Decorating with Natural Elements

Especially when decorating on a budget, it is nice to find elements that can are not particularly expensive. Instead of spending money on an Italian iron wall grille, Southwestern wall art or other wall art for home, decorate with offerings from Mother Nature that are free for the taking. Pulling elements from nature create interesting room designs that can really reflect personal style. Using a little piece of nature in a room's decor is not only attractive, but it is a very simple way to keep a room's design looking updated and fresh.

Lively Colors of Spring and Summer

When decorating a room in the spring or summer, think about the lively colors of the season. Start with a large vase brimming with freshly cut flowers to add a dash of life and color to a room. Throughout the seasons, the flower selections will evolve as different varieties of flowers begin to bloom. For example, a bouquet may contain tulips and daffodils in the spring and daisies and zinnias in the summer. As summer draws to a close, black eyed Susans, mums and asters move into the design. To make the flowers of summer an even more permanent part of the room's design, consider pressing and drying them so that they can be framed and included in the room's decor as wall art. Or simply dry a complete bouquet of colorful flowers to add a year round splash of natural color.

Nature also offers other elements that look beautiful. For example, fill a clear, crystal bowl with seashells for a lovely display reminiscent of summers along the shore, or bundle twigs together with a satin ribbon for an interesting display in a vase.

Bringing Autumn into a Room

As the last days of summer begin to fade, the decorating options are still plentiful. Some flowers like mums and marigolds are hardy and continue blooming right up until the advent of the first frost of the season. The garden also offers interesting stalks, gourds, seed pods and even pumpkins. Traditional autumn displays like pumpkins, straw and Indian corn gathered in a colorful bundle all make exciting and colorful decorating elements for a room's decor. Add a raffia bow for a little extra color, and these elements create beautiful centerpieces and even work to adorn the front door.

The Treasures of Wintertime

As winter rolls around, nature is still offering its gifts to use to decorate a room. Collect pine cones that have fallen from the trees and display them in a basket by the front door or along side the hearth. Dip pine cones in paraffin to create a beautiful and effective fire starter. Add an evergreen bough to the front door to greet guests as they enter the home, or add an ever green wreath as a lovely centerpiece for a dining table. Add red twig dogwood branches to flower displays for a touch of winter color. Remember too, that the elements of winter can also be quite fragrant. For example, pine needles fill the air with the fresh scent of pine, and cinnamon or cloves bring a festive scent to the winter home. Display a bowl of oranges studded with cloves as a lovely and fragrant centerpiece. And for those who just cannot wait for spring, add some potted bulbs inside and enjoy the early bloomers, like crocus, while outside is still blanketed in snow.