Over the years, I’ve shared quite a few fall decorating projects here on the blog, and many have become favourites that I come back to year after year. Today I’m rounding up 33 of my favourite fall decorating ideas on a budget, both indoors and out – from pumpkins and pinecones to cozy textiles, vintage accessories, and simple DIYs. If you’re looking for a little inspiration this season, then I hope you’ll find a few ideas in the following list that’ll give you some creative spark. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
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Fall Porch and Front Door Decorating Ideas
1. A Seasonal Front Door Wreath
The simplest thing you can do for a little autumnal cheer is to add a seasonal wreath on your front door.
While you can find many online, I often prefer to make my own. Whether it’s this diy lush and leafy one (above) or this more relaxed diy wild rustic beauty (below):
Or maybe you prefer a classic look for the season. There are SO many ways to dress up your front door for fall.
Whether you choose to make your own or find an affordable ready-to-hang fall wreath, dressing up your front door is all you really need to add a touch of the season outdoors.
(For the crafty folks out there, I’ve rounded up my top 6 Fall Wreath DIYs here).
2. Decorate Your Porch With Pumpkins and Gourds
If you want to take it further on your front porch, then adding a few pumpkins and gourds is another way you can make your porch feel more like fall.
I love using a mixture of shapes, sizes, and colours – rather than creating a formal ‘display.’ A few pumpkins here and there can make a simple porch feel instantly seasonal.
Of course, you can take it even further if you have more to spend, and I certainly have in the past, including this fall porch refresh I’ve shared on the blog.
But be forewarned: things can really add up if you’re not careful!
Whether you choose one or several pumpkins outdoors, you’ll definitely want them to last as long as possible. In my post, How to Make Your Pumpkins Last Longer, I share a simple trick to help keep them looking their best throughout the season.
3. Add Mums
Mums are an easy way to add seasonal colour to your front porch. They look beautiful tucked beside pumpkins or around your front door.
If you already have planters or pots that you use throughout the year, simply switching out the plants can give your porch an entirely different look.
4. Add a Lantern or Two
Lanterns are lovely any time of year, but I especially like seeing them out in the fall.
Place one or two beside the front door, on a porch step, or beside a planter. I don’t typically add candles – as ours have often been swept away by winds! – but you can fill them with heavier rocks to keep them weighted (as I did in the photo above) then add some pinecones or even small pumpkins. Or leave them simple and elegant, just as they are.
5. Layer Natural Elements Around Your Front Door
Instead of trying to create large displays or adding a lot of elements along your steps, try adding some smaller bits around your entrance.
A basket filled with branches, a few pumpkins, a planter of mums or other seasonal flowers, a coir mat on top of a flat mat, and even a lantern can create a welcoming fall arrangement.
Think about varying height and texture, too. It’ll make the decor feel more interesting, even if you don’t have much room.
Fall Decorating Ideas Indoors Using Natural Elements
6. Bring Fall Foliage Indoors
You don’t always need to buy flowers to create a fall arrangement indoors.
Branches with colourful leaves, interesting shapes, or even dried and gnarled pieces can be gathered and displayed in a large vase or simple container.
I especially love using branches and loose, leafy stems because they add height and make a space feel decorated without needing much else.
Sometimes the simplest arrangements are the most interesting in a room.
7. Use Dried Flowers or Foliage
Dried flowers are another inexpensive way to bring fall colour indoors.
A bundle of dried grasses, seed pods, leaves, or flowers can be displayed in a vase like this.
Or tie them together and create a pretty wall swag arrangement like this.
Experiment with what you have and don’t overthink it!
8. Make a Simple Fall Bowl Filler
A bowl filled with one or more seasonal and natural elements is one of the easiest decorating ideas that you can create and recreate each year.
Try combining pinecones and nuts or other natural elements in a basket or bowl as part of a table display.
You can even keep it very simple with just one pinecone like this.
Or add decorative pieces and even spray paint those elements – as I shared in this blog post – to keep things fresh and interesting.
No matter what you do, you really can’t go wrong with a few pinecones sprinkled around your home.
