Reuse Coffee Filters To Make Stunning Fall Window Decorations

A crisp breeze in the air means fall is right around the corner, and a change in season can also mean a change in your home's aesthetic. There are lots of places where you can spruce up your fall living room decor – including your windows. And you don't need to spend a lot of money to do it, because it's easy to create an adorable window display of fall fruits using some humble coffee filters and paint.

Yes, coffee filters can be useful beyond just helping you get a much-needed jolt of caffeine in the morning. In addition to clean and unused filters, you will also need some vegetable oil, Elmer's glue, scissors, watercolor paint, brushes, and a glue stick (or tape). Alternatively, you can also use washable markers and water to create a similar watercolor effect, though it will add drying time and some extra steps to get the same look. The vegetable oil is also optional if you are concerned about grease marks on clothing or your windows. However, the oil should be able to dry overnight so it does not leave behind any greasiness. By the end of the project, the fruits leave a translucent DIY stained glass effect.

First, start by drawing and cutting out fruit shapes such as apples, pears, or plums on your coffee filters. Next, paint your shapes with the watercolor paint, or you can roughly color them in with washable marker and then soak the filters in water to allow the colors to blend together. Allow the shapes to dry and then lightly paint them (using a clean brush) with vegetable oil to make them translucent. Be careful to only paint an extremely thin layer of oil, because too much of it could leave your cutouts very oily even after drying. As shown in the video, you can also cut out and paint fruit stems and leaves and glue them on with Elmer's glue.

To attach the fruits to the window, you can use a glue stick adhesive which is removable with Windex. However, if the idea of gluing something directly to your window makes you squeamish, you can also use translucent tape. Now, sit back and enjoy how the autumn light catches these adorable DIY window decals. You can even opt for other fall shapes like pumpkins or autumn leaves as well. By the time you're done, you'll be an expert in creative uses for coffee filters everywhere in your home.