Tag: fall decorating

DIY Porch Decorations for Fall

Posted on Mattison McWhorter
Materials for a fall DIY
Courtesy of Midwest Life and Style

A DIY is more than just a fun project to take on for a weekend. A DIY gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment. And there’s no better time than the present. Here is a compiled list of some fall DIYs that will be sure to stand out on your front porch this autumn.

Pumpkin Doormat

Pumpkin Doormat
Courtesy of The Merry Thought

One thing every porch needs is a doormat. Despite its primary purpose of keeping dirt outside, it can also dress up your door. It’s one of the first things guests will see on your porch, so it’s best to make it welcoming and, in this case, festive! Check out this DIY pumpkin doormat to make this autumn.

Materials:

  • Doormat 
  • Pencil 
  • X-acto knife 
  • Scissors
  • Paint 
  • Paint Brush 

Instructions:

The first step to making this festive doormat is to flip it upside down so that the bottom of the mat is facing up. From here, you will sketch your pumpkin on the back of the mat. You can do this freehand or by using a reference photo. Once you’re happy with the drawn shape, take your X-acto knife and cut off the edges so that the mat is in its pumpkin shape. Then, you’ll flip the mat over, right side up, and clean up any messy edges with scissors. Finally, creativity comes in! Use your imagination and paint the mat. It can just be an outline of the pumpkin so the natural mat shows, or you can use any color that will match the rest of your porch décor.  

Mums in a Pumpkin Planter

Mums in a pumpkin planter
Courtesy of Simple Sojourns

Chrysanthemums, also called mums, are a staple fall flower because of their vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues. Mums are sturdy flowers that will last throughout the fall season. One easy way to step up your mum game is to place them in a unique planter. What is more unique and autumnal than a pumpkin? Read these next steps on how to plant your mums in a pumpkin to dress up your flowers.

Materials:

  • A Mum 
  • A Pumpkin Large Enough for the Mum 
  • Knife 
  • Large Spoon 
  • Sharpie Marker
  • Potting Soil 
  • Ribbon 

Instructions:

Your first step for this planter is to select your pumpkin-chrysanthemum combination. There is little rhyme or reason here, so pick what you like! It can match your other porch decorations or simply complement them. The one rule is to make sure your mum and pumpkin are proportional to each other and that the mum can fit inside the pumpkin. To get started, remove the mum from its pot and set aside. From here, grab your pumpkin and draw a circle around the stem using the plastic planter from the mum as a stencil. Now, cut the top of the pumpkin open where you drew a circle.

Once open, take the time to remove the guts and seeds using a large spoon. With this step, you want to take out the majority, but whatever little bit is left will just be turned into fertilizer. Be sure to save those seeds for roasting! Next, add the soil into the pumpkin so that the bottom of the mum will sit an inch below the opening. Now, the fun part. Plant the mum into the pumpkin and water it. You can stop here or decorate it with ribbon. Be sure to water it every other day and enjoy your new planter! 

Autumn Leaf Archway

Fall archway on decorated porch
Courtesy of Macy.Blackwell on TikTok

This DIY is no small feat, but it makes a big impact. With this fanciful leaf arch, you will be the talk of the block. It may be a more time-consuming project, but it only has four materials you’ll need.

Materials: 

  • PVC Pipe
  • Chicken Wire
  • Garland 
  • Zip Ties

Instructions:

Build an arch with PVC pipe based on how big your arch needs to be to fit your porch. Attach three pieces of chicken wire to form the square arch shape with zip ties while ensuring it doesn’t stick out too far. Then, fill in with strands of garland, attaching with zip ties. The number of strands is dependent upon size. However, you will likely need at least 20. Continue to add until it is at your desired fullness. 

Pine Cone Door Hanger

Pine cone door hanger
Courtesy of Country Living

Wreaths are a porch necessity for all seasons. However, the trends are often changing on what kind of wreaths are becoming more popular. So, rather than a traditional round wreath, consider a hanging pine cone door hanger for this fall season. 

