Whether just for Thanksgiving or year-round, this farmhouse decor is such a vibe

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. While you’re busy planning your menu for Thanksgiving Day, don’t forget that the presentation is key! You can easily create a gorgeous seasonal tablescape of your dreams with these farmhouse decor items that are Joanna Gaines-worthy. And the best part? There are tons of things you can order straight from Amazon.

This decorating style has really taken off in the past ten years or so, and it’s definitely not going anywhere soon. The modern combination of soft tones, natural materials, and rustic metals is such a cozy and comfortable mix that we just can’t get enough of. It also tends to include neutral hues, so it’s ideal for fall and Thanksgiving! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite farmhouse decor pieces that will be on your table in just two days (if not sooner!). Keep reading to see them all.

Jute/Burlap Table Runner

Amazon

Decorating for the holidays is all about the details, especially when it comes to table settings. Easily dress up your table with a simple burlap table runner in a non-traditional color. This particular piece come-on over 13 colors and is so neutral, you can continue to use throughout the year!

Jute/Burlap Table Runner ($6.72)—Buy Here!

Rustic White Pumpkins

Amazon

What better centerpiece can you have besides rustic pumpkins with the message "give thanks?" These handmade gourds are made from polymer clay and are just the right size to make a statement without overwhelming the table. Plus, they leave plenty of room for the food!

Rustic White Pumpkins ($26.00)—Buy Here!

Galvanized Metal Napkin Rings

Amazon

Farmhouse decor is all about texture and the elements, and that's why these unique galvanized napkin rings are perfect for the big day. They tie in the perfect amount of rustic feel, while still being perfectly appropriate for Thanksgiving. We plan on keeping them out year-round.

Galvanized Metal Napkin Rings ($78.96/set of 4)—Buy Here!

Linen Dinner Napkins

Amazon

Thanksgiving is all about the food so you can't forget the napkins! Go with a generous and oversized version like these linen napkins for your meal. The blue-gray color is an homage to traditional farmhouse design but natural enough to easily pair with harvest colors like orange and red.

Linen Dinner Napkins ($19.99)—Buy Here!

Braided Rattan Placemats

Amazon

Creating a tablescape is all about adding texture and dimension. These braided rattan placemats pull double duty––acting as a placemat or charger, and giving depth to your design. Also, the natural rattan elements give your table a rustic feel.

Braided Rattan Placemats ($29.99/set of 4)—Buy Here!

Eucalyptus Garland

Amazon

Farmhouse decor doesn't typically lend itself to the traditional reds, yellows and oranges of Thanksgiving, but you can still get the holiday vibe by bringing neutral greenery into your design with a eucalyptus garland. The silver dollar design is moldable to your tablescape and brings just the right amount of living garland to your table.

Eucalyptus Garland ($12.99/2pk)—Buy Here!

Wooden Tiered Tray

Amazon

You can incorporate elements into your tablescape that are both beautiful and functional, like a wooden tiered tray. Whether you use to display finger foods, desserts or pile with decorative pumpkins, this gorgeous serving ware not only gets the job done but looks great while doing it.

Wooden Tiered Tray ($24.68)—Buy Here!

Wood Place Card Holders

Amazon

No detail is left untouched at your Thanksgiving table! Use natural elements, like these wood-styled place card holders, to add something extra. They are an easy and affordable way to further your farmhouse decor theme. This set also includes coordinating cards that fit right in.

Wood Place Card Holders ($14.99)—Buy Here!

Rustic Metal & Wood Cake Stand

Amazon

Cake stands hold more than just cakes—they take on pie, cupcakes and can even just serve as a decorative item. This rustic metal cake stand comes with tons of detail, from the metal and wood vintage look to the scalloped design. 

Rustic Metal & Wood Cake Stand ($33.67)—Buy Here!

 

—Karly Wood, Jesseca Stenson, and Kate Cartia

 

 

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

Furniture with extra storage is a game-changer

Part of the rite of passage as a parent is taking your house from adults-only to a kid-friendly home. Before you start having nightmares about living room furniture that looks like it belongs in your kids’ preschool classroom, rest assured that there are plenty of kid-friendly living room ideas that feel welcoming to everyone. In hopes of helping you achieve that balance, we reached out to top design and organization experts and got some great tips and tricks. Feeling like the first step is just figuring out where to store all the toys? We’ve got you covered there, too. 

