Country Style 4th of July Decorating

Using flowers is key in country decorating -- even for the Fourth.

Country style incorporates natural and simple items into a decorative, rustic and charming home. Whether you are throwing a party or simply want to show your patriotism, country-style Fourth of July decorations are available in various shapes and prices. You can make many Fourth of July country decorations yourself, or you can purchase them.

Outdoors

Dress up your lawn and garden with patriotic decor. Around the Fourth of July, plant retailers often have planters filled with red, white and blue annuals. Transferring these pre-potted arrangements into more permanent or decorative planters around the Fourth will help you display your patriotism.

To transform your plantings even more to celebrate Independence Day, stick small decorative American flags on dowel rods -- commonly sold at big box stores, hardware stores and other stores -- into potted plants and hanging baskets. Make window box arrangements from fake flowers if you do not have red, white and blue flowers in your landscape.

Barbecues and Outdoor Entertaining

Add small Americana accents to your entertaining area. Use red and blue bandanas as napkins, of fold them as cutlery holders. Cut large stars out of thick cardboard and spray paint them red, white and blue to use as place mats. Dress up paper cups with stars and stripes -- either paint them on with non-toxic craft paint or use stickers. "Country Living" writer Bethany Lyttle suggests decorating paper towel tubes in Americana style, and filling them with sparklers for festive party favors.

Using Flowers

Flowers play a pivotal role in country-style decor. Inside, consider small arrangements of red, white and blue carnations. Tie red, white and blue ribbons around vases for the holiday.

Blue hydrangeas set on a red and white striped tablecloth add a festive look to a Fourth of July celebration. To add to the "country" look, consider using canning jars as vases for your patriotic flowers. Like the vases, you can also tie red, white and blue ribbons around them or add Americana stickers.

Miscellaneous Decorations

Make small wooden plaques yourself by cutting out square and rectangle pieces of wood. Paint them with flags, blue with white stars or with red and white stripes. Hang the plaques by drilling two holes near each side and suspending them with either craft wire or twine.

Get creative with frames for wall art. Fold a bandana and frame it in a wooden frame, or purchase small decorative American flags and frame them. Craft, home decor and other stores commonly sell Americana decor throughout the year, but especially around Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.

References

• "Country Living"; July 4th Craft Ideas; Bethany Lyttle
• "Good Housekeeping"; Fourth of July Decorations