Decorating Ideas

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Mason jars have become a favorite for home decorating over the years, and with good reason. Before they adorned wedding tables, Mason jars were used to preserve food. They date all the way back to 1858, when they were first patented. Because of their vital history in traditional homes, today they make a regular appearance in traditional, country and rustic design styles. As such, they also fit in well with the Christmas season as part of a traditional or rustic Christmas decorating scheme. Read on to find creative ways to incorporate Christmas mason jars into your home this holiday season.

Wreaths make a natural focal point around the holidays, and the candles in the jars help draw attention. Image: Rene Zieg

Wreath display

A classic way to incorporate Christmas Mason jars into a holiday design is to combine them with a wreath. The photo above shows a classy display where the Mason jars sit in front of a wreath. The candles in the jars help illuminate and draw attention to the wreath.

Finding a rustic sign to put in front of the jars also gives them a classic look. The candles are actually sitting on Epsom salt. The jars are a nice way to have candles around a wreath, minus the fire hazard, since the jars do a good job of protecting the nearby greenery.

Mason jars are a wonderful way to decorate a table during the holidays. Image: Rikki Snyder

Mason jar centerpiece

Christmas Mason jars also make a good centerpiece for a traditional, country or rustic holiday table setting. The photo above shows how well a few Mason jars with candles sit among the seasonal greenery. The evergreen, pine cones and cranberries immediately give off a rustic, country look, thanks to the natural textures. To make the display easy to transport, the whole ensemble also sits on a cut log. The log also helps add even more rustic texture to the display.

You could also get creative with this idea. Put the Mason jars on the cut log and place anything you can think of around them. For instance, you might place candy canes, garland or seasonal ribbon around the jars.

Feel free to get creative with what you fill your Mason jars with. Image: Kootut Murut

Filling jars with candy canes and evergreen

Part of what makes Mason jars so versatile in decorating is that you can fill them with anything. The large openings make them convenient. These wide Mason jar-style containers are great for filling with candy canes, as in the photo above.

What’s really original, though, is the tiny Christmas tree that sits right in the jar. A little sprig of evergreen placed upright gives the feeling of a small Christmas tree. The sparse ribbons are also a nice touch to add to the Christmas tree vibe. Between a large Mason jar and the natural texture of the evergreen, it’s a good addition to any traditional or rustic decorating scheme. It could also fit into a minimalistic theme, since the small tree has stark and minimal elements to it.

Red fruit and seasonal berries add a splash of festive color. Image: Rikki Snyder

Using fruit with Christmas Mason jars

Here’s another example of how well a simple Mason jar with a tea light fits in with natural seasonal items. The photo above shows the evergreen and pine cones natural to the season, but what make this display special are the cranberries and pomegranates. These give a lush seasonal red tone to the display.

Those red items also match other items on the table, like the tablecloth. This can be a wonderful idea if you are going for a traditional red and green seasonal theme. It would also work well in any seasonal design that has pops of bright red accents.

Put nuts in a Mason jar for a classic way to get a seasonal feel. Image: Julie Ranee

Going nuts

The large Christmas Mason jars work well in this country Christmas design. Having nuts out during the holidays was common in traditional homes, and still is in some homes today. The nuts in the Mason jars fit with the holiday theme and add some natural elements and visual texture to the space, along with the sprigs of evergreen and over-sized pine cones.

The natural Christmas theme also goes well with the rest of the room’s rustic vibe, with the natural wicker textures, country hats on the wall, Texas star and rustic crate on the floor. It shows how a rustic Christmas theme can work with an overall room’s design.

The post 5 Ways to Decorate with Christmas Mason Jars appeared first on Freshome.com.

Pumpkins are a powerful element in autumn decorating. They pack a colorful punch. Since they’re harvested in the fall, they make everyone think of the autumnal season. They’re also extremely versatile. It’s easy to paint pumpkins, add jeweled accents or buy different types with wild textures. And one way to make the most of pumpkins in your autumn decorating is to go for a whole menagerie of them. That way, you can work with different colors, textures and styles. And a grouping of pumpkins can serve as a whole large focal point in your fall decor. Below, you’ll find several ways to work with pumpkin menageries.

