SIX Ways To Make Your Home Inviting Before Holiday Guests Stay Over

The Fall season is the start of Halloween, Thanksgiving and the festive winter holidays.  If you host one of these holidays, now is the perfect opportunity to make home improvements to get ready for all those guests coming over.   

I wrote this post because I recently had a lot of family stay over.  I wanted them to feel comfortable and for my home to be inviting so I spruced it up a bit and thought I would share these few ideas to 're new' my home sweet home before they arrived.  I included other beautiful people's photos to inspire!

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Buy multiple matching towels and ditch the mismatched.  

Before you realize you need to hand your Aunt Betty a beach towel because you can't find any bathroom shower towels, go out and buy all new matching towels that can be used by you every day, and your guests so you don't run out of the 'nice towels'.

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ALSO Try a linen closet makeover! I love this idea of buying all neutral towels and organizing them in a closet so you or your guests can easily grab one or two, along with plenty of toilet paper!  Pinterest has a lot of creative ideas.  These tagged baskets make it easy for anyone to find more soap or a hair dryer in a pinch!

Designer: Elizabeth Aiken Barnette

Look for new bedding.  

There is nothing better than fresh new sheets and a soft comforter/duvet.  Take count of the bed sizes you have before purchasing, and put a smile on your guests' face when they see their sleeping quarters.

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Give your sofa a fresh look with new plump pillows.  

It is always amazing to me how an old sofa can look good again by simply changing out old pillows.  Its not only fun to bring in new color and pattern but yeah, it may be time to retire those flat pillows.

Thoughts from Alice

Don't overlook throw blankets.  

Its always nice to have a throw blanket on or near a sofa, and these days you can find so many designer looking ones that you can leave it in a ball on your furniture and it will still look inviting!

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Head to your local home store and pick up an oversized basket.  You will be able to fit multiple throw blankets in one.  Makes it easy to reach for a blanket and easy to store!

Designer: Megan Perry Yorgancioglu

Give guests a comfortable seat! 

Don't worry about your dining table; look at your chairs.  Give your dining table an overhaul by simply changing out the chairs that surround it.  Remember, you sit at a table, BUT you sit on a chair so make sure they are not wobbly, damaged or uncomfortable.  

Fantabulosity

Pick up new serving dishes now.  

You may want to have snacks out for surprise guests or need extra dinner serving plates.  You can never have enough variety and makes displaying and serving whatever food or dessert a breeze!  A mix of woods, marble and metal pieces all work well together and can be found in most box stores.  By the way, Jessica from Fantabulosity has some great ideas and recipes for parties, and every day tips.

 Have fun this Fall and enjoy any guests that come to visit. 

Quick Inexpensive Ways To Decorate Your Home For Fall

Decorating your home for the Fall season does not have to take up a lot of time, money or energy.  And once you do it, the decorations can last thru December!  

Use these quick tricks for last minute entertaining, or if you, like me, are a hardworking person who can't seem to find time to add Fall decorating to your list :)

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Grocery shop for food and fall decor at the same time.

You can find bags of gourds and pumpkins at super markets.  Grab a bunch before checking out of the store.  See the centerpiece ideas below of how you can display them using items you already own!

THREE ways to display fall decor using items you have!

Create centerpieces using kitchen ware.

Platters, cake plates, mixing bowls, trays, and wood cutting boards, make great containment holders for your fall decor.  Vintage, natural tones, vibrant colors, or glassware can give that Fall presentation to table tops and shelves.  See sample looks above!

Use good ol' mother nature for fall decorating.

Bring in fallen branches, leaves, pine cones, acorns and even, pieces of trees you had removed.  Make sure you brush off any dirt or outdoor critters first.  You can make center pieces with them.  The real stuff gives the most authentic look for fall decorating!  Place them in vases or lanterns.  See the tablescape below and how I used part of a tree I had cut down!

Buy some fake pumpkins and gourds and re-use them year after year.  

I have a number of faux pumpkins I use along with my real pumpkins.  No one is the wiser and not only do I save money doing this, but I can spray paint my 'fakies' any color I want each year.  See how I used them above!

Buy fake pumpkins and spray paint them (I like the chalky finish) to get a pop of color in your Fall decorating!

Create fall artwork on your walls.

Switch out a framed photo with a fallen leaf (or group of leaves) from your backyard.  Simply tape it to a white heavy stock piece of paper and place back in the frame.

Also a large basket, throw blanket and burlap looking pillow (love velvets, faux fur and cotton) add to the cozy feel!

Quick Fall look for small console table.

Give your foyer table or any hallway table top into an instant cozy fall feel! Stack worn books and place a group of pumpkins on top.  Books are great props to create height!

Bookcase Decorating.

Add fall decor like pumpkins, corn and gourds, AS WELL AS wood signs.  You can pick up cute worded signs at craft stores, or make your own!

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 Tablescape In A Pinch!

A group of pumpkins and gourds in various sizes make a wonderful tablescape when placed down the center of the table.  Roll out a burlap runner to add a natural touch (pick one up from any craft store).  Use battery operated candles so no need to worry about a dangerous flame! 

For the center piece, I added a part of a tree we had removed this summer (the pieces are still on the side of my house).  A battery operated candle sits on top of it.  Lastly a few branches laid down the length of the table gives a vintage naturalistic look.  Change up what I used with whatever you find outdoors.  Thats the fun of a fall tablescape. Anything natural gives a warm cozy feel!


Have fun with Fall decorating!