Materials: 

  • Pine cones, preferably real 
  • Eye-Bolt Screws
  • Ribbon 
  • Stapler

Instructions:

This DIY works best with natural pine cones you can scavenge from the forest or your front yard. First, take your pine cones and screw your eye bolts into their tops. Depending on your cones and screws, you might be able to do this by hand, or you may have to use a drill first. Screw it in until the eye hook touches the cone. Now, you have to visualize how the pine cones will lay. You will want them at staggered lengths rather than one bunch. So, lay out the pine cones at the varying lengths you want. Next, cut your ribbon to the desired length plus two inches for tying room for each pine cone.

Thread your ribbon through the eye hook, leaving one inch on the other side. Fold the inch onto the longer portion and staple them together to secure the pine cone. Repeat for all pine cones. From here, gather your ribbon-hung cones and lay them out how you visualized them. This is best done with the longest in the back and the shortest in the front. Once it looks how you like, staple all ribbons together near the top to make one hanging bunch. Now, cut the tops above the staple to make them even. Add a loop at the top with more ribbon, still stapling the two ends to the existing ribbon. Finally, use the remaining ribbon you have to decorate! You can add a bow near the top where the bunch will hang or at the top of each pine cone to add playful layers. 

Three Pumpkin Stacked Topiary

Stacked pumpkin topiary
Courtesy of Midwest Life and Style

If that archway was a little too extravagant, try this DIY topiary. It will give a similar effect on a smaller scale. This is a perfect touch to a porch, especially for those who don’t have a green thumb. You can customize this project with different pumpkins, leaves, and garlands. You could even use jack-o-lanterns and spiderwebs for a Halloween theme. 

Materials: 

  • Urn Planters
  • Potting Soil 
  • Three Different Size Plastic Pumpkins
  • Wood Dowels 
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Glue Sticks
  • Drill and Drill Bits 
  • Faux Fall Leaves
  • Grapevine Garland

Instructions: First, fill your planter with the potting soil. Next, you can begin preparing your pumpkins. Take the largest pumpkin and drill a hole in the bottom of it, big enough to insert the wooden dowel but not too large. You want it to fit snuggly on the dowel. Now, put the pumpkin dowel down into the soil. It’s time to add leaves! Remove the stem on the pumpkin simply by pulling or cutting it off. Then, use a hot glue gun to attach some leaves to the top of the pumpkin. You’ll want them to appear as if they’re lying on top of and falling off the pumpkin.

Now repeat! Drill another hole into the top of the bottom pumpkin so that it can hold the dowel of the next pumpkin. Drill and add the dowel to the second pumpkin, stack, add leaves, and do it a third time for the top pumpkin. Lastly, wrap the now-built topiary with grapevine garland to give it a rustic feel. Ta-da! New topiary! Make two and add them on each side of your door for a symmetrical effect.

Any of these DIYs are sure to impress. When you have guests over, and they ask, “Where did you get that?” You’ll be able to say, “Oh, I didn’t buy it. I made it!” It seems like an ideal conversation starter and something sure to boost your pride. Pick one out and work on it today!

   – Materials needed: A Mum, A Pumpkin (large enough for the Mum), Knife, Large Spoon, Sharpie Marker, Potting Soil, Ribbon.

   – Instructions: Cut the top of the pumpkin, remove the guts and seeds, add soil, plant the mum inside the pumpkin, and water it regularly.

   – Materials needed: PVC Pipe, Chicken Wire, Garland, Zip Ties.

   – Instructions: Build an arch with PVC pipe, attach chicken wire to form the arch shape, and fill it with strands of garland using zip ties.

 

   – Materials needed: Pine cones (preferably real), Eye-Bolt Screws, Ribbon, Stapler.

   – Instructions: Screw eye bolts into the tops of pine cones, arrange them at staggered lengths, attach ribbons to the eye hooks, staple them together, and create a hanging bunch with the pine cones.

   – Materials needed: Urn Planters, Potting Soil, Three Different Size Plastic Pumpkins, Wood Dowels, Hot Glue Gun, Glue Sticks, Drill and Drill Bits, Faux Fall Leaves, Grapevine Garland.

   – Instructions: Fill the planter with potting soil, drill holes in the pumpkins, insert wooden dowels, add leaves to the pumpkins with a glue gun, stack the pumpkins, and wrap the topiary with grapevine garland for a rustic touch.

