CANDLES ARE KEY
Autumn entertaining wouldn’t be complete without the timeless ambience provided by candles.
You should be able to find a good selection without spending the earth, although designer, luxury-scented candles are generally a little more expensive. Group all kinds of candles together, but always place them well out of the reach of children, and never leave a burning candle unattended.
FEEDING YoUR GUESTS
If you’ve ever felt a bit left out when the US celebrates Thanksgiving Day in November, now’s the time to seize your chance. It’s a huge occasion over there and people go all out to decorate their houses and produce a splendid autumnal meal.
This means there are thousands of websites jam-packed with ideas and inspiration, which can easily be applied to New Zealand in the months of March and April. Don’t forget to adorn the table with pumpkins and wheat sheaves and if you decide to go all out, why not include the traditional Thanksgiving turkey roast?
FLoWER PoWER
A selection of botanical prints from greeting cards and old calendars looks very striking against this warm yellow wall. Cheap and cheerful frames from chain stores or $2 shops can be brought alive with a quick spray of gold paint. Be sure to use different shapes and sizes for an eclectic effect.
A PRESSING oATTER
If you’re feeling especially creative, why not have a go at pressing your own flowers and leaves? It’s easy to do and incredibly satisfying. Collect flowers and leaves while you walk, then wash them in cold water and pat dry carefully with a paper towel.
Put the flowers or leaves carefully between two sheets of waxed kitchen paper and place within the pages of a very heavy book.
Weight this down with some more heavy books and leave for several weeks. After carefully extracting the kitchen paper, you will be able to reveal a beautifully pressed leaf or bloom, which can be used to make cards or framed as a picture.
CoLoUR oE CoSY
Shades of red and yellow combine for a rich and exotic ooorish-style setting. If you were planning a new colour scheme, autumn is an ideal time to put it together. Look for a yellow paint that has more cream than mustard, and a red that is deep and very slightly brown as opposed to bright garish shades. Indoor plants and trays of seasonal fruit will complete your Thanksgiving scene nicely.
THE CALL oF NATURE
Gather nature’s bounty and use it to decorate your home. Leaves, twigs, grasses and gourds are all good symbols of autumn.
A wicker basket filled with pine cones can add a nice, rustic feelto any room, while found objects such as shells, stones and driftwood are often oddly reassuring to have around. Try involving your children in the hunt. Long walks gossiping, giggling and gathering are one of the most precious parts of family life.
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