Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas for the Living Room

Decorating your living room for Thanksgiving is a great way to celebrate the changing seasons, involve your kids and get into the holiday spirit.

Working with Color

The first Thanksgiving was inspired during the late fall harvest, and a rich autumn color palate helps evoke a Thanksgiving mood. To start your holiday decorating, try bringing the colors of falling leaves and late fall crops into your living room. Some shades that work well with fall-themed decorating include:

• Deep reds
• Warm oranges
• Golden yellows
• Earthy browns
• Deep forest greens
• Metallic gold and copper accents.

Here are some simple ways to incorporate the vibrant colors of autumn into your living room decor for Thanksgiving:

• Accent your couch and chairs with fall-toned throw pillows.
• Add an inexpensive throw rug with fall colors.
• Change your curtains for ones with a richer fall palette.
• Cover pastel colored upholstery with fall-toned slipcovers or throw blankets.
• Remove or conceal spring or summer-themed furniture and decorations.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces and Shelf Accents

Decorative centerpieces and shelf accents are simple touches that add a festive Thanksgiving feel your living room. You can buy these pieces ready-made for an instant effect, or have fun creating your own. You may want to use some of these items in your Thanksgiving arrangements:

• Acorns
• Woven baskets
• Earthenware or wooden bowls
• Fall fruits and foliage
• Fall flowers such as mums, aster or goldenrod
• Pumpkins
• Gourds
• Ornamental Corn
• Berries
• Pine cones
• Beans and seeds
• Glass pebbles in fall shades.

 When designing table and shelf decorations, remember that centerpieces will be viewed from all sides. Be sure to turn your centerpiece often as you add on to it, to make sure your work is symmetrical and attractive from every angle. Shelf accents, on the other hand, will only be viewed from one direction. You need only stand back occasionally to check your symmetry and composition from the front view.

Wall and Window Decorations

Walls and windows offer a perfect canvas for your holiday decorating. Try out some of these easy ideas:

• Window clings: Themed window clings are just about the simplest way to get into the holiday spirit. They stick to your windows with no adhesives, are easily removed after the holiday and your kids can join the fun helping out with their arrangements.
• Children's window artwork: Have your kids draw and cut out paper turkeys, leaves, pumpkins, Pilgrims and Native Americans to hang in your living room window.
• Fall-themed prints: Find some attractive framed prints or posters with fall themes and hang them in place of other artwork during the fall season.
• Wreaths: Purchase or create gorgeous fall wreaths to hang on your walls. Weave your wreath from branches and twigs, or use a ready-made foam wreath ring that you can stick flowers or foliage into and glue on other items such as berries or acorns.
• Fall picture frames: Frame your fall photo memories by designing your own decorative picture frame. Start with a plain wooden picture frame. Spray paint fallen leaves with gold or copper paint and glue a few onto the frame.

Enhancing the Holiday Mood

Candlelight and scent are the final touches to create a cozy autumn atmosphere. Candles bring a warm, earthy glow to your living room and are available in lots of fall colors, themes and scents. For your safety, remember to only use lit candles when you or other adults are in the room to supervise.

Potpourri, air fresheners and room sprays also help bring a festive fall mood to the room. Certain scents are particularly evocative of fall:

• Apple
• Pumpkin
• Cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice
• Vanilla
• Cranberry
• Spiced orange or other citrus.

When thinking about filling your home with delicious scents, don't forget actual baking. If you have the time, the smell of pumpkin pie or some raisin spice cookies in the oven will definitely add to the holiday atmosphere, not to mention your family's eating pleasure.

You don't have to invest a great deal of time or expense to enjoy a home with Thanksgiving spirit. With a few easy touches, your living room will reflect the beauty of the changing seasons and the joy of Thanksgiving. For more ideas on fall decorating themes for the living room, click here