How to Decorate for Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving on a Budget

It's that time of year again! The leaves are changing color, the air is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice everything is back in stores. It can only mean one thing: autumn is here! This season brings with it a lot of fun holidays, including Thanksgiving and Halloween. If you're looking to decorate your home for these occasions on a budget, don't worry - we've got you covered. In this blog post, we'll give you tips on how to decorate for all three holidays using things you may already have around your house. Let's get started!

TIPS ON TRANSITIONING YOUR HOLIDAY DECOR FROM HALLOWEEN TO THANKSGIVING:

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you're like me, you want your home to reflect the change in season. Here are a few tips on how to transition your holiday decor from Halloween to Thanksgiving:

STICK WITH A NEUTRAL COLOR-STORY

Start bringing out any fall-themed decorations that you want to use for Thanksgiving. This could include things like gourds, leaves, pumpkins, and cornucopias. Place these items around your home in strategic locations where they will be most effective.

Pack away any spooky or scary decorations that you won't be using for Thanksgiving. This includes anything related to ghosts, goblins, or witches. You can put these items in storage until you're ready to use them again next year.

Add touches of seasonal hues like orange and mustard to creams, blushes, browns, and blacks. In this manner, your holiday décor will feel more evergreen while yet being appropriate for the fall. If neutrals aren't your thing, there are plenty of interesting black and white and colorful fall products to choose from (clearly, this design concept is used throughout my home; we're big fans of neutrals!).

USE ORGANIC MATERIALS LIKE DRIED FLORALS AND REAL PUMPKINS

Dried flowers in wreaths and vases (which you may change to feel more Halloween or Thanksgiving) will survive for many holidays. To make a dried wreath more seasonally appropriate, swap out the ribbon and accent decorations. For Halloween, we used bats and a black ribbon, and for Thanksgiving, we used faux leather pumpkins and a gingham fabric ribbon. There are also a ton of fantastic imitation options available; in the kitchen, we used branches with maple leaves and acorns on them. Make roasted pumpkin seeds once you are finished with your pumpkins!

MIX HIGH AND LOW TABLETOP

More money should be spent on long-lasting, reusable things like dinnerware and tablecloths, then add in festive paper (the ones I used are made of eco-friendly paper) or melamine plates and napkins for a dash of whimsy. Additionally, you won't need to wash as many dishes!

GO HEAVY ON PUMPKIN DECORATIONS

If you're like most people, you love the autumn season. The leaves falling from the trees, the crisp air, and of course, pumpkin spice everything! If you want to bring a little bit of autumn magic into your home this year, we've got some great ideas for you. From pumpkins on your front porch to spiced candles burning throughout your house, we'll show you how to create a warm and cozy fall atmosphere. So get ready to pumpkin spice up your life!

One of the best ways to get into the fall spirit is to decorate your home with all things pumpkin. You can start by placing a few pumpkins on your front porch or in your yard. Then, head inside and adorn your tables and window sills with vases full of autumn leaves and branches. And don't forget to put out a few bowls of candy corn for your guests!

CHANGE UP YOUR ARTWORK!

Another great way to bring the fall feeling into your home is to fill it with the scents of autumn. You can do this by burning candles with seasonal scents like pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Or, make your own potpourri by simmering water on the stove with cloves, orange peel, and a few drops of essential oil. Your home will smell like autumn in no time!

BUY FROM SMALL, LOCAL, AND WOMEN-OWNED SHOPS

It is still worthwhile to purchase even though this might not be an advice on how to decorate on a budget. Paying a little more to support a small business can go a long way if you're deliberate about your purchasing of items that can be utilized for both holidays and other occasions. Successful local businesses frequently contribute to the prosperity of their communities. You could actually make some money if a town prospers and house values soar! Additionally, a lot of holiday décor is made of plastic, which is unpleasant, so using organic and/or recycled materials and shopping less results in less trash!

Last but not least, if you want to use your decor goods for more than one season, quality is always more important than quantity, and local enterprises here definitely have an advantage over big box stores!

If you want to DIY your florals, here are some helpful tips for arranging on your own:

1. Start with a clean vase, then fill it with fresh water. Change varies your vases according to the season; clearly, we are obsessed with this paper mache ghost bucket for Halloween! Use a smaller vase inside if the vessel you choose is not suitable for holding water; in this instance, we propped up a small vase inside of a tiny hat box!

2. If you're taking a bouquet from the grocery store home, think about including new greenery and grasses that you cut yourself. Shawn enjoys cutting and incorporating weeds, ferns, tiny branches (particularly those with fall colors), and even herbs. —adding elements to her arrangements like thistle, grasses, berries, and tumbleweed stalks. It's also enjoyable to add dried flowers like yarrow or fake floral spray. Afloral offers a wide variety.

3. One by one, add your stems to your vase after cutting them at a 45-degree angle. To get that carefree, gathering effect, let the stems lay where they want to, droop, twist, or curl as they choose.

4. Every few days, make sure to change your water, and remove any spent stems.

5. Take lots of pictures of your work and congratulate yourself for making something lovely to spruce up your area!

Oh by the way, don't forget the turkey! This is the star of the show on Thanksgiving, so make sure your home is ready to accommodate it. You can either purchase a pre-made turkey decoration or make your own using some craft supplies. Whatever you do, just make sure the turkey takes center stage on Thanksgiving Day.

There you have it! I hope this was useful and that you are eager to decorate, not at all intimidated, like I am. Whatever you decide to decorate with, may it offer you joy because the holidays are all about that.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to transitioning your holiday decor from Halloween to Thanksgiving. So get started today and enjoy the process of bringing the autumn season into your home! Thanks for reading! XOXO -The Decorating Diva.

Did you find these tips helpful? What other tips do you have for transitioning your holiday decor from Halloween to Thanksgiving? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! And be sure to check back next week for more great tips from The Decorating Diva. Until then, happy decorating! :)

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