to wish decorating for autumn was a thing in the UK?

[sheepsheep]

I want to decorate my house for autumn. A low key version of the way some people in the United States decorate for fall.

But it just isn't a thing here, so I can't really find any good stuff in the shops.

Or am I just looking in all the wrong places? In particular I would love some nice decorative pumpkins that aren't Halloween themed.

Shops seem to be going directly into Christmas, which annoys me. Why do we only get a two week window for Halloween stuff but a 4 month window for Christmas?

Loving the people who are 'too busy' to decorate yet have time to fanny about on mumsnet telling people how busy they are.

I spent Halloween in the historical part of Philadelphia a few years ago and some of the decorations were breathtaking. Many use all-natural materials, so gourds, pumpkins, sweetcorn (which comes in some remarkable colours!), wheat etc. It was absolutely stunning.

"Out of interest, why pumpkins? They have been imported into the UK"

A lot of people grow their own! They grow quite well here. I think people do grow them commercially too.

Why pumpkins? Because life is too short to carve a turnip.

SwizzleStick

😀😀yes exactly. I remember my dad carving out my neep every year muttering under his breath. I did my own later and by God they are hard work.

Much prefer pumpkins so much easier and nicer looking too.

Neeps are best kept for eating😉

I spent Halloween in the historical part of Philadelphia a few years ago and some of the decorations were breathtaking. Many use all-natural materials, so gourds, pumpkins, sweetcorn (which comes in some remarkable colours!), wheat etc. It was absolutely stunning.

I bet that was lovely. Historical Philadelphia is on my list to visit again - I think I'll try to go next October.

I live in a classic New England small town, full of white clapboard houses and maple trees, and even without decorations it's lovely in fall. With added decorations it's absolutely stunning. My favourite time of year.

I love Autumn and halloween. The colours are just amazing. I decorate every year. TK Maxx is great for autumnal decorations.

And yes, I work full time shifts, hate my job, have 2 young children, struggle with childcare and all the usual shit. Like the original poster, I just try to find the joy in the everyday else I would go under.

Currently in the US, Halloween tat wall to wall and their pumpkins are far more expensive.

T K Maxx had some beautiful decorations. I bought plain ceramic pumpkins in hobby craft and decorated them in gold, softer orange etc
I love autumn colours it’s a nice time of year

Ah it’s OK . Whilst I also despise plastic tat much can be done with natures own bounty

I quite the idea . Spark joy and all that

I love Autumn and Its always lovely to have some candlelight again especially gorgeous scented candles. The little £1.00 candles from Wilco are so fragrant I definitely recommend them. Also, Posh Bananas Gifts have a range of Autumn gifts and home accessories which is worth a look. They have beautiful woodland candles in the shape of Toadstools and rabbits. The link is www.poshbananasdirect.co.uk/autumn-fall-gifts--decor-uk-224-c.asp They also have some woodland creature ornaments made from straw.

My neighbours have boxes and boxes of ornaments and decor for every holiday and season. They just switched out their 4th July and patriotic stuff for halloween and fall. Huge collections of pumpkin salt and pepper shakers, halloween houses etc. It is both impressive and a tad intimidating. My youngest son enjoyed helping them set it up this year though.

I would love to be organized enough for all that. I do love the autimn decor you can buy here in craft stores and grocery stores.

The stuffed fabric pumpkins are really easy to make. I used a stripey top that DP somebody managed to shrink in the wash, cut a wide strip off the arm, turned right sides together and gathered with a running stitch, then stuffed with odd socks and pulled a thick thread from base to top through the inside, then out and over back to the underside to create the sections.

He rather likes the plastic tat. I prefer something that will last and is preferably a natural material - various cones picked up on the way through the woods to work in a terracotta plant bowl is more my thing. I'll still come home to find the plastic shit one day, but at least I'll have some stuff that usually ends up staying all year round.