Home decor Archives

Bringing the Outside In: How to Decorate for Fall With Shabby Chic® Founder Rachel Ashwell

Rachel Ashwell is relieved summer is over and fall has arrived. “Fall followed by winter are my favorite seasons of the year,” Ashwell says. “I’m thrilled the day after Labor Day.” She loves the cooler weather, the crunch of leaves under her feet, and finds fall to be a time when the hustle and bustle of summer quiets down. The British-born Ashwell likes to live by the rhythm of natural light, and as the days get shorter, the opportunity to go inward and reflect suits her temperament just fine.

Fall home decor

It’s also a time for a fresh start, when structure reasserts itself and we resume our regular lives and routines, she says, and that can start with home décor. “The fall gives you the inspiration to add a layer of a warmer, kind of smokier palette.”

When you have an intimate setting, it inspires meaningful, authentic, and interesting conversation.

Rachel Ashwell

Her classic Shabby Chic® shades of pastel pinks, blues, and greens go from lighter hues to jewel tones like raspberry, plum, violet, teal, and sage. “So the palette stays in the same lane,” she says. At home, she adds a layer back to her windows, whether with velvet puddling curtains (very English) or muted floral window treatments. She pulls out the winter slipcovers and stacks her favorite cashmere and faux fur throws. “It’s both a functional and an aesthetic change,” she says.

That goes for bedding, too. Layering comforters and duvets is a practical and pleasing way to spruce and can help save a little on the heating bill as well. Lighting can be a cozy, too. “I’m big on having lamps around that give a beautiful romantic light. I buy bulbs in the 15 to 40 watt range for my lamps, unless they’re for reading. I’m very much about where practical meets aesthetic in a mood.”

Fall floral design at home

Decorating with flowers in the fall gets a little trickier, as the season is not exactly blooming season. “Obviously, in fall, we think of oranges and greens, but that’s not my palette,” Ashwell says. So, she brings in a lot of dried, smoky-colored hydrangea. Just be sure to toss dried flowers after a while, she says, adding, “There’s nothing worse going into someone’s home and seeing dusty, old dried flowers that have been in a vase for five years.”

Ashwell is also a huge fan of fake flowers. Yes, fake. She even designs a line of them. “I consider fake flowers to be forever flowers,” she says. “You can bring in the flowers you love all year round, which is especially helpful in these seasons where color and availability are more restrictive.”

A rose is a rose…

The supermarket doesn’t take the place of a garden, but it can fill in with roses. Of course, Ashwell loves garden roses way more than a hothouse variety, but if that’s all she can find, “I just cut the stems and remove all the leaves of six hothouse roses so that all you see is a jar or vase of blossoms. Sometimes, they do open quite beautifully. I don’t poo-poo them.”

The same goes for carnations; though she doesn’t go for the red varietals, she loves the white, minus the greenery. “It’s all about the vase filled with buds.”

Decorating the table for fall gatherings

Ashwell also sees the fall as an opportunity for gathering close family and friends, “to talk about what the summer was, what the fall opportunities are, what your fall intentions are.” She prefers gathering six or eight people, not 50, so guests can really talk and share. “When you have that intimate setting, it inspires meaningful, authentic, and interesting conversation.” She will often have a theme, game, or question for guests to inspire and act as an ice-breaker.

To create an intimate setting, Ashwell relies on her cherished items to evoke abundance. When she has a small dinner party, she places fabric runners in her fall palette of smoky jewel tones on the length and width of the table, sets places often with placemats she has designed, and stacks vintage plates on a side table along with a basket filled with extra napkins. “I let my extra vintage dinnerware be part of the décor without the table itself having to be more than what’s needed.” A practical tip? Ashwell suggests using vintage pieces as décor and chargers but serving food on plain white plates.

decorating for fall with fall tablescape

decorating for fall with fall place setting

Layering — whether vintage or new plates, or runners and placemats on a previously loved painted or pine table — is part of Ashwell’s mix-and-match philosophy. So, if you lose a couple of napkins or chip a plate, it’s OK — just create a varied collection. “It’s beautiful and practical,” she says, another pillar of her style.

Avoiding holiday clichés

Palette is important to Ashwell, and a way to avoid holiday decorating clichés. “Pumpkins don’t have to be orange,” she says. So, instead of opting for an orange and black Halloween, try silvers and pinks. “Stay in tradition of elements but be flexible in the palette.”

Fall allows you to be part of the outside. For me, it’s experiencing what this transitional season is all about.