Cozy Fall Decorating With Textiles
9. Add Cozy Throw Blankets
A soft throw blanket draped over a sofa, chair, bench, or basket instantly adds warmth.
If you love a thick blanket, look for chunky knits, woven fabrics, wool or faux fur. If you love a clean, minimal look, then smooth throws with subtle patterns like plaid are perfect for fall.
Soft or warm colours like rust, caramel, even muted greens will add an autumn-inspired colour palette indoors.
10. Swap in a Few ‘Fall’ Pillows
You don’t need a collection of pillows with pumpkin motifs to make your space feel more like fall. (Unless you love that idea – then go for it!).
For me, I love using one or two pillows in warm or neutral colours – this can be enough to make a room feel decorated for the season.
That way, the pillows don’t feel like they’re only useful for a few weeks of the year.
11. Use Natural Woven Baskets
Woven baskets are both decorative and practical, which make them among my favourite home decor pieces.
Use them to hold magazines, firewood, or throw blankets.
Truth be told, I love using natural woven baskets year-round!
But if you have yours hidden in a cabinet or closet, pull them out for fall. The natural textures work so well with fall decorating. They will complement all the other seasonal pieces you might have from dried flowers to other natural elements you may be using at this time of year.
12. Make a DIY Woven Pillow (Without a Sewing Machine)
If you enjoy weaving or making your own home decor, a woven pillow is a great way to add texture – no sewing machine, required.
A simple woven or fibre-art pillow can become a cozy accent on a sofa or chair, and you can choose colours that work with the rest of your home or fall decor.
It’s also a nice way to add a handmade touch or maybe learn a new skill: See How to DIY a Woven Pillow here.
Vintage and Thrifted Fall Decorating Ideas
13. Decorate With Vintage Framed Art
Vintage artwork and prints add so much warmth and character to a room without looking overly seasonal.
I like to look for landscapes or outdoor structures, but there are so many other options, too, like botanicals, still lifes, or old-fashioned illustrations in warm colours.
You can lean a piece against a mirror or collection of prints – something I love to do all year-round as I shared in How To Lean & Layer Art for a Cool, Casual Vibe. And when you’re done, you can swap it out for a different framed piece altogether.
Or nestle one small piece within a warm, fall display or vignette.
You can even go for a full gallery wall using vintage or vintage-inspired prints which I did here. Of course, I keep these up all year round but you can always swap one or two for something more ‘fall-themed’ and then swap them out after the season is over.
If you don’t have any thrift or vintage stores near you, you can always search for vintage and vintage-inspired art prints from small shops on Etsy (like this one or this one) and even on Amazon, too.
14. Add Brass or Gold Accents
Warm metals work so beautifully with a moody fall palette.
Things like brass or gold candlesticks, trays, frames, bowls, and other small accents can add a bit of warmth and vintage charm without requiring a major investment.
Or maybe you prefer something more sublte like something with gold accents which does not scream fall.
Because brass or gold isn’t specifically seasonal, these pieces can easily transition into your holiday decorating, too.
If you have some thrifted pieces that have lost a little of their shine (though a bit of patina can be beautiful, too), check out how to make your own All-Natural 2-Ingredient Brass Cleaner. Itâs the simple method I used to freshen up the candlesticks (pictured above) that had become a little too dull.
Pinecone Decorating Ideas for Fall
Okay, so you’re about to get an earful (more like eye-full!) more about pinecones – and my love of them! Here are all the ways I’ve used (and continue to use them) especially in fall.
15. Decorate with Pinecones…Just About Anywhere
Pinecones are one of those seasonal decorating materials that are free – if you have access to them. If not, you can always find inexpensive bundles and bags of them at local craft stores and even for purchase online.
Gather a collection and place them in a wide range of places such as…
BASKETS
BOWLS
OR ANY SURFACE
16. Use Oversized Pinecones for Added ‘Umph’
I just LOVE the look of oversized pinecones in the fall. Just one or two is enough to evoke that autumnal feel indoors. Whether it’s a pinecone on a book or bookstack…
…a couple in a bowl…
…one or two next to a natural fall arrangement...