Fall Indoor Plants for Your Lake House

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Indoor plants add a sense of life to any room. A dull furniture set immediately becomes more colorful with hanging plants or potted flowers on a side table. Especially at a lake house, bringing the outdoors in is a relevant trend. It allows natural lakeside scenery to integrate into your home decor seamlessly. Plus, the beauty of indoor plants is that you aren’t bound by gardening zones.

Indoors, you can engineer the environment for them to grow. However, it would be best if you still considered seasonality for house plant care. As the seasons change, so do plants’ needs. For this season, check out these fall indoor plants to maintain your lake house’s bright, happy atmosphere. 

Red Aglaonema

Photo courtesy of Costa Farms.

Red aglaonema is one of the most colorful house plants with a green base. Its varying shades of red and pink add color variation to fall’s typical orangey-brown tones. Plus, it’s simple to care for this slow-growing plant that only requires indirect sunlight. That ability to use lower light environments makes it perfect for a home office.

If you’re working from your lake home during COVID-19, keep in mind that office plants have tons of psychological benefits from stress reduction to increased creativity. If you’re new to plant care, this is the perfect, low maintenance addition to your lake home. 

Snake Plant

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Garden.

Of all fall indoor plants, this one might be the easiest to grow. As a succulent, it tolerates low light and is quite forgiving towards forgetful owners. It’s considered a plant of steel due to its hardiness. This trait makes it perfect for a second home like a lake house, where you won’t be readily available for plant maintenance.

Snake plants are also strikingly beautiful with a combination of yellow, light green, and dark green. Additionally, it’s an unintrusive floor plant because its thick leaves grow upright. Like aglaonemas, they require indirect sunlight so you can place them in most rooms of your lake home — provided it’s not a pitch dark basement. 

Amaryllis

Photo courtesy of gardeners.com.

When it’s cold outside, and trees are bare, the amaryllis’s red, white, and pink shades add a rare vibrancy for your selection of fall indoor plants. Its colors also bring out a festive, decorative flare during the cold-weather holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

To grow them, pot the bulbs yourself and keep the soil damp but not wet. However, growing the bulb in water is also an option. Whichever you choose, remember to plant your amaryllis in a heavy pot. If the pot is too lightweight, the flower will keel over once it grew to full size. 

Goldfish Plant

Photo courtesy of Green Obsessions.

Native to Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica, this house plant comes in 25 different types. Its name comes from the bright orange blooms that resemble goldfish among tiny dark leaves. These colorful blooms are most vibrant in the summertime. However, they’ll keep their fiery tone in the fall, as long as you care for it properly.

To keep your goldfish plant alive, place it in bright but not direct sunlight with some humidity. Because of its curved leaves, it looks attractive as a hanging plant.

Aloe Vera

Photo courtesy of Smart Garden Guide.

You may think of aloe vera only in relation to sun protection. However, it’s status as one of the best fall indoor plants shouldn’t be ignored.

As a succulent, it’s tough and requires little water to stay alive. Mostly, it just needs indirect sunlight, making this plant perfect for your lake house’s kitchen or den.

Although its juices can aid in healing cuts and burns, be sure not to ingest this plant as its toxicity can cause nausea and indigestion. 

Christmas Cactus

Photo courtesy of Almanac.com.

As indicated by its name, the Christmas cactus’ beautiful colors will help you start celebrating the winter holidays. These tubular, bright blooms will be a perfect addition to your windowsill this fall.

Unlike typical cacti, this plant isn’t native to arid environments. It’s native to the rainforests in Brazil. Since they’re accustomed to humid environments like this, you’ll need to water more regularly.

Croton Plant

Photo courtesy of KOMARGALLERY/GETTY IMAGES via mydomaine.com.

When it comes to fall indoor plants, the croton plant is a particularly fun choice. Usually grown outdoors in tropical climates, it also makes a great house plant. The shades of dark gray, orange and yellow create a whimsical yet striking look.

Because it’s native to a tropical environment, it dislikes humidity. Keeping the plant on a pebble tray and regularly misting it should do the trick! Also, it’s crucial to avoid moving the croton plant if possible. It doesn’t like being transferred to new environments, and doing so will result in leaf loss.

