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  1. Midwest Living
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  4. Five-Minute Fall Decorations

Five-Minute Fall Decorations

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated January 16, 2021
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Season opener

Short on time for fall decorating? Try our easy fall projects you can do in 5 minutes or less once you've gathered the materials. Spruce up your mantel, door, table or outdoor space for the season.

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Season opener

Season opener

Instantly add spark to glass panes in doors or windows by attaching leaves with double-sided tape. It's an easy, inexpensive way to enhance an entry.

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Floating display

Fall Decor
Credit: Austin Day

The vivid hues and streaky leaves of coleus last well into fall. Fill a sturdy dish with a mixture of water and corn oil. Nestle in plant cutings, then add floating wicks (widely available online).

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Gourd grouping

Gourd grouping

A grapevine wreath elevates a mound of striped gourds and pumpkins in a fall display it takes only minutes to assemble.

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Peppers and flowers

Peppers and flowers

Add color to your fall table with these fun vegetable and flower combos. Cut an inch off the top of three bell peppers then hollow them out. Stuff them with flowers, color-coordinating to the peppers if you'd like.

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Backyard tabletop

Backyard tabletop

Create a lovely autumn feel for your backyard table in minutes with pumpkins and gourds. Pretty lanterns adds height-plus romantic flickering light in the evening.

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Cloche encounter

Cloche encounter

Pile miniature white pumpkins into a cloche or bell jar, top with a plate and then turn it over so the plate sits on a tabletop. It's easy and elegant!

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Fanciful pumpkins

Fanciful pumpkins
Credit: Jason Donnelly.

Fluttering butterflies alight on pumpkins in this attractive fall centerpiece.

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Naturally simple

Naturally simple

Some still life centerpieces are studied and refined; others look as if they've spilled onto the decorating scene with random ease. Perfect for a tabletop or mantel tableau, this medley of pumpkins, stones, moss, ferns and foliage abandons formality for a more free-flowing form.

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Clear focus

Clear focus

Glass vases recede to give a carefully edited selection of blooms, foliage and crabapples center stage. The singular treatment means each flower stands out as a notable specimen.

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Golden glow

Golden glow

Clear glass containers show off both candlelight as well as colorful materials. Nestle a candle in popcorn kernels or other seasonal materials, such as candy corn or colored clear round stones (available in crafts stores). If you prefer, use a battery-powered candle for safety.

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Set a scene

Set a scene

A stack of pumpkins and gourds in an unusual stone birdbath highlights an autumn scene. Mums, fall leaves and berries add even more color.

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Gather

Gather

Borrow a scene from Mother Nature's autumn show by filling vases with colorful leaves, cattails or sculptural branches.

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Elegant display

Elegant display

A single white pumpkin atop an aged urn makes an elegant centerpiece in the dining room or focal point in the foyer.

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Spread the bounty

Spread the bounty

Bowls of gourds, mini pumpkins, apples, bittersweet, nuts, seedpods and the like celebrate the season throughout the house.

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Gorgeous gourds

Mantel of gourds

An assortment of gourds and other natural elements fills this simple mantel display.

We mixed two larger hard-shell gourds with smaller soft-shell gourds (and tucked in a squash, too). Bittersweet branches and maple leaves provide extra color and texture.

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Simple leaves

Simple leaves

Highlight the beauty of fall leaves with this display.

Put single leaves, either pressed or fresh, in small glass vases. We used old lab beakers-look for them at antiques stores. Replace leaves as they brown.

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Owl mask

Owl mask

Make an owl for a woodland scene with two stacked pumpkins and a mask.

Resources Animal Faces: 15 Punch-Out Masks by Pierre-Marie Valat. Available at Amazon.

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Harvest vases

Harvest vases

Add fall flavor to a tabletop or mantel with cylinder vases filled with nuts and wheat. Roll coordinating scrapbooking paper into decorative cuffs that slip inside the vase.

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Flowers under glass

Flowers under glass

Just flip unused flutes and wine glasses over flower buds for this easy last-minute centerpiece. Place on top of a decorative charger or tray. For a long-lasting arrangement, use artificial flowers.

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Hanging vase

Hanging vase

A swan gourd makes a natural vase hanging from a front gate or porch railing. Cut a hole near the gourd's neck, then hollow out enough space for fall flowers: mums, black-eyed Susans, Virginia creeper or other favorites.

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Center of attention

Center of attention

For a bountiful centerpiece, cover a cake stand with fanned out corn husks. Then pile on gourds, leaves and ornamental corn.

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Prop pumpkins

Prop pumpkins

Various-size pumpkins stacked inside lanterns make easy but clever vignettes to place around the house.

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Serve up the season

Serve up the season

Gather plates of different sizes, compotes, cake stands and candleholders. Prop a pumpkin on each to create a quick tabletop arrangement. White dishware looks crisp and clean.

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Cover up

Cover up

Blankets and throws can act like cool-weather tablecloths, changing the look and feel of a side table or dining table.

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

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    1 of 24 Season opener
    2 of 24 Floating display
    3 of 24 Gourd grouping
    4 of 24 Peppers and flowers
    5 of 24 Backyard tabletop
    6 of 24 Cloche encounter
    7 of 24 Fanciful pumpkins
    8 of 24 Naturally simple
    9 of 24 Clear focus
    10 of 24 Golden glow
    11 of 24 Set a scene
    12 of 24 Gather
    13 of 24 Elegant display
    14 of 24 Spread the bounty
    15 of 24 Gorgeous gourds
    16 of 24 Simple leaves
    17 of 24 Owl mask
    18 of 24 Harvest vases
    19 of 24 Flowers under glass
    20 of 24 Hanging vase
    21 of 24 Center of attention
    22 of 24 Prop pumpkins
    23 of 24 Serve up the season
    24 of 24 Cover up

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    Five-Minute Fall Decorations
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