Category Archives: Home Decor

Halloween Tips from Ann Jones Real Estate

Last Minute Halloween Tips

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Welcome back!

You’ve probably seen and heard plenty of advice about how to trick-or-treat safely, but you may not have heard  how to make your home a safe place for trick-or-treaters. Halloween is only 5 days away (!) and we’re here with 3 easy, last-minute tips and ideas you for prepping your home for this evening holiday.
clear-the-curb

We put this tip first on the list because it is probably the most important piece of advice we can offer this Halloween. Do your best to move your parked cars away from curbs. Four times as many children pedestrians are injured, and twice as many killed, on Halloween compared to a normal night. Cars parked in front of houses make it harder for parents to keep their kids in sight. They also block drivers’ view of the little ghosts, superheros, and ninjas running around in excitement. The simple act of moving your parked car to an alley or side yard can increase visibility and help keep our little ones safe.

Speaking of visibility…

Light it up on Halloween

In addition to letting people know you’re “open for business”, brighter lights illuminating your front porch and yard makes trick-or-treating safer all around. Temporarily replacing your regular bulbs with higher wattage is an easy way to make your home safer. Trick-or-treaters can see where they’re going and parents can more easily keep track of their children. As the night goes on, lights can also help protect your home from tricks like being toilet-papered or egged.

We also suggest using decorative lighting to make your front yard easier to navigate. You can use colorful floodlights, string lights in plastic pumpkins, or orange and purple lights in windows as spooky decorations. (Bonus tip: use LED lights in your pumpkin instead of candles. They’re not a fire hazard and will last longer anyway.)

dont-slip

Unfortunately, weather forecasts are telling us that this Halloween is going to be a wet one. We recommend applying friction tape to your stairs and sidewalk to prevent slips and falls. You can get a 240 inch roll for about $3 at Walmart.

We hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

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Decorate your home in Autum in Brownwood, TX

Decorating for Autumn

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Welcome!

Autumn is one of our favorite times of year. The weather is cooling down and some of the best holidays are on the horizon. One of the most enjoyable aspects of decorating for Autumn is the many directions you can go with it, making personalization a cinch. Today, we’ll be focusing on a Harvest theme. Whether you like to go all out or keep it simple, we’ve gathered some great tips and ideas for decorating your home this season.

Harvest Decorating

Did you know that ‘Autumn’ and ‘Harvest’ come from the same root word – hærfest? Here in rural Texas, most of us are at least a little familiar with the historical and cultural significance of harvest-time. We drew from the past to create these decorating suggestions that compliment every Holiday of the season:

Winter Squash in Wire Wall Basket    Winter Squashes

  • Pumpkins, of course. Pumpkins are an Autumn staple; it’s their peak season, after all. But they’re not the only vegetable in the patch. We recommend taking advantage of all the other squashes that flourish this time of year to add variety in color and shape to your decorations. You can put them in baskets or add them to yard displays. The smaller varieties can also enhance your dining table or mantle pieces. They’re also incredibly useful once it’s time to exchange them for winter decorations. They can be used as ingredients if you’ve displayed them somewhere cool and dry (fresh winter squashes can last up to 3 months!), or they make excellent compost for your garden if they’ve turned before the season’s over.

apples-half-bushel-basket   blanket-woven-basket

  • Woven or Half-Bushel baskets are a simple way to capture the spirit of Harvest. You can fill them with practically anything, but we suggest apples, winter squashes, flowers, hay, or blankets. Store blankets in the baskets for a casual and cozy look in your living areas. You can even combine these options for a look that is absolutely homey. Fill the majority of your basket with hay or a blanket so that the ‘filling’ slightly pokes out over the basket’s edge. Then, pile your choice of (fake or fresh) Autumn fruits or vegetables on top, and you’re done! Half-Bushel baskets are paint friendly, so don’t be afraid to put your monogram on the side or paint the edges for a personal touch.

Leaf Wreath on Wooden Door - Autumn Decorating   wreath-chandelier

  • Seasonal decor wouldn’t be complete without a wreath. Whether you’re making or buying, we love the idea of honoring the Harvest tradition by using natural pieces such as leaves, flowers, berry branches, wheat stalks, or cotton. Add a bow, letter, or other ornament as you desire. For a unique twist to this classic decoration, turn the wreath on its side and use twine or thin chains to hang it! This requires the wreath base to be fully covered, but an unexpected seasonal chandelier is sure to make your decor stand out. If you plan to include lights on your chandelier, we advise you to stay away from candles to avoid a fire hazard.

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