Rachel Ashwell

Fall activities and date ideas

The fall is a time for walking outside in nature, Ashwell believes. Collecting branches, berries, and foliage — she likes to bring inside what’s outdoors and use it as décor — finding naturally dried hydrangea clinging to their stalks, and pruning a garden are all activities to do with someone, as is scouring flea markets and vintage shops for antique China and slightly worn vases. Sharing activities are part of getting to know and connecting with others. So, friends and family members, or even romantic dates, might be inspired by these outings, whether you are preparing to decorate for a gathering or not. “Having a backdrop of a common interest takes the walls down a little bit,” she says.

Looking forward to cozy time in fall

“From a comfort standpoint, it’s a cozier time to go on dates in general. Bring out the shawls, light a fire, go into a local pub…there’s just something a bit more romantic about a fall date than a summer date,” she says. And since Ashwell likes to focus inward, the season’s coziness is the perfect ambiance for also being creative, and that’s what she looks forward to the most. “All that outward energy that’s been expanded upon and let go of in summer now can come down to landing and be articulated, manifested, and communicated in a structured way.”

Bringing the indoors out

The cooler vibe of fall doesn’t mean staying inside, Ashwell urges. She likes to bring the indoors out, say, gathering on a screen porch with friends. With her beloved throws, “lots of lovely candlelight,” or perhaps a fire, she creates a beautiful and comfortable environment to reconnect with herself and others. “Fall allows you to be part of the outside. For me, it’s experiencing what this transitional season is all about.”

The Coastal Grandmother Aesthetic Has Arrived. Here’s How You (and Your Home) Can Look the Part

As I pulled out my navy ribbed cotton sweater from my beat-up boat and tote bag while sitting on the beach in East Hampton, my 26-year-old friend Carrie suggested I have a tag sale to sell my vintage clothes. I had not thought of my classic pieces (striped boatnecks, loose linen pants, straw beach hats) as vintage, but I guess since they’re from the ’80s and ’90s, technically they are. Then Carrie threw in the zinger: “You’re kind of a coastal grandmother.” What??? I’m not a grandmother, or even a mother, so I was utterly confused. Then she explained the TikTok/Instagram phenomenon to me.

And wouldn’t you know it, she had described me to a T.

Here’s the official coastal grandmother checklist…

Lives in a cedar-shingled beach house, with the relaxed attitude to go with it.

Check.

Grows herbs on her back deck for whipping up pesto and quinoa salad.

Coastal grandmother is what we all should look like when we stop following the trends.

Andrea Linett

Fashion expert, author, and blogger

Check.

Enjoys rosé on the early side (ahem!).

Check.

Frequents farms and farm stands, and then bakes pies for friends.

Check.

Wears straw hats, button-down menswear shirts, and stacked rings from every decade of life.

Check

Never leaves home without her trusty canvas tote bag.

Check.

Has a white kitchen, often with a marble island, where she serves hand-picked lettuce in one of six or seven raw-edge wooden bowls.

Check.

Still can’t picture what a coastal grandmother looks like? Think Diane Keaton’s character in Something’s Gotta Give (or, actually, any Nancy Meyers movie heroine) or your mom’s chic friend from Montecito.

Either way, #Coastalgrandmother has more than 23,000 posts on Instagram, including one from Anne Hathaway, in which she’s wearing a white button-down shirt and cream-colored cotton pants, straw hat, and oversized shades over the caption “I have been ready for #coastalgrandmother chic since before TikTok was born. May this moment never end.” The post has over 770K likes.

The coastal grandmother trend started on TikTok earlier this year and has caught on with the Gen Z/millennial crowd — like my friend Carrie, a podcaster and Instagram aficionado — so it’s officially a thing. Whether you actually live this way or not, anyone can look the part.

coastal grandmother with older woman gardening

The coastal grandmother wardrobe

“Coastal grandmother is what we all should look like when we stop following the trends,” says Andrea Linett, fashion expert and author of The Cool Factor and the blog I Want To Be Her!. “It’s just good quality pieces worn with the attitude of ‘I have things going on other than worrying about what I look like. I’m focused on life and I’m going to make tomato and corn salad now with fresh basil picked from my own garden.’ That’s what I picture.”

The look, Linett says, specifically means linen pants, button-down Brooks Brothers shirts, French striped sailor shirts, a bolero sun hat with a chin strap, a classic loafer or Birkenstock, L.L. Bean bags, and, “if you can, a really nice watch.” “Anything menswear works,” she says. “And there’s a causal haphazard roll up of a sleeve because you’re making that salad, maybe even a half-tuck, dare I say.” It can be crumpled but still polished. And this look should not be confused with preppy (think K.Jacques sandals, not Jack Rogers) or Palm Beach (skip the Lilly Pulitzer).

