Thanksgiving Decorating Without Breaking the Bank

Why can't decorating for Thanksgiving be just as much fun as Christmas decorating? The answer is it can, in fact, be better because most of your decorations can come from what you already have in your own yard! Cutting costs while still enjoying the holiday spirit can be a winning combination.

The simplest decorations are usually the most splendid. To save time and money, integrate your fall/autumn look with harvest and Thanksgiving themes. With this decorating method you won't have to change your look till Christmas.

You can have an affordable yard décor by gathering what nature has already provided. Start with pine combs and acorns; pick leaves that have changed into brilliant shades of oranges, reds and gold's. Get a hay bail or two and a couple pumpkins or gourds. Take all these and combine them into an artsy setting for your front lawn.

Porches, patios and gazebos can use some sprucing up too. Hang streamers of leaves or gather bunches of wheat sheaves for a flowing call to fall. Placing painted mini-pumpkins along a walking path will also bring in the season of color.

For your home, bring in the smells of autumn with cinnamon scented brooms, pumpkin pie or fresh pine scented candles.

Don't be afraid to bring the outdoors in! Make your centerpieces with whatever colorful piece of nature you can find outside. Bring in the leaves, the limbs, the pine combs, the acorns, the wild flowers, etc.

Make your table memorable with fall colored cloth and place settings. Ribbons in complementary fall colors to hold your cloth napkins together are a nice touch.

Every room in your home can be garnished with all the beauty of the outdoors. Beautiful arrangements can be made with the leaves, twigs, berry's, and flowers from outdoors.

A new rug or welcome mat can make it seem like you completely redecorated your home! After the wear and tear of each season, think about retiring your rugs and runners seasonally. After a thorough cleaning, pack them away and they'll seem new to you when the season returns.

A nutritious decorating idea is to add a fruit basket to your decorating plans. This idea can rot quickly if your family is not big on eating fruit regularly. However, this could be a great way to entice them to eat a fruit a day! Even better, add some large nuts to your fruit basket and you are encouraging much better snacking habits!

These simple ideas can put you into the seasonal mood, especially when you realize how little you had to spend!