There are many things you can do to bring Old Glory front and center within your home that do not require you to drape your furniture with the American flag or having the flag hanging in every window. In fact, most would frown on that particular practice. One thing that can be said without fail though is that nothing can change the overall impression a room gives as completely as a bucket of paint and a brush. In other words, the best place to begin is often with the walls of your home. Painting a backdrop of red and trimming with blue and white makes a bold and powerful statement. It’s also a rather lovely statement if you choose the correct shades of red, white, and blue.

In addition to paint there are all kinds of country style décor that would compliment a patriotic theme quite nicely. From stars that are designed to hang on the wall to patchwork quilts in these patriotic shades and a quilt rack that can either stand against the wall or hang on the wall. Quilts are outstanding choices to bring colors into a room as well as an excellent method for adding warmth. In addition to many quilts there are also plenty of throws and blankets that can bring these colors front and center in almost any room of the home.

In addition to walls, furniture can be painted in order to match the walls and other colors you’d like to incorporate into the room. There is nothing quite like walking into a home that has its full patriotic splendor shining for all the world to see. It’s a beautiful thing made even more poignant now that the initial wave of patriotism following the September 11th attacks has faded somewhat. For those that are true patriots there are few better ways to show that than by making your home a testament of your patriotism.

Candles are another great way to display your patriotic spirit. Red, white, and blue candles are made in many wonderful styles, sizes, and fragrances. You should be able to find something appropriate in this color combination if you look hard enough. More importantly, fragrance is a great (and often overlooked) way to add another dimension to your home decorating endeavors. If you want to truly make an impression burn apple pie scented candles on a regular basis so that your home almost always smells as American as apple pie. In addition to candles of course there are fragrance warmers, air sprays, and simmering pots in which this scent can be found (particularly if you prefer a scent layering affect in your home).

Whether you simply like the look of patriot blue or you feel that you are a true American through and through there are very few wrong reasons to incorporate the red, white, and blue that represents America into your home décor. Patriotism seems to be a dieing art once again; perhaps your bold statement can inspire others to do the same.

Thanksgiving takes place during the autumn season, which makes it an ideal time to decorate in the splendid colors of fall. These colors are not the bright colors that represent spring and summer or the sparking colors that epitomize Christmas but the colors of nature once she has seasoned and matured a bit. The colors are nothing short of spectacular and provide an excellent palate upon which you can decorate your home.

The leaves and foliage of fall make excellent arrangements and garlands. If you want to hold onto the look for years to come and incorporate them into your regular fall decorating rather than simply enjoying them for one Thanksgiving holiday there are plenty of excellent and life-like silk leaf garlands that will make excellent additions to your home decorating contributions. The better quality you find in these the more likely they are to stand up to years of service and storage. The same holds true with any imitation items you purchase. Better quality typically indicates a much longer shelf life.

Fall fruits and vegetables also make excellent decorations when it comes to giving thanks and home decorating. In fact, the food from the harvest and the friendship of the Indians was the very reason for the first Thanksgiving why on earth shouldn’t it be included in your celebration of thanks?

Wreathes in fall colors are another excellent idea for decorating your home for Thanksgiving. It makes all who enter feel welcome and it is appropriate for the season. There is no such thing in this day and age as an all season wreath though there are many that can be adjusted to meet the needs of each season with simple steps. A grapevine wreath is a good start and can easily have seasonal things tied or attached to it in order to experience greater longevity.

Pilgrims also make an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving decorations. They were after all the original celebrants of this tradition that has become a holiday for this great nation. You can have your children help select or even make the pilgrims that you will be adding to your decorations as well as a handprint turkey or two. Not all home decorations need to be expensive or elegant. Sometimes the simplest decorations drawn by the hands of a child are the ones that make the most memorable impressions on friends and family alike.

Cornucopias are another great centerpiece and decoration for the Thanksgiving holiday. Not everyone has a large enough dinner table to accommodate one of these but they also work well on a buffet, a hall table, and almost any other location your heart can desire and you can manage to fit it in.

If all else fails however, the food for Thanksgiving is all the decorations that some at your table will need. Do not forget the meaning of this season a time to give thanks for all the blessings in your life and enjoy the food and the decorations but more importantly enjoy the friends and the family.

Fall contains two primary holidays for many people. Those include Halloween and Thanksgiving. Keep these holidays in mind when planning your primary fall home decorating scheme and make small adjustments in order to accommodate the holidays. Personally, I love the colors associated with autumn. The yellows, shades of gold, orange, and brown are favorites for my decorating taste. I always regret a little that this time of year is often overshadowed by Christmas as it approaches and the expectations of others that I decorate for Christmas almost immediately after celebrating Thanksgiving.

For those who lack inspiration when it comes to home decorating for fall, keep the colors mentioned above in mind. One great theme to incorporate into the decorating process would be the theme of leaves. Leaves falling from the trees are one of the most common associations with this time of year and it is a great look to incorporate into your home. You can even find leaf garlands in fall shades if you are inclined to look for them. Leaves can also be incorporated into lovely centerpieces and floral arrangements to hallmark the season.

Harvest is another common association with autumn. This is also rather easy to incorporate into most home decorating designs. Gourds make an excellent accent piece for this time of year and you can find real ones in almost any vegetable market along with many realistic imitation gourds. These can be used, much like or along with leaves, as part of centerpieces, in floral arrangements, in tabletop decorations, and even to hold place cards for large gatherings. They are incredibly versatile as well as colorful and make a great addition to any autumn home decorating venture.

Pumpkins are essentially gourds but they have a special place all their own in the fall home decorating scheme. Pumpkins have a special association with both Halloween and Thanksgiving (pumpkin pie anyone) and should not be overlooked as an important tool for decoration. In addition they are just bright, colorful, and cheerful to have around the house. To avoid the stench of rotting pumpkins simply avoid carving them if you intend to keep them around for a little while. Those that are carved should be placed outside and only carved within days of the ‘big day’.

A great centerpiece idea in general for fall would include a large bowl, in outstanding fall colors such as a burnt orange or a shade of gold. For the first part of autumn you can fill the centerpiece with candies that are wrapped in fall colors. This is ideal for family munchies as well as trick or treaters that may find their way to your door on Halloween. Once this holiday has ended you can fill the bowl with colorful leaves and gourds to complete the look. This should carry you through Thanksgiving when it is time to begin thinking about Christmas decorations and wintertime rather than fall.

Whether you adore fall like I do or dread its appearance each year for whatever reason there is little denying that fall is ripe with decorating ideas and ideals. Take the time to look around your local craft stores and see where inspiration strikes. It is never too early or too late in the year to begin thinking about what you are going to do for your home decorating plan in the seasons to come.