It is already that time of the year again. You may have noticed that distinct smell of Autumn is suddenly in the air and the apple cinnamon candles on display at your local grocer. The leaves are turning orange and red, the air has gone a bit cold, and consider it officially time to break out the pumpkin spice and hot cocoa! But one of the most exciting parts of Autumn, is decorating your home in celebration for the upcoming holidays. It is a pretty traditional family event of the holidays and starting new decorations and customs is a beautiful way to celebrate. Here are a few unique, festive, and fun decorating ideas for your home and family to try this year.

1. Painted Pumpkins

Instead of (or in addition to) carving and displaying pumpkins, try getting the family together and painting them up with all different colors and designs and display them all around the house. The uniquely painted pumpkins will help the little ones feel involved in decorating, while carving can sometimes be unsafe or too strenuous for small hands.

2. Real Leaves

While outside playing, have the children collect beautiful, real fallen red, orange, and yellow leaves from around the yard. Paint over with a thing layer of decoupage, Mod Podge, or dip in melted craft wax, and then let dry. After the leaves have been preserved and dried, liberally place them throughout your home. This is also another fun part in which the kids can help out. On bookshelves, inside picture frames, or in a decorative potpourri bowl are all unique places to bring a touch of the changing outside into your home.

3. Pine Cones and Acorns

Another one for the little ones; after the leaf gathering, with the help of some gloves, let the kiddos go on another little scavenger hunt for fallen pine cones and acorns. With the help of some decoupage or liquid glue, dip the tips and edges of the nuts and cones into festively colored glitter or small beads and let them dry. After all have dried and are decorated to your taste, use them to dress up your TV stands, mantles, or fill a vase and use as a centerpiece for your family dining table.

4. DIY Wreathes

Start off with a small grape vine wreath, and a few faux buckwheat branches. Hot glue the branches to the bottom center of the wreath, splaying them outwards, and add a big, festive ribbon bow to the center of the wreath, between the buckwheat branches. For a nice, family touch, add a large, painted wooden initial of the first letter of your family’s last name and hang it right in the center of the wreath.

5. Decorating Outdoors

Give your home’s entry way a country barn door feel by using stacked hay bales to hold extra large pumpkins and gourds, and line your porch with rustic metal lanterns with flame-less candles. Use some of the preserved leaves from earlier on to fill wooden baskets or bushels and lay nicely on both sides of your front door. Don’t forget to top it off with a welcoming and beautifully festive fall wreath.

It is the season for love, happiness and gratefulness, which is why all of these Autumn decor ideas are easy, fun and family-oriented for you and your loved ones to try together. So, after the wreath is hung, the leaves are spread, and the table is set, light a nice candle, make some hot apple cider, and cuddle up with your loved ones, and indulge in the festivities of the upcoming holidays with your new home’s fall decorations! Happy Autumn!

by Tip Hero David Glenn