Rubber Tree

Photo courtesy of Vintage Revivals.

If you’re in search of a tall, sturdy house plant, a rubber tree is perfect. When it’s young, it can fit comfortably on a desk. However, it can reach extraordinary heights. In the rubber tree’s native home of southeast Asia, it can grow up to 100 feet tall, and domestically, it stretches between six and ten feet. It prefers indirect light, so a placement by a sheer curtained window is perfect. 

In addition to preparing your existing house plants for fall, we hope you add one of these new fall indoor plants to your collection. No matter which you choose, they’ll help evoke a peaceful atmosphere in your lake home. 

Hosting Thanksgiving at Your Lake House

Posted on Camille Smith
Lakeside Thanksgiving Turkey Day dinner table setting
Photo courtesy of The Cottage Journal.

When thinking about your ideal Thanksgiving holiday, what do you imagine? Maybe it’s a massive turkey roasting in the oven, a table crowded with friends and family, or a group huddled around the TV watching the parade. Perhaps it’s crunching leaves outdoors, starting the morning with a Turkey Trot, or playing football in the backyard. Whatever comes to mind, this holiday certainly evokes a sense of warmth and gratitude. 

Living room on lake during autumn
Photo courtesy of Lily Pad Cottage.

At Lake Homes, we believe that there’s no better setting for these cozy, Fall feelings than your own lake house. As your own scenic getaway retreat, a lakehouse is the perfect place to take a step back from your hectic, everyday routine and reflect on what you’re thankful for.

However, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your lake house this year, we recognize the irony– you’re experiencing the high stress of cooking, decorating, and pleasing your guests on a holiday that is intended for peace and relaxation.

While there’s a necessary element of planning involved, you deserve to enjoy this holiday too. We’re here with some tips on decor, food, and dining that will hopefully help you to stress less on Turkey Day this year.

The Decorations

Pumpkins on table setting in front of wine glasses
Photo courtesy of TheStranger.com.

When decorating your lake house for Thanksgiving, homeowners advise aiming for a natural look. On the lake, you’re lucky enough to be surrounded by plenty of materials that you can use to create this festive, woods-inspired atmosphere.

Take it from a lake home owner. Jenny Block, writer and author of the upcoming book Be That Unicorn, lives on Lake Livingston in Texas. She explains, “The lake is always part of my decor. I’ll use glass gourds mixed with real gourds and pumpkins and woven cornucopias that spill over the table. I also love having blue jugs with fresh mums.” 

Autumn fall seasonal tablescape with white and gold pumpkins
Photo courtesy of Shining on Design.

In a similar vein, Lake Michigan resident Shane Pliska, president of the botanical garden wedding venue Planterra’s Conservatory, employs natural decor to celebrate Thanksgiving. Specifically, he incorporates decorative branches into his designs.

Pliska comments, “In mild years, I’ll clip Japanese Maple branches with brilliant red leaves still intact.  I’ll also use branches from in-bloom witch hazel and bright orange berries from the Mountain Ash Trees.”

Ultimately, the scenic lake in your backyard is a decoration in and of itself. As such, it’s important to let the water, foliage, and other natural features steal the show. By incorporating these existing natural elements into your indoor decorations, you extend the same natural beauty into your home.

Whether you choose to display fresh flowers or spray paint pine cones and scatter them across the table for a DIY project, you’re sure to create a sophisticated, yet rustic environment for your Thanksgiving guests. 

The Food

Thanksgiving Turkey Day Friendsgiving dinner laid out on table
Photo courtesy of Lake House Effect.

While cooking for several guests can be a joy, as any host or hostess knows, it can also be stressful. To relieve some of the inevitable anxiety that accompanies baking for the masses, it’s a good idea to stick to traditional recipes.

Thanksgiving Day is not the appropriate time to roll the dice on a new dish. Adhering to classic holiday staples like turkey, pie, and green bean casserole is a simple secret to pleasing your guests. Pliska adds, “My mother still cooks the most flavorful turkeys, and I have the honor to be the carver. Her secret — small sized turkeys. This means she’ll typically cook two birds to feed ten people.”

Maintaining the traditions of well-known recipes evokes a sense of comfort and familiarity that is ultimately a hallmark of this holiday. However, there’s always room for a little fun. 