The coastal grandmother interior design

The home, where the coastal grandmother spends a lot of time reading, cooking, and entertaining friends, is a big part of the vibe, too. “I sum it up as a timeless, casual, comfortably luxurious space where nothing is ostentatious, but everything is beautiful,” says interior designer Michael Del Piero, who has design studios in both the Hamptons and Chicago. “It’s a new version of a grandmother, and she’s super chic,” she says, adding that she actually is the “coastal” grandmother to two grandsons. When she designs interiors, Del Piero often incorporates an extra-long, weathered farm table in the kitchen as an island, white slipcovers on sofas, candleliers (instead of chandeliers), rattan or wicker furniture, woven natural seagrass rugs (as opposed to newly made or Oriental rugs), and found items from nature or yard sales.

How to get the coastal grandmother look in your home

It’s easy to bring a little coastal grandmother into your home, no matter your age or where you live. Linen is a big part of the look — linen slipcovers, linen dresses, linen napkins, says Del Piero. She also suggests keeping the palette neutral, with whites, oatmeal, and “sea glass sorts of colors, like aqua and light blue,” not patterns or bright colors. Layer textures like fur and terrycloth in these solid neutral colors. And accessorize to channel your own coastal grandma: stacked dishes on open shelves, pillows or oversized floor cushions made from worn antique rugs, or a rustic wooden bowl of lemons or fruit in the kitchen — cliché as they may sound — sum up the vibe. Natural objects, such as driftwood, olive branches, and wildflowers, can create the mood on a table. Avoid anything “too brassy, too shiny, too new, too silky, or too formal,” Del Piero says.

coastal grandmother with Luxury Modern Living Room

That idea of repurposing items applies to what you wear, too. Linett suggests vintage madras or tuxedo shirts, men’s button-downs, and minimal gold jewelry, perhaps inherited. “Vintage looks like you had it in your closet for years, even though it was in someone else’s,” Linett says.

Why coastal grandmother is in

Why is coastal grandmother so popular right now? Perhaps people are looking for a more relaxed approach to life, and the aesthetic is just an extension of that feeling. We take comfort in living life simply, focusing on the basics, enjoying nature and friends, appreciating the beauty of a perfectly ripe tomato or buttery pie crust.

We also feel nostalgia for an easier time.

“The world is so crazy right now, the last thing you need to do is worry about what you’re putting on all the time,” Linett says. “This look is not tone deaf, it’s not flashy or inappropriate, because there are more important things going on (in the world).”

Right she is. I’m off to the beach to ponder life in my linen pants under the shade of my straw bolero hat. I’m lucky I kept my striped shirts from high school. Sorry, Carrie, this coastal grandmother is not selling.

9 Front Porch Ideas That Will Set Your Summer Style in Full Bloom

Summer is the time when blooms burst with color and porches overflow with lavish displays of vibrant florals. With so many options from which to choose, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But with just a little planning, and by getting in touch with your personal style, you can get that gorgeous look you want for your porch in no time.

Here are nine front porch ideas for summer that will help you offer a stunning presentation of your home to passers-by and greet your guests in style.

1. Figure out your foundation elements

It’s helpful to begin with a color scheme in mind. Do you like light, muted shades that give a modern farmhouse look? Or do you love the look of black and white accented with bursts of color? Pick three to four colors to build your look around. This will help you when choosing what to buy.

A photo of front porch ideas with front porch furniture

Layer an outdoor rug under a natural coconut fiber doormat. Stick with simple patterns and solid colors so the porch doesn’t become too busy. If you have room for furniture on your porch, an accent table, hutch, or shelf can give plenty of spots to add plants and decorative touches.

2. Foundation plants set the stage for style

Now it’s time to get down to business. Begin your porch garden look by starting with the largest plant displays. This includes:

Hanging plants

Ferns are a popular choice for summer, and for good reason. They’re lush and full, low maintenance, and add instant bursts of green in spots that normally would just remain plain.

A photo of front porch ideas with flower boxes

Window boxes

Give a polished look and enhance your home’s curb appeal year round. For summer, window boxes provide a great space for planting annuals, such as petunias and pansies. To give a professionally arranged look, stick to one to three colors of flowers. Adding a taller plant to the center of each box, along with a creeping plant that can cascade over and down the box, creates a picturesque arrangement.

Large potted plants

Add in a splash of drama with larger, floor-sized outdoor plants and trees, such as a rose topiary or magnolia tree. Go the symmetrical route and place one on each side of a step or door for a more formal porch look.

3. Deck out your door decor

You can’t go wrong with a colorful wreath, but there are other ways to achieve a homey, rustic look, such as a hanging basket of flowers. Next to your door, consider an elongated “Welcome” sign in a style consistent with the rest of your porch decor.

