Guest Blog:
Decorating Your Home for an Elegant Harvest Party
Throwing an elegant harvest party is a fantastic way to say goodbye to fall before moving on to the next season and a new year. Decorating requires plenty of attention to detail, but the final product — the event of the season — will surely create a memorable get-together.
What Is a Harvest Party?
Not to be confused with a Halloween party, a harvest party is a celebration of the gathering of different crops and food. While all kinds of fruits and vegetables can be harvested throughout the year since they can have different seasons, autumn is a big time for squash and potatoes.
Technology has automated some farming practices, but it doesn’t erase the hard work that goes into gathering all types of food. There’s something so human about getting what you need from nature and trekking the fields to find those resources. Thus, a harvest party celebrates the heart and talent it takes to gather and the food received.
How to Cover the Planning
There are a variety of harvest festivals in the U.S., from the Great Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival in New York to the North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival further south. All these are essentially big parties celebrating the season.
If you prefer hosting your festivities, your home can hold harvest parties with the right prep and decoration in mind. For the planning portion, remember to:
Set a date and time. The harvest is typically celebrated in the later months of the year. If you’re hoping to hold a traditional fall celebration, arrange the party for late November. Choose whether you’re having people over for breakfast, lunch or dinner before sending out invitations.
Plan out food. Autumn has a couple of staple foods, such as caramel apples, banana bread, pumpkin pies, donuts, s’mores and more. Try to devise a little menu of what to serve at the gathering.
Prepare activities. A harvest party is for bonding with loved ones, so think of an activity everyone can do together. Pumpkin carving is a popular option, or you can try your hand at painting or other arts and crafts.
Decorating a Harvest Party
When you’re done with the planning portion, it’s time to think about decorations. An autumn harvest party that’s more on the elegant side will require a few changes to the household to bring the look of the fall season, some more subtle than others.
1. Lay Out the Fruits
To have a proper harvest party, display some fruits and vegetables to represent exactly what you’re celebrating. Out of the two billion pumpkins produced in the U.S. yearly, try to get at least a couple for your home decor.
Everyone has their preferences in terms of size, but it’s best to have a variety of gourds prepared. The bigger pumpkins will also offer plenty of flesh and pulp for your dishes, so keep that in mind when checking out your local farm and patch.
2. Add More Fall Elements
A harvest party is all about fall, so it helps to add small visuals that contribute to the mood. Leaves are a must-have, especially in those beautiful oranges and yellows. Check out garlands you can hang by the door.
For smaller ornaments, try to leave a few ceramic mushrooms around the house. A couple of acorns and pinecones can also contribute to the outdoor whimsiness. If you need some illumination, lanterns can add to the beautiful visuals of your harvest party.
3. Hang String Lights
Speaking of lights, you may want to add a couple of strings to your home to lean into the coziness. Just remember to be careful with your placement, as they may leave burn marks on the window. For extra precaution, you can look into LED light strands as a substitute or stick with the lanterns.
4. Swap the Color Theme
The best way to decorate for fall is to change up the hues in your home. Get warmer-tinted throw pillows and blankets for the living room. A pop of color can keep up the theme of your autumn gathering. You can also look into decorative cushions with fall elements printed on them.
5. Get Autumn-Inspired Tableware
The food you serve will be a hit with family and friends, especially if you serve them on autumn-inspired tableware. Pick the ones shaped like pumpkins and leaves. You can also go for wooden plates and cutlery over a terracotta-colored tablecloth for a more rustic appearance. If you want tabletop decor ideas, mini scarecrows can be cute instead of creepy.
6. Set Out a Drinks Bar
The beverages are the highlight of any harvest-themed party, so it’s important to have a cozy bar prepared with outdoor picnic chairs. Arrange bottles of apple cider, maple bourbon and caffeinated cocktails to bring out the fall aesthetics.
Don’t forget to have options for those who’d like to stay sober, too. Hot chocolate is great for kids and adults who want something a little sweet. It’s also nice to have a selection of tea to keep up with the fall theme — you know, because leaves.
7. Prep a Flower Centerpiece
Every harvest party should have a nice centerpiece to bring everything together. While you can go with the usual bouquet, a beautiful harvest festival meadow crate with sunflowers is quite fun to arrange. You can add other pieces themed around fall, too. For example, Chinese lantern plants have a beautiful hue that fits the autumn palette.
8. Light the Candles
Candles are great decorative pieces for fall, especially when they’re in nude or white to contrast with the other colors at your party. They can also improve the scent of your home to amp up the ambiance. Find fragrances that smell woody and earthy, or go for food-scented ones, such as pumpkin, cinnamon and berries.
Let the Autumn Spirit Flow
Arranging an elegant harvest party for fall is a beautiful tribute to the season of gathering and cultivation. Be creative in your decorations to set the scene for family and friends who are spending a gorgeous autumn day with you.
About The Author:
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Rose Morrison is a home living writer with over five years experience. She is the managing editor of Renovated.com, a home living site where she loves to cover home renovations and decor to inspire everyone to live their best DIY life. When she isn't writing, you'll find her baking something to satisfy her never-ending sweet tooth. |
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