How to Decorate Your Home for Fall Holidays

This is a sponsored column by Cindy Beyer, ASID,NCIDQ. Beyer is a Reston-based interior designer and Reston Now Best Reston Business Award winner. Find her online at www.CindyLBeyer.com.

Now that summer is over, it’s time to think about how to decorate your home for the fall holidays. Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves are turning their fabulous hues of orange, red, brown and magenta. One of the blessings we have living in Reston is the abundance of trees, so let’s see how to bring the outdoors into your home.

I first store all of my summer items and bring out the fall pillows, throws, candles as well as all of my artificial gourds, wreaths and leaves. I have a large storage space that allows me to keep the items year after year. The great thing about Thanksgiving time is the abundance of natural items to use in your decorations, so if you don’t want to store it, just borrow from Mother Nature. She won’t mind.

For centerpieces, tabletop or mantle decorations, I gather all my ginger jars and vases and fill them with artificial or real acorns, nuts, pinecones or leaves. Try using all shapes and sizes for a casual feel. I suggest using the flameless candles from Luminara to insert into vases. These are the most real-looking flameless candles I have found. Add your smaller pumpkins and various gourds with some nice greens to complete the look.

I have collected various artificial gourds throughout the years, but still use the real ones with fresh flowers and fruit for a more natural centerpiece. I think any fresh flower with the fall colors will do nicely. You can find roses in oranges and rust colors, as well as sunflowers, fresh twigs and berries, mums, Gerbera daisies, wheat sprigs, etc. Try scooping out a large pumpkin and inserting your vase of flowers in the gourd instead of just the vase. If you’re stumped, visit May of Mayflowers, in Reston Town Center. Also, don’t be afraid of using silk leaves and flowers. Michael’s carries an abundance of silks. If you want a more elegant silk, try Merrifield Garden Center. They usually carry more unusual fall silk flowers, as well as real ones.

Don’t forget about the front door and entry decorations. Now is the time to get your real pumpkins as well as mums, kale and fresh greens. Try stacking your pumpkins three high using varying colors: white, green, and orange with fresh bay wreaths in between them. The flatter pumpkins work the best and look great when placed in an urn. You can fill in the space with kale and fresh mums. Add garland around the door with fresh greens to complete the look.

Don’t forget holiday aromas such as cinnamon, cloves, orange and ginger. I combine a small amount of these spices with water in a small boiling pot to fill the house with a wonderful fall scent. Try lighting a fragrant candle to place on your kitchen counter as well. Then, sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

If you need ideas on your fall decorating, I can be reached at [email protected].