If your steps are wide enough, stagger pots and lanterns down the steps. Wood, terra cotta, or crisp black and white pots are all great options. Be sure to vary the shape of plants with some thin and tall varieties offset by shorter and fuller specimens.

4. Textured textiles

Adding textiles to your porch display creates visual interest and allows your plantings to pop. Outdoor-friendly blankets, flags, and pillows create a soft, tactile contrast to the foliage of your summer plants. These are especially well suited for covered porch areas that are generally protected from the elements.

5. Fill the air with the scents of summer

When it comes to front porch ideas, it’s not just visual displays that matter. Consider appealing to the other senses as well. Who doesn’t love walking past a home and becoming entranced by the intoxicating scents of fresh blooms? Adding fragrant potted gardenias, roses, or lilacs, for instance, can naturally fill your entryway with sweet smells.

6. Soothing sounds add tranquility

Once the porch is luxuriously scented, it’s time to move on to stimulating another sense — hearing. The sound of water is a relaxing way to add a pleasant surprise to your porch display. Tucking compact, outdoor-friendly fountains into a corner of the porch provides the soothing sound of flowing water and adds the visual touch of moving water to your home’s exterior.

A photo of front porch ideas with a tropical-looking front porch

7. Light up summer nights

Although there are plenty of hours of daylight in the summer, you’ll still want to keep in mind how your porch looks during those summer nights. Thanks to innovations in solar power, it’s easier than ever to add touches of light to your porch decor. Think lanterns, solar-powered candles, and accent lights, along with string lights that you can hang under your ceiling to illuminate the space. It’s a quick way to draw attention to plants and cast dramatic shadows to complete the evening look.

8. Celebrate summer with a seasonal arrangement

Once you have the major porch elements covered, you can have fun by sprinkling in smaller decorative touches. Keep your summer porch display interesting by placing a special floral arrangement on an outdoor porch table. Show off your patriotic spirit for the Fourth of July with an adorable Yankee Doodle Doggie red, white, and blue pupper. Or, if you’re more of a cat person, how about a purrfect Seaside Mermaid kitty that every beachside porch absolutely needs.

front porch ideas with Vibrant Summer Lily Bouquet — Vibrant Summer Lily Bouquet

9. Ensure your porch plants look fabulous all summer long

Once you’ve achieved a picture-perfect porch look, you’ll want to make sure you keep it in tip-top shape all season. The summer can be a challenging time, with high temperatures, blazing sun, and unpredictable rain, so you need a strategy to keep your flowers happy right up until the fall.

Choose plants that fit your lifestyle. If you will be home throughout the summer, pick ones that require regular watering. If you’re away a lot or don’t feel like pulling the hose out every evening, look for drought-tolerant plants, such as adorable succulent arrangements, that won’t wilt during those drier periods.
Be realistic with your porch’s sun exposure. Although you might adore full-sun flowering plants, if your porch is mostly shaded, these varieties just won’t thrive. Select flowers that can withstand temps into the 90s when not in direct sunlight, such as a decorative orchid. In colder months, bring it inside until the next spring. Similarly, avoid wasting money on plants made for shade that will quickly burn up in full sun.
Don’t forget the fertilizer. Container gardens and potted flowering plants do well with a high-phosphorus organic fertilizer. This can be the difference between your blossoms continuing through Labor Day and the flowers fizzling prematurely. Apply liquid fertilizer twice monthly but never when plants are dry or dehydrated.

How to Make a Christmas Wreath in 5 Steps

The series “Unboxing the Holidays” is all about bringing you top-notch advice and creative ideas to make the most of the season’s special moments. Here, we teach you how to make a DIY Christmas wreath in five simple steps.

A staple of Christmas decorating since the 19^th century, wreaths come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. And throughout the month of December, you’re sure to spot them everywhere — from traditional colonial homes and shop windows to semi-trailer truck grilles. Wreaths are a warm, inviting decoration rich with meaning. “Wreaths symbolize hospitality, seasonal bounty, and optimism for a prosperous new year,” says Debra Prinzing, creative director of Slow Flowers Society.

A wreath for every occasion

diy christmas wreath with woman making a wreath

In fact, your wreath doesn’t have to come down when the holidays are over. “We’re seeing wreaths displayed year-round, inside and outside,” Prinzing says. “This shift opens up a world of possibilities for integrating all sorts of fresh and dried botanical ingredients into your design — including foraged elements.”

Easy peasy basic wreath project

Wreaths are an easy way to add a dash of seasonal style into your space for the other 11 months of the year. This small version with homespun flair is easy to customize for any occasion. Start with the basic wreath design, described below, and then add your favorite seasonal embellishments, such as dried fruit, berries, cinnamon sticks, wheat stems, twigs, or anything else you like!