Separate your pumpkin menagerie to create balance. Image: Kirkendall Design

Add Balance to the Doorway

Pumpkin menageries work well on the porch. They add a splash of color to what tends to be a fairly neutral space. And having them on the porch sets an instant fall harvest vibe for any guests coming to your door.

The photo above shows how placing a pumpkin menagerie on either side of the door is a great way to add balance to the space. The style also does a great job of using different pumpkins with multiple sizes, colors and textures. Groups of pumpkins also pair well with other fall colors, like the bold yellow flowers and deep red and orange door wreaths.

Painted pumpkins add style and layers to the design. Image: Sarah Greenman

Use Multiple Colors and Textures

You can also go bolder in your colors and textures. The photo above shows how some white pumpkins combine well with bold metallic painted pumpkins. Little accents like polka dots update the traditional harvest pumpkin, making this style a good choice for chic home designs.

You can even paint one of the pumpkins a less common pumpkin color, like sage green, to add a bit of an accent. You can also use more conceptual pieces, like the twig pumpkins, for added texture. The photo also shows how easy it is to place pumpkins on shelves and in planters to get different heights for each piece.

Add jewel accents for a chic take on the design. Image: Kirkendall Design

Go for Textured Designs

Another idea is to add jeweled designs to natural pumpkins. This is a good way to get a more updated, chic take on the look, too. These pair well with other natural elements, like the yellow flowers and twig pumpkin.

The photo above highlights another good idea for displaying pumpkin menageries. A retro produce cart is a natural choice. You can also prop up some of the elements of the design using classic wooden crates. Overall, it makes you feel like the fall harvest has just come to sell at the fair. It’s a classic country look that goes well with the fall harvest theme.

You can get creative on where you place your pumpkin menagerie. Image: Hunt Laudi Studio

Put Pumpkins in Unexpected Places

Feel free to place pumpkin menageries in creative places around the home. An example from the photo above shows how well a line of pumpkins can go under some stairs. Some accent lighting behind them can draw the eye to your harvest accent.

The photo also shows how a pumpkin menagerie can work in the most modern of spaces. The orange of the pumpkins acts as an attractive accent color in this otherwise clean, white space. The lighting behind the pumpkins keeps the display looking more modern. Yellow flowers on the table also add a complementing fall color accent.

A smaller menagerie makes a great accent in a room. Image: Kirkendall Design

Go for Small Accents

Your pumpkin menagerie doesn’t have to be a giant spectacle. The photo above shows how a few pumpkins and some fall foliage on a counter can add a nice harvest accent to a room. This is an easy, attractive idea that can work on end tables, on a mantel, on a shelf or in the middle of a kitchen island, as a few examples. It’s an easy idea that you can place anywhere.

As in the photo, try to go for pumpkins with different colors and textures. That will add visual interest and help the element pop in the room. It is on the smaller side, so different colors and textures will help draw attention to the display.

Find different pumpkins and gourds for a full-textured display. Image: Julie Ranee

Use Unique Textures in Pumpkin Menageries

Have you ever looked at those weird, misshapen pumpkins in the store and wondered why anyone would ever want them? The photo above shows why. If you’re creating a pumpkin menagerie, the name of the game is texture and color. And the photo above shows how different textures, colors and shapes of pumpkins can make an eye-grabbing display. Unique pumpkins are a good idea if you’re going for a natural display that is not accented with paint or jeweled additions.

The photo above also shows how well pumpkin menageries can work on and around classic items, like the old distressed toolbox. Pumpkins also work well placed on distressed wooden furniture, as you can see in the background. It all combines for a delightfully rustic look.

The post 6 Ways to Get Amazing Pumpkin Menageries This Fall appeared first on Freshome.com.