Apple Pie Bourbon shots with cinnamon sticks
Apple Pie Bourbon Shots from Delish.com

Fall themed cocktails are a low-risk way to serve unique flavors and twists such as Apple Pie Bourbon Shots or Warm Apple Cider with Fireball. Pliska has a family recipe for Ginger Bee that includes 1.5 part vodka, 1 part Domaine de Canton, a teaspoon of honey, and a teaspoon of lemon juice served on the rocks with ginger beer.

However, don’t forget to include something fun for the younger guests at your lake house. There are plenty of creative Thanksgiving treats that are sure to be a hit at the kids table.

As for leftovers, Block’s rule of thumb is that every guest must take some food home. She believes that it’s best to “under promise and over deliver” so that your friends and family can enjoy the same dishes for a few more days.

The Dining

Fall autumnal tablescape for holiday season
Photo courtesy of Heritage Farm and Garden.

In the world of design, we’re often told that “less is more.” However, Block suggests that the opposite may be true when creating a Thanksgiving tablescape. “I’m a layered table girl,” she says, “I always have a table runner with a place mat on top, I’ll wrap a festive ribbon around the napkins, and leave gourd baskets with bread in them. I like a table to look full.”

She also enjoys writing her guests names on placeholders to make the table personalized. Pliska agrees that having multiple items on a table, including a variety of textures, can create a festive environment.

For example, he enjoys incorporating velvet cloths into seasonal themes. He comments, “I love the versatility of velvet, as it can dress-up more rustic or harvest themed décor that might otherwise seem dowdy.”

Autumn fall tablescape in front of lake
Photo courtesy of The Cottage Journal.

If you opt for a Thanksgiving dinner over a lunch, it’s also important to remember that your key backdrop — the lake — will be harder to see. As such, Pliska says the solution is “candles. Lots of candles.” Whether it’s a large candelabra or something smaller, they’re sure to invoke a warm ambiance.

This idea of a full table, including as many versatile items and fun patterns scattered across the tablescape, brings out the plentiful, overflowing feel of Thanksgiving. Plus, it’s harder for guests to notice a potential food spill. “It’s a happy abundance,” Block emphasizes.

We hope some of these insights are helpful in planning your own holiday at your lake house. Happy Turkey Day! 

For more tips on preparing your home for the season, read “Fall Décor and More – Getting Your Lake Home Ready for Autumn“.

Fall Décor and More – Getting Your Lake Home Ready for Autumn

Posted on Staff
Photo courtesy of Beach Pretty.

The leaves have begun to change, pumpkin spice lattes are back and it’s time to pull out your plaid and scarves. Fall has arrived, which means lake season is officially over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your lake home in the autumn! And, you can start by updating your fall décor.

It’s often difficult to choose just how to decorate your lake home for any other season but summer, especially in a way that reflects your personality and the latest trends.

However, there are a few basic guidelines you can follow to help get you started decorating for fall on the lake.

Color Comes First!

To begin, consider what color palette you want to work with.

Incorporate on statement color; this should be most prominent in your design. Popular statement colors include wine tones and emerald greens and burgundy. Also popular in the fall are navy and muted oranges.

Next, you will want to choose accent colors. These will complement your statement color and add depth to your design.

Generally, you will want to pick at least two accent colors, but be cautious of the number of secondary tones you choose to incorporate.

Photo courtesy of Scheme Color.

An excess of secondary colors could result in a loss of cohesion in your design, meaning your vision will no longer be clearly present.

Rather than having a cute, well-put-together door decoration, the end result might start to resemble something along the lines of abstract expressionist art… or something a toddler threw together.

A base of three colors, one statement, and two accent colors, is a good starting point for beginning designers. At the lake, a great combination would be a base of navy, accented with silver and perhaps orange.

Add in the Accents

Once you have decided on a color scheme, you should begin thinking about how you will accent these colors in your design.

One thing to consider is patterns. Plaid, gingham, houndstooth, and paisley patterns not only add to the color in your design but also give it texture and dimension.

A textured design has more impact, and is more aesthetically pleasing, than a flat one. Different materials, such as lace and burlap, also help with texture.