This simple project requires few supplies, and, best of all, you can complete this DIY Christmas wreath in less than an hour.

Supplies

Wire wreath form (8-10 inches max)
Green floral wire, 22 gauge (on a paddle or spool)
Scissors or pruning shears
Wire cutters
Two to three types of greenery, divided into separate piles (eucalyptus, ficus, magnolia, and lemon leaves are good options for smaller wreaths). You will create mini bundles of greenery to decorate your wreath, so make sure you have enough to go around the entire form.

Steps

Pull about 6-8 inches of gauge wire away from the spool or paddle, but do not cut it. Starting with the end piece, wrap about 2 inches of wire in place around the form, tightly, until secure.
Select one piece of greenery from each pile. Then, layer the pieces on top of each other from smallest to largest to create a visually pleasing bundle. Hold the bundle in place and trim the stems, leaving about 2 inches.
Place your bundle face up on the form, positioning the stems on top of where you started the gauge wire. If the stems are still too long for the form, trim them again, but leave enough in place to attach the wire. Tilt the bundle slightly outward from the middle of the form until you are happy with the placement. Wrap the gauge wire around the stems tightly several times until secure.
Repeat steps 2 and 3, slightly overlapping and tilting the bundles outward, until all are securely attached, and conceal the form. After your last bundle is secured, cut the wire and tuck the end into the back of the wreath. Fill in any gaps or holes with extra greens. Don’t forget to add your seasonal elements!
Loop a piece of twine or ribbon through the back of the wreath and hang.

Why We Hang Christmas Wreaths

A quintessential symbol of Christmas, the wreath is practically de rigueur in yuletide decorating. But as a token of hope and eternity, the Christmas wreath isn’t just another decorative artifact with a pretty bow. So how did this circular object become emblematic of “the most wonderful time of the year”?

Wreaths, the early days

The wreath has enjoyed a long and storied history, although its precise origins are unclear. In ancient times, wreaths made from leaves, olive trees, berries, and twigs were worn as headdresses to denote royalty, authority, and power. The Greco-Romans conferred wreaths upon notable individuals as symbols of honor, respect, and victory. In 10^th-century Scandinavia, as part of the pagan winter solstice Yule festival, candles were lit and placed around wooden wheels to pay homage to the sun and to summon warmth from the gods.

By the 16^thcentury, the prevalence of Christianity in Northern Europe had ushered in new traditions, and the wreath took on a whole new meaning. Evergreen trees, naturally abundant and revered for their ability to withstand the elements of winter, became symbols of hope and eternal life.

In Germany, families chopped down fresh evergreens and cut them into triangular formations in a symbolic act representative of the Holy Trinity. They brought the trees home to decorate as part of their Christmas tradition that also included twisting the discarded cuttings into small circular ornaments — the very shape of which signifies eternity.

The eventual introduction of the Advent wreath in the 19th century sparked another sacred practice: the lighting of candles to celebrate the birth and light of Christ. In addition to evergreens, other elements of the traditional Advent wreath included holly oak and berries — symbols of the crown of thorns and the blood of the crucifixion.

“The decorative value of wreaths is believed to have been derived by ancient tradition. In the way that we use house numbers today, wreaths featuring different floral arrangements were used to identify different families and houses,” says Julie Mulligan, 1-800-Flowers.com’s lifestyle and crafting expert.

21st-century Christmas style

The Christmas wreaths of today may or may not have a religious significance, depending on the individual. Whether your wreath is crafted from evergreen branches embellished with pinecones or made from bright sparkly baubles accented with ribbon, it should always speak to your personal taste and holiday decorating style.

“The wreath is so rich in history, tradition, and symbolism, yet most people just like the way they look and incorporate them into their decor,” Mulligan says. “And that’s fine: They offer a year-round opportunity to be creative and change it up seasonally. “

christmas wreaths Rustic Grandeur Wreath — Rustic Grandeur Wreath

Preserved Lavender Wreath — Preserved Lavender
Wreath

christmas wreaths Gnome for the Holidays Wreath — Gnome for the Holidays Wreath

If you’re planning to create a wreath from scratch this year, consider going the sustainable route. “Sustainable wreath bases formed from the grapevine, kiwi vines, and other 100% compostable materials are more popular than ever,” says Debra Prinzing, creative director of Slow Flowers Society. Otherwise, Prinzing says, metal wreath forms generally “end up in the landfill after the holidays.”

Here are some of the snazzy wreath ideas trending this season.

Shapeshifters

Circles are so 20th century. Try something new this year by creating a wreath in a totally different shape. This season’s wreath shapes “include oval, crescent, and square forms,” Prinzing says. A triangular-shaped Christmas wreath is a nice way to pay tribute to its ancestor, the Christmas tree.

