Dressed to Impress

Rake up a pile of creative ideas for crafting decor that incorporates leaves and other natural elements.

It’s the time of year when nature’s paintbrush dapples our trees and plants with a rich array of harvest hues. Why not bring a bit of that glorious color indoors by pressing leaves to adorn decorative accents? By utilizing materials gathered from your backyard along with common crafting supplies, you’ll find these suggestions offer inexpensive and easy alternatives to purchasing new decor.

Search your stash of collectibles and accessories for simple, undecorated pieces in need of ornamentation, such as a side table, a crock, a metal lantern, a plain cubby or crate, an old cutting board or even an uncarved pumpkin, and then gather and press an assortment of freshly fallen leaves (or pick up some realistic paper examples from the crafts store if you prefer a longer-lasting effect).

Use decoupage medium, adhesive dots or hot glue to attach the flattened leaves to your chosen decorative items—all of these adhesives can be peeled or soaked away to restore pieces to their original state for future reuse. In much the same way as their outdoor compatriots come and go, these leafy projects can temporarily fill your home with vivid autumn ambience and then fall away in time for the next change of season.

Recast any tabletop for fall with a scattering of leaves that look like they blew in with the wind. Have glass cut at your local glass store to fit the top of a favorite table or bureau. Arrange pressed leaves in your desired pattern atop the furniture piece—try a casual scatter, a border or a collage. Position the glass atop the leaf design to hold the fall tableau in place.