If you’re anything like me, you’ve never described yourself as a nature lover. In fact, maybe you’ve gone out of your way to avoid the whole dramatic spectacle of the changing seasons because it’s just more comfortable on your couch. But that’s okay! There are some easy ways to bring the outside into your living room for a little bit of fall festivity. And with today being the first day of autumn, why not get a jump-start on your fall DIY projects?

Fall Gourd Bowl

Materials:

3 or 5 decorative gourds

Acorns

Fall leaves

Small pine cones

A large bowl

There’s some back-and-forth about whether or not decorative they’re are edible but there’s no disputing that decorative gourds are the official symbol of fall. For a one-step project to highlight the season, take 3 or 5 decorative gourds (odd numbers are always better in decorating) from your local farmers’ market and arrange them in a large bowl. The key to this very low-fi craft? Mix up the texture of your display: include pine cones, acorns, and at least one big fall leaf.

Leaf Prints

Love the changing colors of fall foliage? Create a gallery-style display on a blank wall using pressed leaves or fabric leaves.

Materials:

• Solid card stock (white or black is best),
• Pressed leaves
• Glue dots
• Glue stick
• Tape that won’t damage your wall

Determine how many leaf “prints” will fit in your space. I went with two rows of four to take advantage of a big wall. Use your glue dots or glue stick to affix one leaf to each piece of card stock. When the glue is dry, use tape or putty to hang your prints. Space them regularly for a gallery-style, informal autumn installation.

Painted Pine Cones

Materials:

• Pine cones
• Acrylic paint in a variety of colors
• A synthetic paint brush, water to rinse your brush

For a modern and colorful approach to traditional painted pine cones, DIY the look with bright colors that complement your regular décor. Gather pine cones (or buy them at the craft store) and paint the tips using a synthetic paint brush and acrylic craft paint. Some shades will take more than one coat. Let dry thoroughly and display – we have cats so my pine cones are under cover on a cake plate!

Acorn Garland

Materials:

• Acorns
• Twine
• A drill with a small bit (a Dremel will work great!)

Is anything more festive than a garland hanging in swags from a banister? Gather acorns with their caps intact. Use a fine bit on your power drill to carefully drill all the way through each acorn where the cap meets the nut. String each acorn and, when your garland is long enough, use it to decorate the stairs or a mirror – or drape it through the arms of your chandelier.
You can also paint your acorns while you’re working on your pine cones. Add glitter for sparkle.

Decorative Gourd Tealight Holders

Materials:

• Decorative gourds with a flat bottom
• A sharp knife
• Tealights
• A pencil
• A teaspoon for scraping out the insides of the gourd
• Dry rice

This is the bonus “most likely to need a first aid kit” craft!

Choose a gourd with a flat bottom so it stands upright and level. Mark the size of the hole you need to make on the top of your gourd by tracing around a tealight with a pencil. Use a small, sharp kitchen knife to carve out the hole you need just like you would for a pumpkin.
These gourds are small and the flesh is thin; you’re probably going to have to clean out the interior of the gourd. Scrape out the seeds and all the flesh that you can. Then, fill your gourd with dry rice; the rice will help dry your gourd out and will also give you a flat surface on which to place your tealight at the right level.

And there you have it! Five easy ways to turn the nature right outside your door into festive, fall decor — even if you’re not a nature lover.