Vintage vavoom

“I love the idea of incorporating something personal into the wreath,” Mulligan says. “A vintage collector type could include some old shiny bright ornaments. Or a gardener might feature some tools, mini clay pots, or some seeds!” You can score vintage holiday decorations from antique stores, flea markets, and thrift shops. Layer in retro-style tinsel garland for a touch of mid-century modern shimmer.

Personal touch

Create a wreath using family photographs, mementos gathered from special trips, and personalized keepsake ornaments for a one-of-a-kind holiday heirloom with meaning. Make the wreath even more special by inviting family members to take part in its installation. “Creating wreaths is a wonderful communal act for people of any age,” Prinzing says. “Gathering branches and hanging [a wreath] feels like a timeless gesture of hope for the season.”

Baby’s first Christmas wreath

Celebrate the arrival of your new little one with a flocked wreath embellished with miniature baubles in pretty pastels and a satin ribbon. Attach a favorite photograph so it hangs in the center.

Regal elegance

Jewel tones are so in. Midnight blue, royal purple, emerald green, gold, and silver add sophistication to any holiday vignette. Use a combination of fresh blooms, velvet ribbon, glittery baubles, feathers, and sequin trim to capture the look you want.

Sensational sunflowers

Sunflowers might seem like an unconventional choice for a holiday wreath, but it really is an all-occasion flower. The sunflower embodies the very essence of optimism, and it reminds us to stay hopeful during challenging times. Accent your sunflower wreath with holly sprigs, pip berries, pinecones, and twigs. Then, add a dark green satin bow as the finishing touch.

Coastal vibes

There’s never a wrong time for a wreath inspired by the seashore. Create a base wreath with shells, starfish, sand dollars, driftwood, and twine. Then, add a few evergreen sprigs and mini pinecones to the arrangement to infuse it with some holiday pizzazz.

Says Mulligan, “It’s all about creating your world, your way, and using what you already have in new ways. So, look around and create a holiday wreath that represents you!”

Beyond Pumpkins: Flowers for Halloween to Spook Up the Decor

“Celebration Inspiration” is all about bringing you top-notch advice and creative ideas to make the most of life’s special moments. Flowers for Halloween, such as glow-in-the-dark and black roses, are a stunning trend that provides another option in Halloween decorating.

From a costumed flamenco dancer with a red rose in her teeth to Morticia Adams clipping off the blooms leaving only their thorny stems, flowers and Halloween have a history together. But blooms can be more than just a costume prop — they can play a prominent role in your fall and Halloween decor.

A picture of preserved black and gold roses

Just as you see with clothing and design, flowers follow a pattern of what’s in fashion. “Fads and trends come and go for every holiday, and Halloween is no different,” says Jackie Lacey, president of the American Institute of Floral Designers and director of education and industry relations at the Floriology Institute.

While pumpkins and gourds are regarded as the go-to elements for nature’s contributions to Halloween decorating, flowers for Halloween — notably glow-in-the-dark and black roses — are becoming more closely associated with the holiday. They offer an elegant spin on the holiday, and are further elevated by noteworthy designs emerging from floral tastemakers.

Here are some latest trends for incorporating roses to Halloween decor for a modern spooky effect.

Painted flowers for Halloween

One big trend, Lacey says, is painted roses. “Orange roses with black tips, or pink or white roses with red splatter to imply a bloodstain, are a great source to add flair to your Halloween party.” These will last just as long as regular roses, he says. “You might think the paint would be harmful to the flowers, but it actually helps seal in the moisture by coating the petals. These roses will usually hold up the same length of time as unpainted flowers — an average of five to seven days.”

Painted roses are a statement in and of themselves, so they’re probably the least time-intensive decor solution — just throw them in a sleek container and you’re done!

Picture of Halloween roses that glow in the dark

Glowing blooms

A bouquet of white or glow-in-the-dark roses covered with a spider web and small black spider rings is a perfect centerpiece for your celebration. The more flowers for Halloween, the better. Find a large vase, short or tall, and fill it with white roses. Strategically place a few black spiders or one larger fuzzy spider that looks super spooky. Webbing can be black or the white fuzzy stuff you find at the drugstore (or leave it out!).

Fill your gourds with flowers

Carving jack-o’-lanterns? Find gray or white pumpkins and gut the pumpkin as usual, but, instead of a candle, use the squash as a vase and make a floral arrangement. Trim the stems of some white roses so the heads are just popping out, tight to the top of the gourd, and place in a small container of water directly in the squash (so the flowers don’t wilt!). Greens spilling over the edge are optional — either way, you have a cauldron of gorgeousness.