Photo courtesy of Hobby Lobby.

Additionally, think about what iconic autumn symbols you want to feature. Pine cones, pumpkins, acorns, hay bales, and leaves are all common accents. If your lake home is located in a wooded area, you could easily find a few items in nature to use for free!

A wreath of pinecones, pumpkins resting on hay bales and garlands of acorns can all add depth to your décor.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and accent pieces. Just because they don’t match doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t work well together.

Putting it All Together

Photo courtesy of At Home.

After you have your accents, patterns, and colors determined, now comes the task of putting them all together.

If you have no idea what you want the final product to look like, start by looking up fall décor for ideas on Etsy, Google, or Pinterest. Here you will find pictures of what other home decorators have done in the past, so you can see what works together and what best resembles your lake home’s style and personality.

For a log cabin-style lake home, you could choose to feature red, greens and black plaids, burlap, and metal accents.

Additionally, you could incorporate twigs, pinecones, and small logs into your outdoorsy design. Adding a pop of gold, with ribbon or beading, can give your decorations a little extra pop, as well.

If your home is more modern, houndstooth, silvers, and burnt orange might look best. Pumpkins would look good with this color scheme, as well as fall leaves, acorns, and brushed metals.

Should you not find any leads worth pursuing online, you can always just find your style through trial and error.

Since you’ve already decided on colors, textures, and accents, you can try a number of different design combinations until you find the right one.

Don’t get discouraged if your vision doesn’t come through on your first try. Your perfect fall décor design is in there somewhere.

Sometimes some distance will teach you to love your first try. And if it doesn’t, waiting a few days can often show you exactly where your problems with the designs lie.

Finishing Touches

In the future, you can think about adding extra features beyond that which you already have. This might include changing porch lights to different colored bulbs, adding a bench or bike to your porch. Or, incorporate string lights and colorful mums or other living decorations.

As years go by you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t, and you can add to your decoration cache over time. Eventually, you will find the perfect balance for your fall décor.

And when in doubt, just keep it simple, as lake living should be.

For more tips and ideas, enjoy our other seasonal decorating articles here.

Dressing Up Your Door For Autumn

Posted on Staff

fall wreathDecorating for the fall should always be an anticipated time of year. The colors, scents, and overall ambiance the season brings give us a sense of warmth and happiness.

From door hangings, to porch settings, to lighting, here are some fun and beautiful ways you can decorate the entry to your home:

The Classic Wreath 

A wreath that can be easily modified is a handy decoration that can be used throughout the different seasons.

These wreaths can modified throughout the year which will be both fun to make and budget friendly.

Places like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s can provide you with all your wreath-making needs.

The non-traditional wreath

If you are looking for a reaction or someone to look at your door and be taken aback, you are sure to find a wreath out there to fit the occasion.

With so many fall wreaths to choose from, you can definitely find a really big one to catch eyes.

Go huge, make an odd shape, or both, but if you are looking for something else, you may even make your own in order to wow your guests and people passing by.

Lighting

What better way to ring in the season with lights?

In the fall, you have many opportunities to light up your front door.

With Halloween colors to autumn colors such as oranges, yellows, and browns, you are definitely able to find something that suits your taste.

You can also add lights to your wreath in order to make it more beautiful.

Odds and Ends

Leading up to the door you can add pumpkins on each step, or simply add a few by the door to create a more festive theme.

Pumpkins are a classic way to show people that you are excited that cooler weather, changing leaves and everything else that comes with Autumn has arrived.

Put garland on the top of your front door.

Adding garland on the top of your front door, along with a wreath and/or pumpkins, is a beautiful and elegant way to begin the fall season. With so many to choose from you can be sure that there is one to suit your specific taste.

With these ideas, possibilities are endless as far as decorating your front door. Many times, you can go directly into a store, find exactly what you are looking for, and go home hang your decorations up and be done.

If going to a craft store, you will see that there are so many choices that it will be hard to find just one; and that is a good thing!

When it comes to a lake home the back door or lake facing side is often just as important, or even more important, than the actual front door, so buy the supplies for both.

From autumn colored fabrics and wreaths to real and faux pumpkins, there is definitely something out there perfect to help showcase and decorate your home for the fall!