First off, this was supposed to be a fun series where my BFF and I shared our best decorating tips, but when I texted said BFF about her contribution, she just texted me back every laughing emoji on her phone (including the cat ones) and a gif of a cockatoo rocking out to a Bieber song. I took that to mean I’m on my own, but that’s ok. I have lots of great tips to share.
Coming into the fall/winter season, decoration is essential. Rain and cold weather may be keeping you indoors more often, or the return to routine may have you in a rut. Decorating can keep your outlook on life fresh and fun!
You may have kicked off the lengthy holiday decorating season in September. Kudos to you. Hopefully this blog will contain useful tips for you whether you’re looking to spice up your Fall Wonderland or if you’re panicking about how to make your apartment Halloween-ready.
Decorating Basics – Pick a Theme
We’ve all seen the house that purchases every inflatable available and smashes them all in their yard. You’re not the house from Up, people. Pick a theme and stick to it.
(Unless you're decorating for a kindergartner's birthday party, just say no to inflatables.)
Are you creating a ghoulish graveyard? Would you like a cheerful fall forest full of woodland creatures? Are you going through an owl phase? I recommend making a list and free associating ideas. You might love a concept, but have no ideas to go with it. Conversely, you might write down “bats” and surprise yourself with five immediate ideas on thematic decorations perfect for your space.
Here are some Fall suggestions to get you started:
-Leaves (A simple, focused theme is perfect for the crafter decorator. Create hanging strands of lights threaded with silk leaves for a unique door showpiece. Or go simple and ornament the mantel with a leaf garland. The effect is subtle, and it creates a change in your space that guests will find pleasant rather than jarring. Helpful hint: Any craft project that starts with toilet paper rolls is a big NO. Trust me on this one.)
-Cats (It’s tough to strike a balance between “whimsical” and “crazy cat lady lives here,” but with an animal-based theme, I recommend searching thrift and antique stores for pieces that will be unique to your space. Turn your space into a decoration museum of sorts, where people will want to stop and examine each carefully curated piece closely.)
-Spooky Scene (I’m not the biggest fan of the cheesy motion-based jump scare decorations commercially available, but I have seen them used well in the middle of a scene. Let’s say you went with the haunted graveyard theme and made some concrete gravestones for your yard with clever epitaphs. As people come closer to read the gravestones, you might have a carefully concealed bone hand pop up from one of the graves. I call that the shriek laugh, where the scaree shrieks, jumps back and dissolves into laughter. Of course, these tricks only work once, but if you want to have the entire neighborhood bringing their friends over for a good scare, this is the decorating style for you. Don’t skimp on the surrounding decorations, though, and make sure your scare is part of a unified theme. Otherwise it will be too obvious and full of untapped potential rather than delighted screams.)
(Too much, people. One focal point is enough, thank you!)
At this point, congratulations! You have a theme and a list of ideas. Your ideas may be leading you toward DIY online projects or the craft store or the thrift store. Honestly, decoration inspiration can strike anywhere. Don’t be elitist; just stay true to your concept and have fun creating and collecting your decorations.
Decorating Etiquette (a.k.a. Don’t be Lazy)
Above all, decoration timing is important. If you are decorating for a season, like Fall, you may use the same decorations for three weeks tops, although I do recommend making changes to the centerpiece to maintain visual interest.
For example, if you’ve chosen an owl theme, and you found the perfect stone owl to compliment your design choices, collect accessories for him every day. One day, he could be wearing a wizard hat. One day, he might be a scarecrow. The next, he might have a bat necklace. Maintain the whimsy and joy of the spirit of decoration and make your display something people will go out of their way to see every day. Don’t phone it in. The amount of joy you and other people take from your decorations is directly related to how much care you put into them.
(Guys, if anyone finds an owl just like this one, I neeeeed it. I'm serious. I will pay you.)
On the other hand, if you’re decorating for a specific holiday, like Halloween, decorations are only acceptable for the full week prior and one day after. Christmas is really the only holiday season where extended decorations are allowed, and I argue we’ve taken even that too far. We’ll talk more about that in the December guide.
Those are some decorating basics. Drop me a comment with your suggestions and personal decorating struggles. It can help to bounce ideas off someone who doesn’t respond with freaking out Cockatoos.
Most of all, happy decorating! See you in November for Thanksgiving/harvest ideas!
<3 Felicia
Felicia Westerfeld is the co-star of a mystery series written by Jennifer Flath and Laura Morrison, The Co-Ed Files. When Felicia isn't color-coding her notes, agonizing over the color scheme of her bedspread, or wishing the campus cafeteria served Caprese salad instead of mystery meat, she's poking around for mysteries to solve and co-opting her best friend Emily into what generally winds up being a pile of trouble.