Día de Muertos

The day after Halloween is the Mexican celebration of those who have died. The colors of the day are orange, yellow, and red. Skulls are a focal point of this look. Surround one on a silver or white tray with neon-colored roses and candles. Special kaleidoscope roses are a novel take on this look, too.

Adult indulgence

A gorgeous orange rose bouquet sprinkled with a few white calla lilies is a treat you can give yourself on a holiday typically focused on the kids. Put the mixture in a ball jar or Halloween-inspired vase and move it to something more traditional after the day’s festivities.

Picture of orange Halloween roses with calla lilies

Autumn Rose & Calla Lily Bouquet

Halloween Delight™ Bouquet

Trick or treat?

If you’re having a Halloween party for the neighborhood kids — or as the children knock at your door — don’t forget about the unsung heroes of the evening: the adults taking the little ghosts and goblins door to door. A bucket of cold seltzers or water is just what they need to keep plugging away. Giving them a single orange rose stem with a “Happy Halloween!” ribbon or note attached is a sweet way to acknowledge parents and caregivers. A 3D flower ghost will make them laugh, and a tray of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, caramel pretzels — or even dried fruit — is just enough of a sweet to satisfy the “big kids.”

Primary color

Halloween is synonymous with orange and black, but an inspired take on decorating with these two colors is to separate them and use them monochromatically. Try orange gourds with orange roses or black Baccara roses (really a deep red) in painted black pumpkins, with spiders in black spider webs — an homage to the traditional Halloween in a non-traditional way!

Halloween Crafts: Candy Corn Garland

Not everything about Halloween needs to be spooky and scary — it can also just be fun and colorful, and full of sweets and smiles.

Here is a simple DIY craft idea celebrating that perennial Halloween favorite, the candy corn.

This project starts off very basic so that even the littlest trick or treater can do it, and can be scaled up and personalized to entertain tweens and beyond.

Candy corn garland

Making this Halloween craft keeps the kids entertained and barely costs a thing. And, after Halloween is over, you can recycle the whole thing — no guilt about producing extra waste, and you don’t have to pack it up and find somewhere to store it all year.

Materials needed for candy corn garland

Cardboard boxes
Paint or markers
String or ribbon
Hole puncher
Scissors or straight edge cutter

Instructions for making candy corn garland

The steps for this candy corn garland are the same as the ones I used for the patriotic-themed garland I made for Memorial Day. The only difference is it is painted differently.

Cut out a large circle from the cardboard box and, using a pencil, draw two smaller concentric circles inside it. (I was fortunate that one of my daughters operated a baking business out of my house and I had corrugated cake boards in my attic. And the fact that the boards were white meant I only had to paint the orange and yellow sections!)
Repeat the process making more circles. You can make them all the same size or mix it up with larger and smaller ones.

Paint or color the outermost ring yellow, the middle ring orange, and the innermost ring white (if necessary).

Once the paint dries, cut the circle into triangle — just like a pizza!

halloween crafts with hole-punched wedges

Use a hole puncher to punch two holes in the wider end of each triangle.

halloween crafts with yarn strung through wedges

Lace yarn, twine, or ribbon through the holes on the triangular pieces.

halloween crafts with candy corn garland

Once you have the basic steps down, you can improvise as you see fit. Let the older kids design their own garlands, adding tassels made from yarn or fabric, or add paper straws cut to the desired length in between the candy corn. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

halloween crafts with candy corn sodas and cocktails

And when the decorating is done, treat the little ones to a candy corn soda pop and yourself to a candy corn cocktail!

Candy Corn Decoration & Drinks: Fresh Flower Centerpiece & Beverages for Halloween

Does anyone actually eat candy corn, or is it just for crafts and DIY projects? Whatever people do with candy corn, they do a lot of it: According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 35 million pounds of candy corn are sold annually. That’s a lot of kernels…so plug in those glue guns and get crafty!

Here is a Halloween decor idea and two candy-corn-inspired beverages for young and old ghouls and goblins alike.

Fresh flower candy corn centerpiece

Candy Corn decorations with candy corn Flower Arrangement

The simple geometric shape of this candy corn creation makes this a very easy DIY. And carnations are available naturally in all three colors, so no spray painting is necessary.

What you need

Floral foam
Carnations (12 orange, 14 yellow, 10 white)
Plate

Directions

Choose a floral foam to use. (I opted for the sculpting sheet with the styrofoam back, as I wanted the candy corn arrangement to be a substantial size, and the styrofoam back gives the foam more support.)

Make a template using a piece of copy paper, and cut out your candy corn shape from the larger piece of foam.

