Gourds, both dried and fresh, make wonderful fall decorations. They are natural, durable, and scream "fall's here!" Gourds are also an easy, no fail decoration that is simple for anyone to decorate with. Here are some tips for decorating your home for fall using gourds.
Spray with lacquer. If you are decorating with small ornamental gourds (such as mini-pumpkins, etc) spray your gourds using a spray lacquer or even just clear spray paint. This will give the gourds a nice shine and will also keep them from rotting quite as quickly.
Shop wisely. If you want to use dried gourds in your fall decorating, shop for fresh gourds during the fall months and dry your own. You'll save some money and ensure that you get just the right gourds for your decorating scheme. For tips on choosing and drying your own gourds just click on the links.
Watch for mold. If you are decorating outside with larger, fresh gourds, make sure that you rotate their position at least once every five days or so. If a fresh gourd is left in one position for long it may start to grow mold, especially if it has been rainy. Frequent repositioning will prevent this from happening.
Use add-ins. There are plenty of other fall decorations that complement gourds well. Items such as straw, Indian corn, horns of plenty, bittersweet, and fake leaves all compliment the natural feel and matchless fall essence of gourds. Just remember to spray any other natural materials (expect for straw) with the same lacquer to make them last as long as possible.
Vary your colors. Gourds come in a huge variety of colors. Don't be tempted to stick with all shades of orange. Choose gourds with shades of green, red, and brown too. When added in with the other items you choose your overall fall theme will be that much more attractive.
Choose your positions. There are tons of ways to decorate with gourds. You can create harvest displays outside centered around bales of hay, use piled gourds as a table centerpiece, or decorate a bare wreath with small ornamental gourds. Gourds are so easy to decorate with since you just pile them together with some additional items and voila, you have a great fall display.
Don't pierce the gourds. If you want your gourds to last as long as possible, don't pierce the skin. Use other methods of attaching gourds to fall displays (such as wire or hot glue). Piercing the skin will cause them to rot very quickly.
Gourds simply can't be beat for simple, but gorgeous, fall decorations!
Posted by Joanne Vanderhoef
Marketing and Media Specialist
Distinctively Home Interiors
http://www.distinctivelyhome.com
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