…Or even hanging as a pair on a door or wall.
These make such a beautiful, sculptural statement wherever you decide to add them in your home.
17. Make a DIY Pinecone Wreath
If you have a larger collection of pinecones, consider turning them into a diy project like this really pretty diy pinecone wreath.
I love just how fresh and pretty this spray-painted wreath with contrasting ribbon looked on the interior side of our front door.
Pinecones work beautifully on their own, but you can always add a few additional accents or a ribbon to customize your wreath to suit your decorating style. It costs very little if you already have most of the materials.
18. DIY Yarn-Wrapped Pinecones
If you’re feeling especially crafty – or you’re looking for something to create with the kiddos – try these DIY Yarn-Wrapped Pinecones for a fun, colourful touch to a craft room, child’s bedroom, or anywhere you’d like to add a bit of quirk or colour.
There are so many ways you can style them, whether you group them in a bowl…
…or add just one to a larger display…
…or adding them to a fun, whimsical display like this one.
Making these are incredibly meditative and SO much fun, too!
Fresh & Faux Flower Decorating for Fall
19. Create a Simple Fall Flower Arrangement
You don’t have to give up fresh flowers just because summer is over. A fresh arrangement in a warm, neutral display can look incredibly beautiful for fall.
Flowers can bring beautiful colour and life into your home, and grocery store varieties can be surprisingly inexpensive. Either look for flowers in warm shades, or combine fresh blooms in an autumnal-coloured vase or pitcher for a warm, natural touch.
One year, I gave a couple of basic dollar-store glass vases a simple makeover, wrapping them in inexpensive vegan leather to create warm, autumnal vessels for my flowers. They were surprisingly easy to make and turned out beautifully â such a lovely way to add a seasonal touch without spending much.
See how to make your own DIY leather-wrapped vases here.
20. Use Mums Indoors
Mums are not just for your front porch. Use them in an indoor planter, container or in a vase or pitcher, as I did using this faux mums bouquet.
21. Seasonal Faux Florals in Warm Colours
It’s no secret that I love having several faux flowers to choose from season-to-season. For fall, I often choose one colour or combine several in the same shade for a classic, autumnal look.
I particularly love artificial yarrow, sedum, allium and other wild-looking florals (including the meadow/berry stems above like these or these).
Or you may prefer a dense bundle of neutral florals to fill out a wide-mouth vase.
But, honestly, you don’t need a full huge bouquet to make a statement. Even a few stems in a mid-size vase can make a difference.
There are SO many beautiful faux florals online or at your local craft store – like Michaels – or the dollar store. It’s just a matter of finding a few that you can re-use year-after-year in new and interesting ways.
Cozy Fall Decorating Ideas With Candles
23. Add Pillar Candles to a Coffee Table
Add one or two pillar candles to a coffee table display to create a warm ambience.
Vary the heights or drop them into hurricane candle holders or narrow glass vases to create a soft glow on a larger display.
They are especially beautiful on a coffee table, but work well on any surface, such as a dining table or console, too.
24. Decorate With A Short, Stout Candle
While tall pillar candles add a lot of ‘umph’ a short, stout candle – like a beeswax candle – adds both charm and a lovely, natural scent, too.
If you prefer a more dramatic look, group a few together. But for me, one simple candle on a cork coaster or bookstack adds just enough character in a fall tabletop display that has several other elements working together.
25. Make Your Own Rolled Beeswax Candles
Making your own candles can be a wonderfully simple and relaxing DIY, especially when you use pre-cut sheets of beeswax that can be easily rolled into candles.
In How To Make Rolled Beeswax Candles, I share just how easy they are to make, whether as thoughtful gifts or something you can use at home during the fall and winter seasons.
26. Paint Your Own Candles
If making candles is just one step too far, then why not paint what you’ve already got?
Several years ago, I shared this DIY for giving your candles a little extra sparkle with a painted makeover. It did not take long and it was fun to do.
