Creative Decorating In Autumn
WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH
PHOTOS : LISA ATKINSON
With so much going on in the world, I’ve been a little slow in celebrating the change of the season, but don’t you just love that Autumn is here!
Autumn brings about such beautiful changes in nature - the leaves turn the most glorious colours, from bright yellow through to copper; burnt orange to red which in turn inspires the way we cook our meals and decorate our homes.
In autumn I love bringing roast pumpkin, parsnips and sweet potatoes back to the menu, adjusting the colours in my home to create an embracing, homely vibe and I even change the flavour combinations of candles to reflect a warmer, more masculine aroma.
Dahlia’s are back in season and they are just one bloom I simply cannot walk past! There are so many varieties and colours, it’d impossible to choose a favourite; from almost black to the bicolour varieties, they are just stunning. Dahlia’s last for about a week in a vase, so their lifespan isn’t long, but boy, do they look exquisite when they are in full bloom.
What you need to know about Dahlias
There are more than 30 varieties of Dahlias and a vast array of colours
They are native to Mexico
Flower widget can range from 5cm (2 in) to 20cm (8 in) the late ones are named ‘dinner-plate’ dahlias
Dahlias tend to turn vase water brown quite quickly, so it’s important to trim off excess leaves off the stems so they aren’t submerged. Trim the stems and change the water every 2 days.
Use secateurs or a sharp knife to cut Dahlias then immediately put them in cool water to prevent wilting.
The light on an autumn day play a big part in how our gardens and homes look at this time of year and walking through a bed of autumn leaves, hearing them crunch underneath you, one can’t help but feel inspired and connected to nature.
Get creative with Autumn leaves
Grab some plain brown wrapping paper and a few autumn leaves. Paint the leaves and use them as a ‘stamp’ by pressing them onto the paper, making sure the paint transfers. Stamp the leaves about the paper in a random pattern, mixing up the leaf size every now and then. This is a fun stay at home activity to get the family involved in and at the end you have a roll of autumn-inspired wrapping paper.
Find two glass vases of varying sizes. Sit the smaller vase inside the larger one and fill the gap between the two with a selection of autumn leaves. This vase looks amazing holding branches or long-stemmed, minimal flowers or a gorgeous, glowing candle.
Collect autumn leaves of all shapes and sizes and glue them to A5 sheets of paper. Using double-sided tape or Blu-Tack, simply attach them to a wall to create a grid-like display. Pin in rows of three, four or five. You want a mass of at least 20 leaf images.
