Fall is here, and with it comes new inspirations for decorating. For an easy and beautiful component in any fall-themed display, we turn to pumpkins and gourds. These pleasingly plump and cheerful fruits remind us of bountiful harvests. And their fun shapes, intriguing textures, and colorful patterns make them a perfect addition to all kinds of our fall decorating projects – both indoors and out.
Harvest Planters
Pumpkins and gourds bring a bright pop of color and an interesting texture change to outdoor planters. To add one to your design, simply tuck a large, textured gourd – maybe one with those strange knobs and bumps on it – into a mix of mums, kale, coneflower, and grasses. A single large pumpkin makes a simple but effective focal point in a design too. Set a big round pumpkin in the middle of your container then surround it with colorful pansies, leafy heuchera, or a loose arrangement of smaller gourds and mini pumpkins.
Whenever you use a pumpkin or gourd in a container though, just be sure to include some kind of moisture barrier underneath it. A handful of mulch, a bunch of straw, or a small tray works great and keeps the bottom of the pumpkin from softening against the damp soil.
For more inspiration, come talk to our Container Design team – we’d be happy to share more ideas.
An Inspired Doorstep
In addition to the classic smooth, orange pumpkin, our collection features varieties in an inspiring range of shapes, textures, colors, and patterns. Some pumpkins are a bit flat and some gourds have necks like a goose. Some are perfectly smooth, while others are covered in strange lumps and peanut-shaped warts. you might even find one the looks exactly like a large green apple. Colors range from ghostly white to almost-black – with shades of orange, tomato, and even blue in between. Gather a basket full of your favorites and create a textured pile around your doorstep container and down your front steps. You can also incorporate straw bales, mums, grasses, and kale to complete a warm harvest greeting for your guests.
Decorating Indoors
Nature-inspired tablescapes and mantel displays are a great way to bring the warmth of the season into your home too. Whether it’s a simple monochromatic color scheme or a cornucopia-inspired mix, pumpkins and gourds work perfectly with other fall-inspired elements – like preserved leaves, bits of moss, gathered branches, cones, berries, or maybe even fresh fruit or nuts. You might start with an elongated tray or a few glass vessels filled with your favorite small gourds and mini pumpkins – surrounded by more fall elements to complete the design.
Or try combining classic pumpkins and gourds with your favorite houseplants. Simply tuck small, richly patterned gourds in among the leaves of potted ferns and other foliage plants. Or use a little hot glue to attach a textured grouping of decorative moss and small, cut succulents to the top of colorful pumpkins and gourds. These pieces are beautiful displayed on their own but also make unique focal points in tablescapes and mantel displays too.
Welcome the Season to Your Home
The changing season has us brimming with new creativity, and we hope you’re feeling it too. For more fall-inspired ideas, stop in and see us. We’re always happy to help.
