Eight Fun Ways Seniors Can Prepare Their Homes for Autumn

Baltimore autumns are notoriously beautiful, with a rich palette of reds, yellows, and oranges springing from every tree, then coating every field and pavement. It's no surprise that Baltimore, Annapolis, and Columbia residents love to re-decorate around this time of year - and retirement only gives you more time to spend changing up your home for every season.

Now is a perfect time to get on your autumn checklist for redecoration and a few smart winterization steps before the real cold weather blows into town. Here are some of our favorite ways to prepare for autumn.

1. Decorate with Real or Silk Autumn Leaves

Autumn is the single most beautiful season for natural centerpieces. If you're looking for a seasonal way to spruce up your dining table, kitchen island, mantelpiece, or any area of the house - just think autumn leaves. With just a walk outside, you can find a new beautifully leaf-colored branch each week and decorate it with natural twigs and golden grasses. Or you can buy silk autumn leaves that match the colors outside for a display you can redesign every autumn.

2. Arrange a Charming Seasonal Window Display

If you love decorating for autumn, consider turning your front window into a seasonal display. Deep-set window sills are best for this, but you can also do quite a bit with decals, a shallow window frame, or a side table set next to the window to complete your look. Lay out pumpkins, baskets, cornucopia, or any other autumn decoration you'd love to share with the neighborhood.

3. Switch To Your Holiday Season Drapes and Floor Coverings

As the winter chill blows in, now is the perfect time to swap out your light summer curtains for insulated holiday drapes in rich colors or bright, cheerful patterns. Some prefer a deep blue to contrast their bright holiday decorations through the cold months, while others enjoy a rich red, a dark burgundy, or ornate patterning on their heavy winter drapes to make the perfect ambiance for a holiday season home.

You can also lay out your favorite rugs - or shop for new rugs - to warm up cold tile and drafty hard floors throughout the house. 

4. Turn the Living Room Into an After-School Center for Grandchildren

If you have grandchildren who live nearby, autumn means it's back to school and many parents are back to working in the office. This opens the perfect opportunity to welcome your grandchildren for after-school homework and snacks. Redecorate your living room as an after-school center with notebooks, pencils, art supplies, and a stack of colorful plates and cups that can't be broken if they get caught up in playtime.

Don't forget to prepare enough for friends to come over. A favorite after-school spot also becomes a favorite place to bring new and old friends who live nearby.

5. Start Hand-Crafting Holiday Gifts and Decorations

Many seniors enjoy a full season of holiday crafts in the autumn. There's so much to do, and hand-making something adds that extra love to every gift. You might hand-make ornaments for the tree every year, write a few dozen holiday cards by hand, or even hand-make gifts for your friends and family. It's not just a way to make the holidays special, it's also a fun way to spend your time through autumn and early winter.

6. Winterize Your Garden

If you love to garden, autumn is an exciting time for winterizing your vegetables, flowerbeds, and shrubs. Get ready to cover your delicate plants or even replant for winter varieties. Some vegetables love to grow in winter with the right care, while there are even a few trees and bushes that erupt in beautiful blossoms and flower-like leaf transformations in the snow.

7. Start Your Halloween Decorations Early

Of course, seniors who love Halloween are probably already gearing up for a season of handmade bats, ghosts, and maybe a little costume sewing for the grandkids. As soon as autumn officially starts, you can begin decorating your home for the spookiest holiday of the year. In fact, many neighbors love to see a house that adds one or two details a week. This week, little ghosts are hanging from the trees. next week, a skeleton smoking a pipe on the front porch. The week after that? It's up to your imagination and the cool idea of those who pitch in.

8. Get Your Home Ready for Autumn with Senior Helpers of Baltimore

If you or someone you love is gearing up for autumn but could use a little help around the house, the Senior Caregivers of Baltimore are here to help - and we love to decorate. Whether you're getting ready for Halloween or planning for the big holidays, your caregiver can help you string up lights, hang curtains, make decorations, bake treats, make after-school snacks, and so much more!

Let us join you in celebrating autumn in style. Contact Senior Caregivers of Baltimore for at-home senior services including companionship, daily chores, and fun seasonal projects.