Let's Decorate for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and there is a lot to do. Preparing a meal of such proportions is not a task for wimps, and neither is holiday decorating. So, with everything on your list, how are you going to find time and money for attractive Thanksgiving decorations? Try these simple tips:

1. Use the Thanksgiving stuff your kids make in school. They will be thrilled when you display their masterpieces, and you will have free "abstract" art to put up. Pick up inexpensive frames at second hand shops or discount stores and frame your little darling's work. Paint the frames in festive fall colors as needed.

2. Make your own artwork. If you look outside, nature will give you a peek at real art. Snap some photos with your digital, and have large prints made. Frame them and hang them up. On the other hand, you can also collect beautifully burnished leaves from outdoors and frame them against luxurious fabrics. Fabric is not expensive when you purchase a small amount, especially if you find something great in the remnant bin at your local craft or fabric store. If you don't find something you like, use a garment -maybe a Thanksgiving sweater- that you no longer wear that is made from rich fabric, or find a great placemat for a few dollars and use it for matting.

3. Scatter some candles around. Candles are the perfect decorating accessory for any occasion. You can find great styles and colors, even at discount stores. They are inexpensive, yet they are rich looking. They add warmth to a space even before they are lit. Select different shapes and sizes in rich autumn colors.

4. Find or make a terrific Thanksgiving tablecloth. Dressing the table helps dress the entire room. If you don't already have a nice tablecloth, purchase a new one on sale. If there aren't any great sales at the moment, look in the bedding department for luxurious sheets. Yes, sheets. Buying sheets instead of yard goods is a fantastic way to obtain a large amount of fabric for very little money. A twin flat sheet may fit your table perfectly as is, or may require some quick hemming. Use leftovers to make a table runner for another table.

5. Use food to decorate. What could be more appropriate for a holiday that is focused on food? Try filling a pretty basket or a decorative bowl with oranges and lemons or brightly colored bell peppers. Fill another with fresh cranberries and an assortment of nuts, or green, yellow, and red apples. These are excellent ways to bring in splashes of autumn color without spending a lot of money. Fruits and vegetables, like plants, also bring life to a room.

See, you can create warm, festive Thanksgiving ambiance without a lot of time or money.

Happy Thanksgiving!
 

-Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a published freelance writer who loves do-it-yourself projects and home decorating. Having a large family has taught Sherry to decorate within a budget, and Sherry's hope is that she can show people how decor can be inexpensive yet still be tasteful and beautiful. Budget decor does not have to mean "cheap."