Invest in an Open Floor Plan

an open floor plan is perfect for a kid-friendly living room
Kara Eads via Unsplash

This design trend allows family members to see each other without being in the “same” room. Suzi Dailey, Luxury Coastal Realtor at RealtyONE says, “The previous trend was to have two steps down into your family room, but now people want one large level. They're looking for level, open floor plans, and many people want a larger island that opens up to the other room.”

Choose the Right Area Rug

Your living room is a high-traffic area. Consider buying a rug that’s easy to wash (think Ruggable or Lorena Canals) or an indoor/outdoor rug. They’ll be able to withstand all the running, playing, and, inevitably, all the spills, and you still get to choose from hundreds of colors and patterns.

Make It Colorful

this kid-friendly living room is colorful
Michal Parzuchowski via Unsplash

HGTV highly encourages going bold when it comes to kid-friendly living room ideas. Whether it’s a coat of paint, living room furniture, or a color-coordinated bookshelf, color is a great way to make a room feel warm and welcoming.

Related: 10 Products That’ll Make You Look Like a Design Pro 

Utilize Empty Wall Space

Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly

Jaime Hord, owner of Horderly Professional Organizing says, “Don’t forget that empty wall space can turn into an amazing storage space for everything and anything from decor, family photos or additional containment. We love using The Container Store’s Elfa System to create custom-designed storage spaces for our clients.

Opt for a Wooden Dining Room Table

Not only will a wood table be able to handle kids’ dents and dings, but it also will give your eating space a laid-back vibe instead of feeling like a super-fancy environment. We love this one from Wayfair; it’s the perfect size for a cozy kitchen nook.

Purchase Furniture with Extra Storage

use an ottoman with extra storage in a kid friendly living room
Nathan Fertig via Unsplash

This is also a must for Hord. She says, "If space is limited, think about getting furniture with built-in storage options. Whether it’s a storage bench, storage seat, or a sectional with a secret storage compartmentget creative when staging your space to make it beautifully functional for you and your family. These hidden storage options are not only handy, but they’re comfortable for the kids to hang out on too!"   

 

 

Create a Space Just for the Kids

iStock

A great way to create a kid-friendly living room is to give them their own space. This way, you can keep all their toys, books, stuffies, and art supplies in one space, and the kids know that the space is safe. We love the idea of an indoor fort or reading nook!

Create a Gallery Wall with Their Art

use kids' art in a kid friendly living room
iStock

According to Michelle Manske, owner and organizer at Henry & Higby, this is a great way to create a kid-friendly living room. She states, “Create a gallery wall in your living room for children’s artwork with vintage frames from flea markets or the ones sitting in your grandmother’s attic. The variation in frame types and sizes will create a natural focal point to display artwork. The mismatched open frames make rotating artwork pieces very easy and create an easy juxtaposition between youth and adult worlds.”

Do Cut the Corners

round furniture is a good kid-friendly living room idea
Jimmy Dean via Unsplash

No one wants to see a new walker take a nosedive toward the corner of the coffee table. And, those plastic corner buffers aren’t what anyone would call chic. Here’s a compromise between safety and style: consider buying a round table or a pouf. There are dozens of styles and colors to choose from, and some are even big enough for board games! If you must have something square, consider an ottoman with soft fabric

Use Decorative Storage Bins

storage bins are a must in a kid friendly living room

Hord says, "In your living room, remember that containment is key to restoring order to your space. However, you definitely don’t need to sacrifice beauty for functionality. Use decorative storage bins to put on open shelving or inside cabinets to contain different types of categories like electronics, games, toys, or books."

Related: Incredibly Easy Design Hacks for Every Room

Give Them a Space to Write on the Walls

FancyWalls Store via Etsy

Instead of waiting for the inevitable, give the kids their own space to write on the walls. Not only is it a great creative outlet, but if there’s a real artist in the house, it’s a way to constantly give your living room an update! We love this peel-and-stick chalkboard decal from FancyWallsStore on Etsy.

Buy Kid-and Pet-Friendly Foliage

Bloomscape

Plant expert Amber Guetebier, offers this advice, “Having plants in your living space is not only great for mental well-being, but they are also helpful in purifying the air. But it's important to make sure the plants are non-toxic to kids and pets since we all know both are curious. Many easy houseplants are kid-and-pet safe, including the Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) and the Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans). 

 

Buy it here, $10

Buy it here, $10

Threshold™ Plastic Tumblers

new tumblers are Easter decorations at Target

Spruce up your table just in time for Easter with these lovely (and durable) plastic tumblers that come in blue or pink.

