Decorating with Feathers for Fall

If feathers tickle your fancy, you’re in the right place. I love decorating with feathers, especially during the fall and winter months. Their colors really lend themselves to the season. I’m decorating with feathers for fall and sharing some very creative ideas. Plus, my tips for cleaning feathers and making sure they are pest free.

Decorating with feathers for fall - love them displayed in antique loving cups / kellyelko.com

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Large Selection of Real Feathers for Sale Here

There is nothing better than taking a walk and discovering a feather in the grass. This little treasure can be brought home and given a new life.

Don’t miss my tips for cleaning feathers near the end of this post.

Fall mantel with vintage trophy, landscape painting, old trophy and pheasant feathers / kellyelko.com

Vintage Fall Mantel

Last year, I created a fall mantel using all vintage finds. Pheasant feathers took the place of the usual flowers for an unexpected look and pair perfectly with vintage art, and old box and a carved gourd.

Decorating with feathers for fall in a giant urn with greens / kellyelko.com

Greenery and Feather Urn

This statement making urn overflowing with fresh greens and pheasant feathers is stunning. Antlers and a birds nest complete the rustic look.

Colorful feather centerpiece / kellyelko.com

Fall Feather Centerpiece

I love the wild look of the feathers and variety of colors in a shallow, silver champagne glass.

Beautiful fall arrangement of books, duck decoys, feathers and logs in a metal crate / kellyelko.com

Duck Decoy and Feather Mantel

My dad collected duck decoys so they have a place in my vintage loving heart. I love the decoys mixed with old book, pottery, logs and feathers.

Feather place setting for Thanksgiving / kellyelko.com

Feather Place Setting

Add a feather and some ribbon to cutlery for a simple but chic fall or Thanksgiving table.

Fall centerpiece of pumpkins, feathers and candles / kellyelko.com

Pumpkin and Feather Centerpiece

Dear Lillie tucked turkey feathers into dried flowers to create a bountiful fall centerpiece.

Simple lone feather in a dough bowl for fall / kellyelko.com

Turkey Feather in Dough Bowl

I love the simplicity of displaying a single feather in a rustic wooden dough bowl like this one from my friend Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage.

DIY Feather art on cardboard / kellyelko.com

Painted Feather Art

If you don’t have feathers, do the next best thing and paint some like my friend Kim did! I love the idea of using a piece of cardboard as a canvas!

DIY Feather Art paper bags / kellyelko.com

DIY Feather Art

This time, Kim used a paper bag as a backdrop for framed feathers. The brown bag pairs perfectly with the browns of the feathers.

Pheasant art painted on a feather / kellyelko.com

Pheasant Painting on Feather

This artist used a feather as her canvass! The intricate details of the pheasant are incredible and this would be stunning framed.

Feather Shadowbox Art and black and white bench in foyer / kellyelko.com

I found this huge shadowbox feather art at a consignment shops years ago and it takes center stage in my foyer over a black and white woven bench.

Do Birds Shed Feathers Naturally?

Birds depend on feathers for flight, insulation and for attracting a mate. But feathers don’t last forever and will become damaged over time.

When birds shed feathers, it’s called molting and it happens when they can no longer maintain their damaged feathers.

Look down!

I encourage you to go on a bird feather scavenger hunt! Late summer is peak bird molting season so you’re sure to find some feathers on your walks or in your own backyard.

How to Clean Bird Feathers

Feathers can harbor bugs so make sure to pop your feathers in the freezer for a few days before using them. If they are dirty, use a mild dish soap to clean them then let them air dry.

Have these feathers tickled your fancy?

3 Comments

  1. I love all these ideas and how people display feathers. I do collect feathers but, mine are a smaller kind. I display them in small pitchers around the house. Thanks Kelly.

  2. I love decorating with feathers in the fall. But beware! I purchased some feather garlands and soon after opening the packages I broke out in hives all over my hands. Use latex gloves please! I had no allergies to other feathers but these (I believe they were chicken feathers) hit me hard. I have also had trouble with artificial greenery and that went all over my face and neck too. Just be careful!

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