In my tutorial on making your own Chic & Crafty Hand-Painted Candles, I show just how easy it is to dress up a couple of plain candles for the season.
DIY Coasters & Mug Rugs for Cozy Fall Drinks
27. Make Woven Coasters
Making your own woven coasters is a simple way to add texture and get crafty this season – and you don’t need to buy a loom to make them.
They can be made in colours that complement your fall decorating and tucked away when the season is over – or kept out as evidence of your crafty nature!
28. DIY Macrame Coasters
Macrame is also a great handmade option for adding a soft, textured touch indoors. And you don’t need to know a thing about macrame – truly! I’ve shared two different versions using a couple of VERY SIMPLE KNOTS for beginners to learn.
Want a boho touch? Then make these:
Want something a bit more sturdy, thick and absorbable? Try these:
A few handmade coasters grouped together can also become part of the decor when they’re not being used.
29. Make A Punch Needle Mug Rug
Punch needle is another lovely way to add handmade texture and design to your home.
Making a small mug rug is a manageable project, especially if you’re new to the craft.
Mug rug projects give you the opportunity to experiment with seasonal colours without committing to a much larger piece.
In this DIY Reversible Punch Needle Mug Rug tutorial, I show you how to make your own cozy little mug rug â and fair warning, it’s surprisingly! Iâve made several for around our home, and once you get the hang of punch needling, itâs hard to stop at just one.
Decorating With Books for Fall
30. Style Coffee Tables and Surfaces With Books
Books are a go-to favourite for me all-year long. But during fall, they are especially lovely accessories because they add not only height and texture, but, when chosen carefully, the perfect hit of warmth – even when they arenât fall-themed or filled with autumnal colours. Sometimes, their role is simply to create a warm, understated backdrop that lets your other fall treasures take centre stage without competing for attention.
I like using them on coffee tables to create different levels or to coral seasonal accessories.
Place a vase, candle, bowl or any decorative object on top to create a simple layered arrangement.
If you’re still not sure how to style yours, Iâve shared some of my favourite tips for decorating with coffee table books here.
31. Use Vintage Book Stacks
I am a bit of a vintage lover and especially enjoy using vintage books in a display – no matter the season.
That said, vintage books are especially great for fall decorating because of their warm covers and aged pages.
Whether you choose to stack them in groups (above) or integrate them with newer books (below), the material and colours you choose add a subtle seasonal charm without being too themed.
Other Small Fall Details That Can Make a Big Difference
32. Display A Few Fall Wearables
Don’t forget about the things you actually wear during the season.
A bench with your favourite fall scarf draped over the back adds a seasonal element without trying too hard.
A favourite hat or collection of light scarves hanging by the front door feels charming and perfectly appropriate to put on display.
Or maybe you’ve got a pair of boots you can tuck neatly by the entryway that blends easily into your overall aesthetic.
I love using funtional items as decor pieces that don’t need to be hidden away.
33. Sprinkle Fall Produce In Your Home
One of my all-time favourite ways to decorate for fall on a budget is by using produce as decor.
Mini pumpkins, gourds, pears, apples and pomegranates are an easy way to add seasonal colour and texture.
Try arranging them in bowls, scattering them loosely across a table, or adding them to a larger fall display.
Mix and match colours you love, from white and green to orange and deep red, for an easy, beautiful and practical fall touch.
And you don’t need to add a lot of produce – just a few handfuls here and there is all it takes to make the difference.
The best part? Many of these decorations are edible! Enjoy them throughout the week and simply refresh your display the next time youâre at the grocery store.
For a more indepth look at my produce-inspired fall look (one of my ALL-TIME favourites), take the Full Great Home Tour: Autumn Bounty Meets Muted Elegance.
Wrapping Up
Fall decorating doesn’t have to be expensive. Some of my favourite ideas are the simplest: pumpkins on a porch, dried florals hung upside down, a cozy throw on a sofa, or a few pinecones and books arranged on a table.
Look around your home before buying anything new! You never know what you’ll find. A little re-arranging and a few inexpensive seasonal touches can go a long, long way.
Happy fall decorating,
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