Buy them here, $4 each

Threshold™ Cloth Bunny Napkins

What goes better with your new tumblers than these sweet bunny napkins? All that’s left is to decide on your Easter brunch menu.

Buy them here, $5 each

Easter decorations at Target
How cute is this little guy? There are other birds in the collection, including an Easter Bunny bird, and a gardener bird. We love the whimsical vibe they’ll bring to Easter this year!

Buy it here, $5

Spritz™ Nesting Easter Rainbow

Spring means rainbows and this adorable nesting figurine will bring smiles to your home!

Buy it here, $10

Threshold™ Easter Flower Filler

If you don’t love to go all in on Easter decorations, then consider leaning into spring. These vibrant flowers will brighten up any table.
Buy them here, $12

See the entire new collection of Easter decorations at Target here.

All images courtesy of Target

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.


From Wonder Woman to Spider-Man, comic books are having a serious moment. If you’ve got a budding comic lover in your family, now they can make comics of their own right on their phone or tablet. We found 10 apps that are easy to use, interactive and perfect for personalizing your family photos or giving school projects a fun twist. Keep reading to get the scoop on the best comic book apps for kids.

Comic Strip

comic strip is a comic book app
Ronan Stark

Turn your family photos into a fun comic strip with this easy-to-use app. There are filters to give your photos that classic comic book look, and you can add text bubbles and stickers to your creation. With a 4.5 rating on the App Store and over 1,500 reviews, this app is a winner.

Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, free

 

Comic Life 3

Plasq

Comic Life 3 allows you to create a full comic using its full-page templates and panel layouts. This powerful app works especially well on an iPad with a large screen; it allows you to edit all sorts of small details and add special effects. You can use photos from your library or access web photos via its Flickr integration.

Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, $4.99

 

Comic Caption Meme Maker Lite

Push the Edge LLC

This comic book app is a little more simple, but still just as fun (and easy!) to use. The user interface takes you through each step to make professional-style comics in minutes. The fonts and word balloons were carefully chosen to look like real comic books, and there are over 1,000 decorative stickers to choose from.

Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, free (regular version available for $3.99)

 

ComicBook!

ComicBook! is a fun comic book app for kids
iPad Apps Reviewer

This app has all the bells and whistles when it comes to creating your own personalized comic. Choose your panel layout, use your own photos, and add as many captions and dialogue stickers as your story needs. When you're through, there's an option to share via social media too.

Available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes, $2.99

 

Strip Designer

strip designer is a comic book app
Mr Andrews Online

Both kids and adults will get a kick out of this comic book app. It's simple enough that you'll get the gist in minutes and in addition to using photos, the kids can use their own drawings, too.

Available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes, $2.99.

 

Superhero Comic Book Maker

superhero comic book maker is a comic book app
Common Sense Media

We love the special interactive perks of this comic book app from Duck Duck Moose. Once kids choose the scenes and characters they want, they can record their story, moving the characters as they talk. The app records the movement and kid voiceover so you not only get a personalized comic book—it's read by the author, too!

Available for iPhone via iTunes, free.

 

Comic Strip

Roundwood Studios

For the kid who just can't get enough of telling stories, this app has extra customizable speech balloons—and for the parent who's got Android devices, it's just right for your gear. There are all kinds of special effects, filters and panel choices too. 

Available for Android via Google Play, Free

 

Make Beliefs Comix

Make Beliefs Comix

Formerly available as a separate app, now you can access this comic creation program right from your web browser on your phone, tablet or computer. For all those multilingual kiddos out there, we like that this website supports the creation of comics in 13 different languages. It's also free, and simple enough for even younger users. Just pick the number of frames you want to use, choose characters and add text into speech bubbles.

Available at makebeliefscomix.com, free.

 

Halftone 2

kids like comic book app Halftone2
Halftone 2 Facebook Page

This app is particularly great if your family pet is just begging to be put in a comic. In a nutshell, it lets you upload photos or drawings and then add captions, sound effects, speech bubbles and other artistic effects. It's an easy way to give your family photos a digital storytelling twist.

Available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes, $2.99.

 

One of the loveliest elements of the holiday season, the Christmas tree, can lose its luster pretty quickly once the new year arrives. Good news! The city’s Mulchfest program makes it easy for you to recycle your Christmas tree and do some good for the city’s parks and young trees. Here’s how to get rid of your Christmas tree and do a little green good this year. (Plus: the last day for sanitation tree pickup and recycling!)

