Turkey Day Decor

Thanksgiving is only days away and for those of you hosting you know how important it is for everything to be perfect – food, ambiance, and décor. With the economy in the toilet most of us are shopping for groceries without any budget to decorate. I am a huge fan of decorating on a budget and have come up with several great ideas to decorate the table without spending a dime.

My inspiration came from a recent trip to Washington, DC. Fall is a great time for this city because all the trees change colors – streets are covered with yellow, red, and orange leaves. This season has always been a favorite of mine because change is in the air and it is very hard to find the same color pallet in any other season. The brightness of tree leaves is abundant and bringing these same colors indoor is easier than it might seem.

For those of you hosting a large dinner party with guests from both sides of the family you are most likely going to need place cards. Scrap the note cards and trade them in for real ‘’paper’’ – leaves. You can collect a variety of bright color leaves from your own backyard or community park and use these as your place cards. All you have to do is grab a Sharpie, write the guests names on the leaves, and place these on top of the plate, charger, or salad bowl. This will add color to your table setting, provide fall ambiance, and direct guests where to sit. How much will this cost you? Zero dollars.

The leaves on the ground aren’t the only beauties – check out the fallen branches. You can easily assemble a fantastic centerpiece consisting of a glass vase, branches you’ve found laying on the ground, and fallen leaves. Fill the glass vase with tall branches and then add the leaves. This will not only add color but height as well. You can create a very chic yet holiday atmosphere by making several of these centerpieces and placing them evenly apart on a long, rectangular table. How much will this cost you? Zero dollars.

Collected leaves are not only good for centerpieces but also for turning your ordinary items into holiday décor. For example, I took a glass vase, added a pillar candle and inserted bright colored leaves in between the candle and the glass. This is safe, removable, and best of all FREE. Turn your ordinary into extraordinary with a simple touch of nature. How much will this cost you? Zero.

My latest discovery is another great, simple centerpiece for long or rectangular tables – Brussels Sprout stalk. I picked up this stalk for $3.29 at Trader Joe’s. At over 2 feet long this vegetable stem makes a great centerpiece. You just place it on the table, add pillar candles to either side, and call it a day. The best part is the next day you can make a Brussels sprout dish. Recycle, reuse, reduce. How much will this cost you? If you are a Brussels Sprout fan then ZERO. For those of you who will only be using it as a centerpiece - $3.29.

You can pretty much take any household item and decorate it with leaves from the outside. All you’ll need is double stick tape, leaves from your backyard, and a little creativity. Chair backs, vases, candles, cards, even your front door are all great places to display the beautiful colors of autumn.

Enjoy Turkey Day!