Drop the foam into a sink filled with water. As the foam absorbs the water, it will slowly fall to the bottom of the sink. Remove and place it standing upright on a plate with a small rim.

candy corn decorations Cutting Stems on an Angle

While the foam soaks, prepare your flowers by cutting the stems to about 2 inches long using a sharp cutting shears and cutting on an angle. (The number of carnations in the supply list is for an arrangement that is approximately 11″ x 8.5”. This is a one-sided arrangement and should be placed in a location where it will be viewed from one side only.)

candy corn decorations with 2 Rows of Yellow Carnations

Starting at the bottom, insert two rows of yellow carnations.

candy corn decorations two rows of orange carnations

Then add two rows of orange carnations.

candy corn decorations with White Carnations Candy Corn Arrangement

candy corn decorations with Finish off with white carnations

Finish the top off with the white carnations. Now, your candy corn creation is complete!

Candy corn beverages

These adorable candy corn soda pops couldn’t be easier to make. Put a few pieces of cut-up pineapple in a small mason jar, fill the jar to the top with orange soda, and finish with whipped cream and a few pieces of candy corn.

For something with a little more kick, go with a candy corn cocktail served in a martini glass.

Print Pin

Candy Corn Cocktail

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Servings 1 drink

Ingredients:

1-1/2 ounce whipped cream vodka
3 ounce sour mix
2 ounce pineapple juice
½ ounce grenadine
Whipped cream (for topping)

Instructions:

Combine vodka, sour mix, and pineapple juice in shaker with ice, and shake well.
Pour mixture into a martini glass.
Slowly pour grenadine into mix so it settles to the bottom.
Top with whipped cream.
Optional: Garnish with coordinating sprinkles.

Course: Drinks

Color Schemes to Use When Decorating With Flowers This Fall

Believe it or not, autumn is already here, and that means it’s time to start getting into the spirit of the season. In addition to partaking in traditional fall activities, such as apple and pumpkin picking, a popular thing to do is spice up the home with fall decor. However, pumpkin-scented candles, garland-like leaves, and spooky lights aren’t the only items you can use to spread your love for the season in your home — flowers can be, too!

Here are some of the best fall colors and schemes to use when choosing flowers as your fall home decor of choice.

Orange

Though autumn leaves come in various shades of yellows, reds, and even the occasional browns, the best color to use when decorating for fall with flowers is orange. From light to dark and everything in between, you can’t go wrong with this color in a floral arrangement. Here are some top shades of orange:

‘Pumpkin’ orange

One of the first things that comes to mind when we think of autumn and the color orange is a pumpkin. After all, it is one of the primary symbols of the season — and an orange one at that! If you’re not sure which shade of orange to choose for your fall decor, rest assured that anything resembling a pumpkin’s natural color is sure to work well.

Butternut orange

Looking for something just a tad darker? Then you may benefit from flowers that are butternut orange in color. While they may not be as vibrant as an orange autumn rose or pot of mums, flowers in this shade can still fulfill the “orange” portion of your decor without straying too far from the desired color scheme.

Burnt orange

Hoping to add a bit of a rustic feel to your home this fall? If so, consider flowers that come in one of the darkest shades of orange — burnt orange. But don’t worry, using this color won’t make your home seem dreary; in fact, it can even make your brighter yellows and reds pop more than they already do.

An animated ad for 1800flowers.com's fall collection

If you’re looking outside the orange spectrum, consider choosing from the following colors.

Rust

Can’t decide between more red or more orange? Try rust! A color that conveys a little of both, this is a great choice for any fall floral decor. Tip: You may find it mixes with golds and browns best.

Bronze

Bronze is the perfect color if you want to make your home appear calm. And the best part is, this color isn’t too bright or too dark, so it’s an excellent happy medium that can complement the rest of your floral arrangements.

Burgundy

On the border of red and purple, burgundy is an awesome color to add to your floral decor. Although it is a bit darker than the bright red roses you may be considering, it can add a soothing touch to your home.

Plum

Straying from the typical oranges, reds, and yellows is plum. Although this may not be an obvious fall color, you’d be surprised at how good it looks when paired with other autumn hues. Peep this arrangement and see for yourself!

We’ve covered the recommended colors and color combos for fall, but which ones should be avoided this time of year? While pink is the perfect choice for an anniversary arrangement or the welcoming of a new baby girl, your best bet when it comes to fall home decor is to stick with traditional autumn colors. However, if you do have the need for an anniversary gift or another special occasion this season where pink is usually the top pick, you could find success with one of the above fall colors, too.

Fall colors bonus tip

If you have yet to decide which flowers you’ll use to make your home cozy and warm this fall, keep in mind that the best flowers to use are mums, lilies, roses, and wheat. And just like you should try to avoid using spring colors to make your fall decor stand out, stay away from spring flowers such as tulips, irises, and peonies when putting together a floral arrangement to decorate your home.