Treecycle it: MulchFest2021

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation

MulchFest is back! NYC’s own “TREECYCLE” tradition is taking place from December 26, 2021 to January 9, 2022. Last year the city mulched more than 29,000 trees, and it's pumped to set a new record for 2022!

Bring your tree (free of all decorations, netting and wrapping) and it will be recycled into wood chips to nourish trees and plants on NYC streets and gardens. Drop it off at one of the many Mulchfest locations around the city (there are many in every borough), or bring it on "Chipping Weekend", January 8 and 9, to see your tree reduced to bits live.

Bonus: If your own backyard needs some sprucing up, you can get a free bag of mulch to take home with you after your tree is chipped. (Locations marked with an asterisk have mulch for the taking.)

Click here to find all Mulchfest info, including chipping and drop-off locations.

distelAPPArath via Pixabay

Spread the Love — and the Mulch!
Feel like spreading some of that green love around? You and the kids can volunteer to add that awesome mulch to city trees.  (The mulch helps protect young trees, shrubs and garden beds from the winter cold, helps plants retain moisture and provides a nice decorative touch.) Sound like the green, civic activity your family's been seeking? Events are happening in all boroughs on weekends in January. Click here to see locations, dates, and times and to register! (And remember, dress warmly, wear closed-toe shoes and a mask!)

Kick it To the Curb — and Still Recycle It!

Dates for Department of Sanitation Pick-Up
Bring your tree down for curbside pick-up by the Department of Sanitation from January 6-15. Trees will be recycled into compost for NYC’s public spaces (parks, gardens, etc.). Be sure to remove all decorations from the tree and do not place the tree in a plastic bag.

Note: trees left curbside with holiday decorations of any kind remaining on them will be collected as garbage. If your metal or plastic imitation tree has worked its last holiday season, dispose of it with your normal recycling and it's off your hands.

Have Someone Else Do the Heavy Lifting — and Still Recycle It!: Removal Services

If you’re unable to physically take your tree down to the curbside or to a MulchFest chipping location or drop-off site, don’t worry. Services like NYC Trees can come to your home, remove the tree, and take it directly to a recycling location for you. Starting at $80 for a four-to-five-foot tree, NYC Trees makes the tree removal process (and clean up!) about as easy as it gets. (If you want them to take off your lights, ornaments, etc. expect to pay more.)

908-318-4220
Online: nyctrees.com

—Ilyssa Smith

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Gingerbread houses are so last decade. Target has a festive array of holiday cookie kits for the upcoming baking season, including an actual treehouse and a football stadium! Best of all, they’re all reasonably priced so you can save a little extra dough.

Holiday Stadium Gingerbread Cookie Kit

The Holiday Stadium Gingerbread Cookie Kit is already getting rave reviews and it's a new addition to the kit lineup. It comes with premade gingerbread, decorative candies, a color wheel and paper accessories. The Elves are set to face off against the Reindeer in a classic winter matchup, perfect for the cookie-loving sports fan in your house. Buy now for $10

Holiday Beach House Sugar Cookie Kit

If you live somewhere that's never white on Christmas, you'll appreciate this Holiday Beach House Sugar Cookie Kit! The bright blue shack has the perfect tropical details with the added festivity of string lights. The palm tree, surfboard and crushed gingerbread sand transports us to a tropical vacation. Buy now for $10. 

Holiday Tree House Gingerbread House Kit

Ready to step up your cookie construction game? Then try the Holiday Tree House Gingerbread House Kit, which towers over regular holiday homes. The trickiest part is setting a strong foundation and making sure none of your pieces are broken, but once you can get it to stand it's a super impressive addition to your decoration lineup! Buy now for $10. 

Holiday Ugly Sweater Cookie Kit.

Finally, if you're not much for building but you love decorating, you'll appreciate the Holiday Ugly Sweater Cookie Kit. The kit comes with premade sweater cookies for you to make as garish as your heart desires. With one dozen cookies included, it makes enough for the whole family. Buy now for $9

You can snag all of these kits now at Target. And there are plenty more to choose from, so head online or hit up your local store and let the festivities begin!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Target

 

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Most of us have have had at least one Chia Pet in our lives, but have you ever had a Golden Girls chia?

