Farmer's Market Foods & Festive Fall Decorations

Well, the leaves are turning yellow on my drive home, and it looks like it's really here to stay.... I'm talking about fall of course. Fall is an amazing time of year - and one of my favorite seasons! There is a chill in the air that just makes you want to cuddle up next to a cozy fire with a great book and some delicious food, right? The leaves are changing and it looks as if Mother Nature is beginning to wind down for a peaceful rest through the winter. As the squirrels begin to desperately seek out places to hide their last finds, you begin to think about decorating your house to give it some much needed warmth. Let's take a look at a few ideas on how you can create some festive Fall décor this year - and maybe even use some fall farmer's market finds to do so!

Nature's Bounty

Maple leaves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The great outdoors is teeming with natural décor just waiting for your creative mind. Sure, corn stalks, pumpkins, and scarecrows are the typical approach for the fall season, but if you want more than typical, look deeper into the bounty that Mother Nature provides and see if you can't be inspired by Her. A simple pine cone can become an ornate candle holder with a few simple modifications. Different leaves can be used to make artwork in all kinds of medium. Fall foliage and vines make beautiful ornamental centerpieces for a table or mantle, or even doorways and windows. And don't forget the late fall flowers.

However, if hauling in armloads of dried leaves, bark, pine cones, and branches isn't exactly what you want in your house, try photographs instead. Photos taken of nature create amazing pieces of art during this time of year. The reds and oranges and yellows against a blue sky presents a great contrast in tones. You don't have to be a professional photographer to get great fall pictures. With a subject like that, you can't miss.

Colorful Contrasts

Snowy winters produce a stark white landscape. Summers produce a bright color palette that sometimes washes out to pastels in the sun. But during the fall, there is a myriad of rich colors in every shade of red, yellow, orange, green, gold, and brown. You'll even find rich, deep purples to mix in the blend. Decorating with these colors naturally makes you feel warmer and cozier, which is perfect as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, and cooler.

The trick to creative fall decorating is to keep your eyes open to all the colors you have available.  Rather than bringing in leaves and other outdoor elements to decorate, consider using them instead for inspiration. Bring home paint samples and match them up to that tree outside. Bring home fabric samples that transport you to a glade awash in fall colors.  If you have a chestnut brown sofa, scatter bright yellow, red, orange, and gold pillows around.  And don't forget to add a bright blue pillow, too.  After all, the fall sky offers a beautiful contrast with its cool shade of blue mixed in with the richer colors of the fall foliage.

Cover of Harvest

Decorative Harvest

Fall harvest foods are great for getting your table set for a family feast, but did you ever think to use them for decorations around your house? Keep your eyes open the next time you visit the farmers market or roadside stand and take a second look at the crops.

Many garden plants don't just produce delicious produce and herbs, but also provide a glorious display of flowers and seed pods when they are done growing the edible parts.  When these vegetables and herbs 'go to seed' they produce what can be a very lovely decoration.  Chives and onions have a gorgeous flower. You might want to consider planting a small section of your garden with your regular vegetables and herbs and just letting them go to seed to see what you get.

The Autumn months are a wonderful time to use Mother Nature as the inspiration for your home's decorations.  The colors and textures are so welcoming.  The hues of this season are warm and easy to incorporate in any home.  Just look out the window and you'll have all the creative ideas you need!

And of course, fall is also a wonderful time to get creative in the kitchen! Be sure to check back later this week for some tasty fall recipes.