a bookshelf or two with firewood is doable. Use smaller igniter-sized pieces to fill in the gaps.
Bare branches hang from the headboard with clear fishing lines, intertwined with fairytale lights that glow beautifully. Using a larger section of a tree branch with multiple branching sections, as shown here, makes it easier to wrap a larger light; If you’re hanging from tiny branches, use a little fairy lamp.
An oversized container – if you don’t have a large vase, try an umbrella stand – creates a strong effect when filled with a bunch of colorful autumn branches. These leaves will spice up the entrance or elsewhere for weeks. If you live where the leaves have fallen, collect some evergreen branches to showcase.
Tip: Press down the tall vase with sand, gravel, or river stones to prevent it from tipping over.
Inspired by the beauty of The Garland Cookbook by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo, create your own adorable seasonal wreath to decorate the restaurant at your next banquet. Sunflowers, artichokes, and ornamental grasses make up the garland seen here, but you can use whatever material you have on hand. The length of the finished product can be chosen according to your preference and will look beautiful in the center of the dining table or hung on the door frame.
The feathery leaves of ornamental grasses produce unexpected and long-lasting bouquets – most grasses dry well and maintain a good appearance indefinitely in containers without water. Cut some from your own yard and ask a kind neighbor if they’d like to share a leaf with you, or buy some from a local florist.
It’s a quick and fun project, perfect for casual gatherings in the fall and winter, or with kids if you wish. You’ll need a batch of freshly fallen leaves and evergreen sprigs, a paper placemat, a tray or baking tray to hold the paint, and tempera or craft paint in the color of your choice. Start by trying to soak the leaves and print them on plain paper to get the hang of it. If you want to make a permanent version, you can repeat these steps with a fabric coating on a cotton or linen placemat. You may need to wash or press the placemat before using it for the first time, so be sure to check the fabric coating manufacturer’s instructions.
Old picture frames can be found for almost nothing at yard thrift sales and flea markets – you might even have some in your own home. Hang a set of empty frames on the wall and use tacks or double-sided tape to stick a leaf or two inside each frame to let them show off quickly, seasonally. Mix with other small items such as bird’s nest and moss.
Subtly cover your dining room light fixture with some bright red berry twigs or bittersweet vines and give it a new lease of life. Just be careful that berries fall into food: when berries start to fall, remove branches or vines, or use artificial plants instead.
Tie freshly cut herbs into bundles and tie them to napkins with twine to create a relaxed, elegant, fragrant table setting. No herbs? Using whatever is available in the garden or in the produce bin – Jerusalem artichoke, lavender, wildflowers, and ferns are all good options.
It’s the perfect excuse to keep a bottle with a nice label. Collect a few of the different heights and display them individually or bundled together with twine. The bottle’s narrow neck is perfect for showcasing a twig or two – try an olive branch, grape on the vine, or a freshly cut sprig of rosemary.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time arranging tedious flowers on your dining table, consider a “set and forget” arrangement like this succulent pot. Long, narrow pots made of beautiful materials such as copper work well. Use potting media designed specifically for succulents to ensure proper drainage, and make sure to protect your table with a drip tray.
A cluster of glass bells and other containers, once filled with small natural treasures and air plants, can be artfully displayed on the tabletop. Make sure that air plants and succulents are placed in containers with some airflow and not in closed bell containers. Fill your display with seasonal farmers’ market finds, such as shell nuts and unusual fruits.
Once you’ve collected more pine cones than your arms can carry, toss them into a metal bucket and stuff them into a blank corner to add texture fun throughout the season. Galvanized metal barrels like the ones shown here (for harvesting grapes and olives) have a particularly interesting texture, but any old-fashioned container will work well.
A photo of your favorite nature spot can add meaningful, soothing atmosphere to your home. Bring your camera and challenge yourself to take a photo-worthy photo when you travel to a beautiful place (or to your own backyard) the next day. Taking photos in early morning light usually yields the best results. Don’t be afraid to take a lot of photos – it’s not uncommon for professionals to take a hundred photos to get one great shot!