The decorative planter that has been mesmerizing people since the late ’70’s has always had whimsical choices, but these Golden Girls options ($20) really take the cake (the cheesecake, that is). Coming in Rose, Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia options, there’s really no reason you shouldn’t just collect them all.

photo: Amazon

Each Chia Plant comes with the terracotta planter, drip tray and enough seeds for up to three plantings. All it takes is two weeks to get your Golden Girls growing!

Perfect for the holidays or for any uber GG fan, you can find them all on Amazon for $20 each.

––Karly Wood

 

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“Remember when we (insert awesome experience)?” Families make the best memories… but they tend to get a little foggy as the years go by. Kids can capture the good times and help your family relive great adventures and special holiday moments together. (It’s priceless to see them from a child’s perspective!). Here’s how:

1. Interview Your Crew

There’s nothing better than hearing about special moments and discovering new stories. Your child can come up with questions to ask grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins and film their interviews on their Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch. Featuring dual cameras to film videos and snap pics, they can store up to 3,000 640 x 480 pixels photos or 30 minutes of 320 x 240 pixels video. It’s easy to transfer content right to a computer to save and share.

2. Be the Family Filmmaker

Whether they want to turn interviews into a family documentary, capture the best times from a vacation or make a silly skit with their sibling, the Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch can make it happen.

3. Do a DIY Photo Album

Aside from saving one-of-a-kind videos, kids can use their Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch to customize photos with decorative stickers and borders. Transfer to a computer and print them out to make an album of their favorite people, celebrations, holidays and good times.

4. Make a Memory Jar

Who doesn’t love reflecting back on good times? Simply fill a mason jar with photos of your family’s favorite memories—playing boardwalk games on a vacation, doing a puzzle with grandma on Christmas, building a fort in the backyard… the list is endless. Anyone in the family can add to the jar whenever the mood strikes. Pull out the photos whenever you’d like to reminisce and feel thankful. Kids can customize the jars by decorating with stickers, paint, ribbon, colorful tape and gems. Jars can also be filled with memorabilia like sand and shells from a beach, or tickets and trinkets from a trip exploring a new city.

5. Get Crafty

Kids can draw, paint or make a collage of family members or special experiences. You’ll love looking back at how they depict life’s little details at that moment in time—daddy’s glasses, mommy reading a book, big sis kicking a soccer ball. As every parent knows, the days are long, but the years are short. Beautiful art projects that capture those days mean a lot as your children grow!

If you are ready to jump right in and embrace the fall season, we’ve got some great fall decor options for you. Scroll down to find live succulent arrangements that make the perfect hostess gift as well as a cake stand that gives you the perfect excuse to bake all those pumpkin recipes. It’s fall, y’all!

All products featured on this page are independently reviewed and selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Two 18" Round Decorative Pillows

HSN

There's nothing like a pop of color to get your house feeling like a new season has arrived. We love these pillows that come in six different colors that are sure to make your couch the spot where everyone wants to sit. 

Get it here, $33. 

South Street Loft Rattan Lanterns

HSN

These rattan lanterns will provide the soft glow that your living room needs and they come with handy remotes so you can change the color from the LED candle on a whim.

Buy them here, $53. 

Gibson 10" Cake Stand with Glass Dome in Green

HSN

If your fall plans include baking an apple cake, this cake stand is the perfect way to show off your masterpiece. It has a lovely retro feel and will transition well into winter and spring desserts. 

Buy it here, $32. 

Bittersweet Vines

BoxwoodManorFarm via Etsy

We love these little beauties to add to vases for tablescapes and fireplace mantle displays. 

Get them here, $60. 

Pumpkin Filled with Living Succulents

SucculentArtworks via Etsy

This little cutie will be the centerpiece of your fall decor, we know it. Filled with live succulents, this faux pumpkin only needs a little spritz of water to keep it going well into the spring. 

Get it here, $65.

Fall Colored Felt Garland

TheRainbowBarn via Etsy

Felt garlands are all the rage and we love this colorful option that will look great on your fireplace or over a doorway. 

Get them here, $12+.

Plume Fall Wreath

NovaWreaths via Etsy

Add this welcoming wreath to your door this fall. We love the soft orange, purple and green tones that accentuate the eucalyptus and feathers. 

Get it here, $169. 

Pumpkin Luminary

Grandin Road

Brighten up your front porch with these metal pumpkins. They have an open bottom so you can add your own candle or LED light. 

Get it here, $79.50. 

—Kate Loweth

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