Just because you live in a small space doesn't mean you have to give up decorating for the holidays. Lots of small, simple Thanksgiving and harvest decor ideas can add a festive touch to your assisted living space. Many decoration ideas last throughout the fall season and take up very little room, so they won't be in the way. Try these ideas to make your indoor space match the fall colors you see outside your window.
Practice gratitude while adding a Thanksgiving twist to your decor with a decorative gratitude tree. You can grab a bare branch from outdoors when the leaves start falling off the Omaha trees to create your mini tree. If you prefer, you can use a decorative fall tree replica from the store.
Place your mini tree in a festive vase or container for display. Then, cut out little leaf shapes from colorful paper. Write short notes about things you're thankful for on the leaves and hang them on the tree. You can also leave some blank leaves for guests to add to the tree. Stop and read the notes as a reminder of all the blessings in your life.
Fall pillows and throw blankets don't take up much space, but they add a fall feeling to your seating area. If you already have throw pillows on your couch or chairs, look for fall throw pillow covers. You can put them over your existing throw pillows for the season and take them off when winter arrives. Pillow covers take up much less space when you store them, making this an ideal solution for small spaces. Start a collection of pillow covers for every season for a quick way to refresh your seating area.
For throw blankets, you can choose solid colors in fall hues, such as brown, orange or yellow, or go with a themed blanket featuring leaves, pumpkins and other fall symbols. Toss the blanket over the back of a sofa or chair to dress it up. Not only does this idea get you in the Thanksgiving spirit, but it also gives you a cozy way to cuddle up when you're chilly.
Fall-themed garlands can go almost anywhere, including stair railings, mantels, walls and countertop edges. They come in many options, including pom-poms in fall colors, leaf garlands and fabric cutouts in different fall shapes. You can also make a homemade garland by gluing shapes or items to a ribbon or piece of twine. Examples include artificial leaves, mini ears of dried corn, letters to spell out a Thanksgiving greeting or shapes cut from felt. Drape the garland in the desired area and attach it with tape, push pins or other fasteners.
Wreaths make an ideal decoration for any time of year. They come in almost any theme you can imagine, including harvest and Thanksgiving motifs, so you can swap them out with the seasons. A simple fall leaf wreath is a classic option, or you can get more detailed with pumpkins or turkeys. Wreaths can hang on doors with over-the-door wreath hangers that don't leave marks. You can also place them on walls using removable adhesive hooks.
Your dining table often serves as a focal point in your small space, so adding a harvest-themed centerpiece can brighten the room. An artificial bouquet of fall flowers with decorative pumpkin or turkey picks is a classic option. Add a Thanksgiving-themed table runner underneath and place mats in each spot to round out the look. Another option is to place brown, cream or orange LED candles on a decorative tray surrounded by mini pumpkins, leaves and acorns. A clear vase filled with fall filler items also makes a festive centerpiece.
Pumpkins and gourds make an ideal decoration from early fall up to winter. You can take a quick trip to Wenninghoff's or Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch to pick up real pumpkins. If you don't want to worry about real pumpkins and gourds rotting, you can find realistic artificial versions to use indoors. Group a few pumpkins and gourds on a table or countertop to sprinkle in that fall feeling. If you want to be creative, you can also add glitter, bows, painted designs and other embellishments to dress up the pumpkins.
The classic cornucopia is another way to welcome the Thanksgiving season into your small space. You can get the horn-shaped basket in different sizes to fit your smaller table. Add real or artificial pumpkins, gourds and other fruits and vegetables to fill the basket. Tuck in some leaves and other little items as finishing touches. The cornucopia can be your dining table centerpiece or a decoration on another table.
Your kitchen gets a harvest makeover with themed towels. Look for dish towels in harvest colors or with appliqued designs, such as pumpkins and leaves. You can also put harvest hand towels in your bathroom.
Hickory Villa offers different floor plans with varying amounts of space. No matter which one you choose, you can find little ways to add fall touches to the space to make it more inviting and festive.
