Keep Decor Fresh with Seasonal Themes

Seasonal décor provides an easy, festive way to modify the appearance of your home and keep from getting bored.

Particularly during the latter months of the year, my home goes through a nearly constant metamorphosis. Changing décor with the seasons requires thought, however.

When to decorate

The autumnal wreath on my front door
celebrates the season's abundance.

Timing ranks high among the considerations of seasonal decorating. Leaving Jack-o-lanterns on your stoop to rot well past their prime is poor form. So is erecting an inflatable Santa in your yard before your neighbors even pick out their Halloween costumes. (This Storify from NJ.com indicates that most prefer not to see Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving.)

At the newspapers where I’ve worked, the general rule of thumb has been not to publish anything related to a particular holiday more than a month in advance or more than a few days after it passes. I take the same approach to decorating.

I also place more emphasis on the season in general than any holiday in particular. Although I did bring out some spooky embellishments for a few weeks around Halloween, most of what has adorned the castle since late September is generically autumnal. After Thanksgiving, I will transition into wintry ornamentation that will last well into January.

Decorate the whole house

Fall decor means pumpkins, leaves,
and warm colors.

Celebration of the season begins at the front door, with a seasonal wreath and doormat. Inside the home, I focus most of my attention on the areas of the house where we spend the most time, but every room has at least one seasonal adornment. The dining room always has a seasonal centerpiece and place mats; the bathrooms, seasonally-scented candles and hand soaps. A few seasonal trinkets line the desk of my home office, and I keep a seasonal arrangement on a table in the bedroom.

Seasonal touches do not have to be blatant. Although the theme of pumpkins and autumn leaves echoes throughout the castle right now, I often use colors and scents to evoke a sense of the season. For instance, I currently have out golden kitchen towels with orange and green stripes and clear vases filled with warm-hued stones and orange votives.

In a few weeks, snowflakes and snowmen, pine boughs and cones, and shiny red apples and berries will find their way into every room; scents will shift from pumpkin and cider to hot chocolate and gingerbread; and the color palate will transition to reds and greens with the occasional gold accent. (If you need ideas for winter decorations that don’t scream any particular holiday, check out this slideshow from Real Simple.)

Preserve decorations between seasons

Spring and winter wreaths await their time in the garage.

Once one season ends and the next begins, it’s important to store your seasonal decorations properly. Wrap fragile items with care, and remember that nothing that may melt or warp should be kept in an attic, where the heat tends to rise in warmer months. 

I keep my indoor seasonal decorations sorted and labeled in their own designated closet, accessible when I need them but out-of-the-way when I don’t. Outdoor decor stays organized in the garage.

What season is your favorite? How do you decorate for it?